New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-09
IrNY TUE "ElTNp LEET

Our Democratic friends are not, ~ rule,
particularly hilarious over the accession to
their ranks of such Republicans rs General
Butler, Boss" Shepherd and Mullett. Some
of them do not mention it mt all others
barely give the names without venturlng to
accompany them with the announcement that
they have gone over because they are 81 ock"d
at the corruption in the Republican party for
they can readily see what gIaStly joke that
is but here and there some over-zeaous news
papcr treats the matter seriously, and actually
prct,nds to think their party the gamer by such
a reinforcement. These last have evidently
NOT had the experience of Republicans in tie
early part Of the war, when the enlistment OF
Billy WI sons Zouaves from the thieves
and pckp0clets OF the metropolis was
thought to be great advantage to The Union
cause. until it was found that decent soldiers
would not fight IN the ranks with them, and
that they themselves had enlisted more fol the
chance of stealing than from Il stomach
for fighting Ole Of these journals, we
observe, cries out in connection with the re-
port of their detection, " Rats leave sink
ing ship" Now it may be true that rats
like these sometimes leave ship that after
ward sinks but they are more frequently
driven ont by fumigauo1 rs in this case.
A Denver, Co Democratic paper hos as
touished its more intelligent aud discreet
party associates with two column interview
with Mulctt, the Great American Blasphemer,
in which that picturesque person Is represented
as striking out " from the shoulder" sum-
"maiy summing up GTIelds character
giving ga parting kick al the AdminiStrl-
tom etc, etc. The editor evidently does
not know Mullett. Il, introduces HIM rs " q
" gcntleman whose knowledge Of political
"af'iirs is as wide rs the country itself,
which information he doubtless derived from
! Nullctt himself If he had said his devastation
OF the Treasury was as vide Il the cOuntr
| itself h. would nearly have hit the
mark. Probably no one man in thi.
country has cost the Treasury 50 much III the
erection OF magnificent dcrricks. the costly
! cutting Of granite under vIlanous contracts
and the pilng up Of outragcs upon good taste
4, Mullctt. The derlicks that this man caused
to be pui up all over the country while h'
WAS Supervising Architect OF the Treasury
cost more than enough to have paid for al
the public buildings that were erected, mad th'
work been done under honest contracts
Readers of THE TRIBUNE do not need TO be
| told that we look upon his detection from th'
Marty precisely as we did upon his remOya
from ofli.e-as an undisgusrd blessing. liz
has been urged to 20 for the past five or 81
wears, and to stand not upon the order OF hi
going. Bounced from his Office lie has sdppcC
over naturally enough to the Democracy.
Most of the capital that the Democrats mad
| from, $40 to 1876 ont of the extravaganza
ami corruption of the Republicans they owe'
to Mullett. "Boss " Shepherd and Genera
Butler. The more intelligent of then
understand this and have the sense t
see that they actually lose one of their bes
arguments against the Republicans when thes
rats come over to them. But the Denve
enthusiast does not seem to appreciate thl
circumstance H parades Mulctt under
half column of display lines rs though he wa
really an acquisition to the Democracy, whel
any leader of the party OF ordinary shrewd
ness could have told HIM that the coming o
such recruits was calamity. and that the
Democrats could we'll afford to pay someth.n,
handsome to have Mulctt, Shepherd and But
Ter kept in office by the Republicans as
standing cause of offence to honest men. Tn
files of The TRIBUNE bear witness to on
| willingness and even anxiety, to part cOmpan.
with these three persons any time in the pas
six years. They 90 now because they hay
been found out, and are convinced that the
have nothing more to hope from the Rcpubli
can party. The ship is not sinking, but 1t la
been fumigatcd. That is What alls these par
ticuar "rats."