New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-12
BOOKKEEPING And BOOKKEEPING.

II was the habit of one at least. and perhaps
more of the orators who, in the last and pre-
yous campaigns, fred the Northern heart
on the subject of Reform, to close up most
narrowing recital of the cOrruptiOns OF the
Republican party with the blood-curdling war
whoop. "Show us the Books Show lis the
Books! We Demand the Right to Overhaul
"thc Bookkeeping of this Country The par
ticular orator whom we have in mind
was not what is called an "expert"
in bookkeeping; we do not understand
that he ever actually kept books-except
those that he borrowed; but he had somehow
got 1t into his head that the Republican party.
as party, had been everlasting bonds and
forcing balances, and appropriating the cash,
and SO on; and it occurred to him that the
American people ought to take steps imme-
datrly TO overhaul the books. To do this, of
course, il WAS necessary TO take the books
and the Offices, and the Government, and the
whole concern, out of the hands of the Repub-
Leans and turn them over TO the Democrats,
who were proyidcntially standing handy by
without anything in particular to do, and with
plenty of time. and no lack of inclination to
put their names right on the pay-rolls and
shoulder everything which they audited and
investigated. And this, as we understand it,
was the chief reason why change in the adj
minstration of the Government was de-
mandcd just TO overhaul the bookkeeping.
And the only reason why the proposition TO
turn everything over to the Democrats mean-
time was urged was-nOt because they
wanted the Oiliccs-pcrish the thOught-bat
because they stood there so handy and seemed
on the whole so willing And the American
people, listening to the catalogue of crimes for
which the imprisoned orator ariaiened the
party in power, was rather disposed to
yield to the appeal in the peroration
and say TO these Democrats, "Takc the Gov
eminent and have at the bookkeeping ~
1t thrills one to think what would have
been the response to such an invitation.
Think of the statesmen who would have un-
coiled themselves from recking stoves in
CROSSROADS groceries, or leaped the bars in
Mackcrclvillc as once they "leaped the
"bounty" or dropped zone little pair" of
greasy pack, or hustled home from exile to
Join that fine array of experts, going for the
Government books with quilts over their ears.
And not alone with quilts: with cork
screws and "jimmics" and ice-picks and
rows and oystcr-knivcs and bcll-punches
and derliclls and drag-ncts and lemon
squeezcrs-cverything. in short, that could be
utilized in such an investigation to harrow
the books or make life burden to the book
Keepers. Not unlikely such Il vision of what
might happen if the Democratic party should
be let loose on the bookkeeping came up be-
fore the country and gave 1t pause. AT any
rate the people, already on the point of COM
pllance with the orators demand, hesitated Il
moment and then said to tho Democratic
experts "Let us proceed softly and by de-
"grces in this matter. Doubtless the books
"should be Ovcrhaulcd and doubtless you
"coud do it. No one has ever observed a
democratic procession without remark
cling that it was composed mostly of
bookkeeper5. But it won't do to be
"abrupt. Suppose instead Of jumping
fright in to keeping the books, the
"party should sort of taper along into posi-
" tons of power and influence, beginning, say,
with keeping door" The country did eyince
willingness to let the Democratic party try
its hand at keeping door The announcement
was made that it could have period of pro-
baton at bookkeeping at one end of the Ma
tional Capitol. Morciful heavens |! how they
swooped down on Washing on-Corn-crackers,
Suckers, Hoosiers, Sand-eaters, all sorts and
sizes and ages and compilations and degrees OF
Bourbouism the lOudest and trOwsiest and