The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-10-23
agents and Of1icial Harmless and ruffians, ! won

J
der that public revolt did not occur.
Under the infamous mOiety system no mer.
chant was secure against the seizure OF his
books and most private papers such men US
Jayne and Frank F.. Howe terrOrlZed the mer-
camille community and plundered the mer-
chants ut will. Custom House bribery was
the regular practice. and Custom House ap-
pointments were mere counters In exchange
Tor political influence.
All this was proven; was published In the
Tribune, for Horace Greeley then controlled
1t; and in the sun and partly in the Herald.
The committee went back to Washington,
the majority 70 send in whitewashlng report
and the minority to tell facts, as they found
them. Gen. Grant, then President, who will
never and can never see any thing wrong in
one OF his party subOrdinates, took no other
action than through Williams. his Attorney
General, to order the merchants to be prose
Cuted tor paying brides TO his officials. But
no changes We're made. Public sentiments
however, was aroused; and, finally, when a
firm 80 eminent and so respected u Phelps,
Dodge 4 Co. We're robbed under the forms of
law OF SIG. ,slO in one amount, and when it was
shown, and can to-day be proven that in hon
es,y and equity they had over paid more du.
ties than they ever under paid still no repa.
ration was made. 4 reform in the laws that
permitted such 0utrages was accomplished,
but II was done against the strongest efforts
OF the Administration and their leading mem.
beers in both Houses.
In 1879, the President OF the United States
and Mr.. sherman, the secretary OF the Treas
ury, communicated to the senate, and it was
made public, that the New York Custom
House, tor long period of time, had beer
used to manage and control political affairs
That the duties of the officials were regarded
rs subordinate to their partisan work, and
they had made the Custom House "a center of
political management. That, under the con-
troll OF Messrs. Arthur and Cornell, tneC Custom
House would be one OF the principal political
agencies of New York, and in order to have
the important office of Collector efficiently
and honestly administered" the President
suspended Mr.. Arthur and nominated zen.
Merritt i'll his place. Mr.. Sherman formally
claimed that he had established by proof tho
existence OF gross abuses in Mr.. Arthurs ad
m!ni>tration, and declared, in his letter Of
Jan Il, 1879. that the restoration of Messrs.
Arthur and Cornell to Office would be a serious
injury to the public service, involving loss
of revenue and Hn increased expenditure"
That is to say, President Hayes and Score
tary sherman, in 1873, fully Endorsed in the
strongest language the report of Messrs. Bay.
ard and Casserly, made to the Senate in 1872.
1t is plain that Garfield and Arthur will he q
weak repetition OF Grant and ColfaX. To hope
Tor reform from men Of such antecedents Is
unreasonable. l have said nothing Of either
OF them except to cite the statements Of their
own party associates. and they should stand
or fail on such showing.
And now OF the Democratic standard bear
er. Events OF an important political nature
caused public attention TO be drawn to Win.
field Scott Hancock in 1867, when he was in
command of military district in the South
west. Up To that time hisspiendid bearing IA
soldier had won admiration for his gallant.
~ and skill; but a brighter glory settled ON
his crest when TO use the words of senator
David Davis, the cherished friend and CHOSEN
counselor of Abraham Lincoln). 1.-The soldier,
clothed with extraordinary power, voluntari.
lnfs Il, a
his sword, testified his fidelity to the Consti.
tuition, and set an example of obedience to
law which will pass into history AS his sound
est claim to distinction"
The bright light OF public scrutiny, the hos.
tile lens OF party luminosity, has been turned
upon the spOtless arMor Of bis private and
public character and no haw or stain has been
disclosed. Indeed, the hostile suspicious and
lchargeS OF his foes caused his private CORE
spondcnce in 1876 to be developed, and in
what a glorious attitude does his letter to
Gen. sherman, in the critical period of the
fraudulent perversiOn of the results Of the
Presidential election, exhibit him! Well may
Judge Davis say: at marks him IA one of the
wiscst OF his time, with u stAtcsinan's grasp
OF mind and the integrity of patriot"
Nor is his associate upon the ticket less
worthy of public confidence. His record as a
legislator Ill Congress, as leading finHncier
ana manager OF important Interests i'll his
own State, his unblemishcd character as IL
man and statesman are all in accord with the
promises of reform which our success will
accomplish.
Before the American people to day ] ar.
raign the Republican party rs it il now led
and organized, as obstructive to the welfare,
prosperity and wise government of the coun
try.
In the present contest they base thcirhope.
on the passions of Il war long since ended,
and the fruits of whose success being unity,
peace and concord, the american people are
entitled to enjoy. and in the coming triumph
OF the conservative and National Democracy
will do so.