The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-12

bred the civil war, when the staple cry was
the ostracism that prevailed in the society
and the oligarchy that ruled in the politics
Of the South it had been easier for a French
man to acquire seat in the British House of
Lords than for any man born outside of New
England or
NOT DESCENDED FROM THE PUR1TANs
to have reached place of eminence within
the gift of Massachusetts. These things are
patentenough upon the face of history but
it is necessary to jog the memory OF the av-
erage reader in order to prepare his mind for
an understanding of the present situation.
We observe that New England has ruled
this country ever since 1861. Prior to that
time the politics of the country for eighty
years had been struggle, with varying
phases and under changing circumstances,
between Massachusetts and Virginia, Massa-
chusetts8 and South Carolina, and, Iatterly,
New England and the South. Now, for the
first time In sixteen years, New England feels
the sceptre
SLIPPERY WITHIN HER GRIP.
1t is not gone from her; not by any means; !;
but the firmness of her grasp Is shaken, and
her ruling classes begin to see the danger Of
losing that direct and indirect control Of ma
tional affairs which has snfficed in sixteen
years, as I pointed out in a letter more than
three months ago, to quintuple the interest
bearing wealth, that is to say the personal
property valuation of that favored section,
at the expense, I might add, OF bankruptcy
West and next to annihilation OF property
South. Not the least potent Of the secrets Of
NEW ENGLAND's SUPREMACY
was the insidousness of the methods by
which she attained, and the covertness Of the
means whereby she perpetuared it. Let me
illustrate: Some years ago Henry Wilson
came into my Office in Washington to ask me
to refrain from publishing In the Washington
dispatches of the st. Louis Republican some
facts relative to certain army contract frauds
which had then just been unearthed, and In
which he himself was constructively impli-
Gated. These were known as the
"HURTT FRAUDS"
and Wilson's implication in them consisted in
his having written letter, when chairman OF
the military committee of the Senate, to dis
bursting quartermaster, asking him to award
certain contracts for boots and shoes to GER
tain friends of his in Massachusetts, without
regard to bids, on the ground that "the 10y
atty of the bidder must be assured before the
nature of the bids could be considered!"
Well, was about to publish this, together
with some other documents tending to show
that Wilson systematically used his influence
as chairman of the Senate military committee
to further the fortunes of
MASSACHUSETTS CONTRACTORS
at the expense of the country, and that in
this manner he had connived at frauds and
many millions. After the fashion of inexpe-
rienced Washington correspondents, for that
was my first season at the capital, 1 had
my possession of these facts and
my intention to use them to the end of "deal-
ing damnation round the land" as it were;
and Wilson, hearing Of it, had come to pour
customary oil of persuasion upon the troubled
waters of journalism.
'I assure you, sir, said Wilson, "that what
ever may have been the profits on those con-
tracts, never saw dollar of them, and was
ais poor in 1866 as in 1861
I had reason to know that he spoke the
truth; and asked him what motive he had
in so misusing his influence, when he must
have known that exposure would follow some
time and his reputation be destroyed without
his having reaped any benefit whatever.
'It was not for myself" he replied "that
did those things. 1t was
FOR MASSACHUSETTS.
''Those contracts gave employment to great
of Massachusetts people, and added
to the common wealth and prosperity of my
State"
"But, demonstrated, Gin some of these
cases New York firms; and in others, Ohio
firms underbid your friends in Massachu-
setts, SO that your request, which, by reason
Of your position at the time, amounted to an
order, had the effect of swindling the Gov
of the Union for the benefit of Mas
sachusetts to the extent of the excess in the
bids of your friends over those of the lowest
bidders. Was that what you called loyalty
In the darkest days of the WARP"
'fYou do not put the question fairly, my
boy" said Wilson, laying his hand on my
with peculiar oily gammonish per-
tues of Newspaper Row can testify, rarely
'ailed to be conclusive. Whatever was for
The interest Of Massachusetts at that time
was for the
INTEREST OF THE UNION.
Had so acted for the purpose of putting
money in my own pocket, it would have been
sulpable; but, acting as 1 did, to aggrandize
it was patriotic"
To this I made no reply, and Wilson con-
5inued: Now what good will accrue from
these things? They will only serve
% augment volume of scandal which is al
ready far more injurious to the true interests
If the country than the acts complained of
,yer were. All the satisfaction you can de-
i've from their publication will be the refiec-
ion that you have caused some pain to an old
nan who has done with politics and who will
lever again be an object of partisan acri-
nony.
Gan I live for now," he said ais to COM
,lete my book (the Rise and Fall of the Slave |
oower) / am writing that book, as l have
ived my life and run my career,
FOR THE GLORY AND GREATNESS
# Massachusetts Then in oonolucion no |