Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-31


civilized world; and vel, so insensibe il
the puolic conscience, that the guilty
participants In these acts OF immortality
and crime, have in DO one instance beer
adequately punished, and in many cases
bavs been continued in offices of trus
aad confidence.
The stupendous frauds of the whisky
ring, committed by dis.illcrs, with the
connivance Of the whole army OF rcve
nue. officers which were winked at, If MOI
encouraged and approved by the admin
istration amounted TO millions of dollars
and the testimony in the farcical trials
at ST. Louis, showed that the plumber
was divided between the distillers, the
local revenue officers and the govern
mcnt officials at Washington. And yet
many of the men VINO partici
ated in these gigantic frauds on the
treasury are among the most trusted and
influential members Of the republican
party to day.
If we have any pride left, any sense Of
deccncy, as people, we will correct and
reform this state OF things which dis
graces and dishonors the American
name.
General Babcock, tho private secretary
Of president Grant, was indicted in St
Louis for participation in the whisky
frauds, and through connivance Of OIL
GERS high in the government, at Wash.
ington, was acquitted, though convicted
in public estimation, and it was reported
in the newspapers, at the time, that he
was heartily congratulated by numerous
influential friends, on his acquittal, and
,hA Lat
the judge who sat at his trial.
Only u few days ago, on the discharge
from prison Of tho convict Noyes, the
New Jersey insurance manager, he was
banquetcd and lionizcd by admirers who
seemed TO sec nothing wrong in his
career.
In sharp contrast with this state of the
public conscience, In this country, | call
your attention TO fact, recently publish.
ed, that five City Of Glasgow bank direc.
tors, on being released from prison, the
other day, were greeted at tho door Of
the penilentiary with boots and derlsive
laughter, although they had stood high
In public estimation until the discovery
of their crime.
DO we not owe il to ourselves and to
our children, and to our childrens' child,
rem, that the standard of publ morality
should be elevated, and especially that
that standard, MS represented by our pub
lie servants, should be raised high above
the plane on which politicians OF the
present day stand.
And how can we moro surely accom-
plish this than by filling the offices Of
government with strong, able, intelligent
men, who do not seek them, and who
would enter upon tbs discharge of their
duties with the single purpose of serving
the people.
If it be objected that such men haev
not been educated for craftsmanship, |
reply that we do not want men in public
places who have been trained in tho
school of modern politics, but rather
those who possess sufficient intelligence,
tlrmness and integrity to honestly dis.
charge the duties of their Offices, and
stem this fearful current of immortality,
and turn the tide the other way.
The work house and prison arc neces.
sary means OF furnishing and reforming
wrongdoers; but healthy public senti-
mcnt Is more potent than these, and the
people of this country should demand
that the party in power, whether 1t be
the republican or democratic party, shall
reform this state OF things, for which tho
loose morality of the public service is
mainly responsible.
Let the issue be made up, here and
now, between the people and the republl-
can party, and let II be insisted by the
people whose government this is, that
men occupying high official positions
shall set an example of morality and in
tcgriiy, and exact of subordinates the
faithful discharge of evsry duty.
Thunder IL from the house.top-pub.
fish II from the pulpit-teach 1t in the
school room that, under our form OF gov
servants of tho people, and not their
that they arc responsible to the
people for the faithful discharge Of Of
account for their conduct, in office.
The present chief magistrate OF the
country uttered the sentiment, believe,
in his letter of acceptance-thH he Uho
serces has country best serUCs has party best
which, If it had been carried into his adj
would have done much to
correct tho abuses and scandals Of the
civil service.
But Mr.. Hayes, In accepting the Office
Of prs dent, to which he had not been
elected, proved himself incapable of ris.
Ing above personal ambition and partisan
politics, 10 the appreciation OF tho
principle which underlics the relation
of public officers TO the state--the sacred
ness Of official trusts.
| might occupy your time for hours
In referring to facts which provo tho
hollowness and insincerity of the prom.
Uses of the present administration 10 re.
form these abuses; but will content my.
self with calling your attention TO one
recent official scandal which has been
widely published to tho dscredit OF our
country; and cite republican authority
for the facts, about which there seems to
be no dispute.
(llere the speaker read from an article
in the milwaukee, Sentinel of Sept 30th,
relative to tho malieasancc in office OF
Mr., Seward, consul at Pekin.l
This brici statement of the scandalous,
official conduct of the men who have ad.
ministrated the government since the
war, would slem TO DO sufficient TO con.
denim tho republican leaders, of the pres.
chi time, in the estimation of all hon
est men, but win refer 10 Que more
n