The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-09-25
Examiner and Chronicle
A Remarkable Achievement.

Nothing is easier than to accuse a
public servant of dishonesty. Many
men do this thoughtlessly. They
take it for granted that a man who
has the opportunity to steal the pub
lie money will steal it. Others, and
especially the talking politicians of
the Opposition" party, use the accu-
sation as part of their political am
munition. They hurl charges Of cor
ruption at the office-holding portion
of their opponents as though honesty
and good faith were virtues to which
every one who accepts an office at
once bids farewell. That so sweep
ing an accusation is unjust need hard
ly be insisted upon; for if the Govern
ment were represented in all its BRAN
ches by men as vile as the picture
drawn of them, the Nation would
have been bankrupt in purse and char
acter long ere this. Besides, what
slur is it upon the people themselves,
from whose ranks the ofice-holders
are tal-en!
Many public servants have stolen
the public money: there can be no
doubt Of that. But we do not believe
it to be true that every American cit
izen only wants the opportunity of ac-
cess to the public treasury to begin
Immediately to steal from it.
A good illustration of the ground
lessness of this general charge Of cor
ruption in Office is furnished in a let
ter from Mr. Raum, the Commission
er of Internal Revenue, to Secretary
Sherman, directing attention to the
faithful collection Of the revenue
throughout the United States during
the past year. Commissioner Raum
says:
AT the close of the fiscal year ended June 30,
1879, caused a careful examination to be made
Internal Revenue throughout tn e United States
with q view of ascerk aiming if the public mou-
/ have the honor o. transmitting herewith a
statement of the collections made by districts,
amount collected and; accounted for by him,
from which it will be seem that the total COL
Iecnons OF 1ntesaaI o revvenue during the past
amount thus received has been duly accounted
for and paid into the Treasury. These figures
for which 1 have deemed it proper to address
letters of thanks to the respective officers.
The Commissioner further states
that during the past three fiscal years
the total collections of internal reve-
nue. have reached the great sum of
S343, ,098,179, all Of which was duly
accounted for. There remains in the
hands of two collectors, who have
been retired from the public service,
about $4,000, which has been report
ed to the proper officer for suit, and is
believed to be collectible.
This is a remarkable showing. We
doubt if a parallel to it can be found
in the history of any Government on
earth. 1t is creditable alike to the
officers of the Bureau and to the Ma
ton whose servants they are. 1t
shows fidelity, exactness, promptitude,
careful supervision and high sense Of
honor. 1t is with pain, therefore,
that we see III some quarters a dispO
ition to belittle this notable achieve
ment in order to break its effect in a
partisan point of view. This is as un-
wise as it is ungenerous. The honest
collection and accounting for of so
vast sum ought to be a subject Of
pride to men of every shade of politics,
and we do not believe the American
people will be unwilling to give these
faithful public servants full credit for
the efficient manner in which they
have done their duty. Partisan abuse
OF such fidelity is poor policy; it will
be pretty sure to react upon those who
are so shortsighted as to resort to it.