Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-02-24

AA6 RNNANN N
The question has beenasked, WI.
does not the Ledger so for Ander
SOM" This, perhaps, deserves NOR
than a passing replsAt our hands, TIT
most sweepinganswsr Ia sfe words, j
that the attorney general has gone 70
him. Within the last ten or hfteel
Years various d~efalcations and delin
d~uenCies have occufredin Shelby coun
ty. 1t has happened that these wer,
dug mp, so to speak, by other officer
Of the law and grand %juries. WheI
indictments were once found, thu
duty of prosecution rested in tn,
sworn officers, elected or appointed
for that purpose. 1t is not the prov
ince Of the newspaper to work uppub
lie sentiment against a man on trial
whether for a petty Offense or a grave
crime, although this is often done in.
cidentally in making comments or re
ports or giving currency to public
rumor. Mr.. Anderson may not be
guilty of all that he is charged with
the indictments may have been pre-.
mature, and he may escape conviction
and punishment like water through a
seive. Yet if be is. guilty of one hall
that is alleged, and we are charitable
enough to call it a derelictiOn Of duty
he has nevertheless terribly disap-
pointed his friends and many of them
admitting that at least he has mis-
managed and made mistakes, will
inquire "Wbo then can be trusted 2
No man stood fairer. His habits were
unexceptionable he was addicted
to none Of the small vices that some
times lead to larger ones. and the
people who knew him felt that il
there was one man in the county
to whom they would hand a
fat pocket-book for safe keeping over
night without a receipt, this man
was Judge Anderson, or as his old
army friends afectionately called him
Jim Anderson" He did get hold Of
many a fat pocketbOok, but the most
Of these seem to be mislaid. We
would only be Zoo glad on his and on
account of the needy people whose
funds he received if he could make a
settlement tomorrow and walk the
streets q free man. The custodian Of
a public trust, a revenue col
lector, a treasurer Of be.
nsvolent society or Of any public
enterprise cannot tamper with money
not his own without walking on the
edge of a volcano. How many a prom.
Using youth has been ruined by taking
a little money from his employer, ex.
pecting to restore it. But who evel
heard of such boy, or even a cashier
Of a bank, or a public officer, hal
putting back a dollar once taken. 1
costs many a struggle, perhaps, to taxi
the first dollar, but if no baC
consequences follow at once, h,
gradually comes to feel secure, ther
bold, then utterly reckless, knowing
that it is impossible to retrace hi
steps, and that detection, like dealt
must come sooner or later. Repent
ance is not restitution, and the loser
have to make the best of the situa
ton. It is possible that out of s
much agitation the system of hand
ling public moneys will b
changed and the experience of olde
states and, countries made availabl,
A million of dollars, perhaps, ha
been lost in this county since the wa
through the culpability or ineficienC
of public officers. A big bond do,
not always protect, for property ca
be transferred or squandered. "
are not prepared to suggest a renee
for the defects OF the present sy
tenn. A rigid enforcement
the laws that we have wou
be a great improvement. Public sc
timent can demand and secure tn
Let the guilty be punished VIII
found guilty, but not before, and
our grand juries and attorney gener'
require all officials holding pub
money to show up their accounts al
exhibit clean balance sheets as oft
as necessary for the protection of t
public. We have no maudlin syl
pathy with the official who bccom
a public plu derer, but would aeco
him Q fair trial by law.