National Republican., 1877-09-20

them, for experience in the cNsc of the
Credit Mobilicr and the Pacific Mail frauds
have prepared the public 10 believe that
even the men who possess the best reputa-
tons are subject TO the infrmitics Of hu-
man nature. Any Of them who may be, in
fact, FREQ from guilt will have TO rest con
tent with the consolation which their con-
sciences may afford them, and the esteem OF
those personal friends who will believe no
evil Of them. In the estimation Of the
public their votes are sufficient TO convict
them.
The amount of legislative corruption
which the testimony of TWEED discloses is
truly startling Such revelations are not
calculated TO increase the confidence OF
thoughtful men in the pmcticability OF
popular government for the great cities OF
the nation. Although II is not likely that
such gigantic transactions will he soon
again attempted as those in which TWEED
engaged, it is nevertheless true that the
same species of frauds are being contin-
ually parpctratcd on smaller scale in
nearly every city in the land. Even the
JoHN KELLY government, which is investi-
eating TWEED for sinister purposes OF its
own, Is far from being incorrupt in practice.
Ifit does not plumber the city to the extent
to which the TWEED government did, it is
more for the reason that it has not n chance
to do so, rather than from any greater hon
csty or purity.
We are glad that Mr.. TWEED is on the
witness stand. for although he is utterly
bankrupt in character, his testimony will
doubtless afford many clues by which a
tolerably correct history Of those transac-
tions may finally be written for the instruc-
ttEt. ,,1 80 ala.
The lesson which the extravaganza and
corruption of our municipal governments
teaches is that there must be some limita-
tions put upon the power of municipal OIL
GERS to control the finances of such corpora
tions In 1866 the public debt of New
York city was 3,37l All. On the 1st OF
September, 1s17, IL had reached the enor-
nous sum of Si32 2096.990. II is easy Ia
see that such n rate of increase must soon
bankrupt the city. Tho ratio Of growth has
been scarcely less in two thirds of the cities
of the nation, in consequence Of which Out
municipal Indebtedness has assumed such
gigantic proportions as to be one Of the
chief causes Of the financial embarrassment
which now afllcts the country.
1t is vain to expect that the mere eN.
poSnre of frauds will stop them. The
methods Of plundering the public are mum.
berless, and new devices will he constantly
brought into rcquisition to deplete tho
public treasury, Ms long rs it is left under
the control of those who aIe interested
filling their own pockets at the expense oi
the community. 1t will he a serious re-
pronch to our form of government if we are
unable to devise some means of securing
the municipalities of the nation from sys-
tcmatic plundcr. In tho treatment of this
subject all demagogism should be laid
aside. II Is necessary TO assume rs the
fundamental principle OF any real reform
that taxation in cities cannot he safely left
under the control of popular suffrage. FIX.
pericnce renders It very manifest that til,
continuance of such control will sooner ol
later result in the practical confscation o
| all property under the control of municipal
tiles which does not escape that fate by
fleeing to safer localities.