American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-06-25
The Value OF Reputation.

If it had been rumored during the
late Administration of President Hayes
that Secretary Evarts was about to be
| exposed for his connection with ''Star-
route" frauds or railroad jobbery. there
would have come from all quarters an
indignant refusal t. accept the rumor
rs well founded. The people, without
distinction of party, would have de
clared it simply impossible; and the
belief in the Secretary's innocence
could only have been shaken by the
strongest and most convincing testi-
mony. 1t would have been substan.
TALLY the same with the late Secretary
Fish. A rumor affecting his integrity
or charging him with corruption, OF
even with compatibility, would have
called out the most vehement protests
from partisan opponents as well as from
partisan friends. .r-a
Why is it not so in the csse.of- Seere-
tary Blaine? : He occupies the same
high and responsible office which was
filled successfully by Fish and Eyarts.
He is the agent of the country, as each
OF the gentlemen named was in his
turn, Tor dealing with foreign Nations.
Why is it that when he is accused OF
completely in the Star-route" frauds,
and when the prediction is made that
he will shortly be exposed, the country
receives the accusation, not only with
out any show of Indignation, but with
every appearance of fear that it may
pl owe true?
The difference is wholly due to repu-
tation. In the cases of Fish and Ev-
arts, long lives of unsullied probty had
given their fellow men confidence
which could not be easily shaken. In
Secretary Biaine's case the record is SO
spotted with transactions which re-
quircd explanation, and transactions OF
which no satisfactory explanation could
be given, that his fellow men do not
have confidence in him. He has never
been convicted, it is true. of crime, or,
in the technical sense. of stock-jobbery;
but his name has been associated SO
often with transactions of a ''shady'N or
''crooked' character that the public
mind is not at all startled when a new
charge is brought against him, as it
would be if his reputation had not been
breathed upon.
Because of this unhappy popularity OF
Secretary Blaine, it is unfortunate that
the accusation is made that he is in
some way implicated in the ''Star-
route" frauds. The accusation may
uOt Uc lIuc. We siHCeIely tTuSb III ID
not true. The country was disgraced
once by the discovery that Cab
met officer was engaged in rascali-
ty which his position made profitable:
but if the same discovery were
made in the case of Secretary Blaine, it
would involve, in some respects, even
deeper disgrace than the detection of
Bclknap did. Mr.. Blaine, as we have
said, represents the country in its deal
ings with foreign Nations; and his con-
viction of such an offepse as has been
limited at, would disgrace us in the eyes
of foreign n ations, which is more hui
initiating, if not in reality any worse,
than being disgra ced in our own eyes.
1t is disgraceful enough as the case
stands. without any conviction. 1t is
humiliating to know that the Cabinet
officer who. in the popular eye at home.
and in the eyes of the world, stands
next to the President, is not possessed
of a reputation which will give emphatic
lie to such charges as are limited at in
connection with Star-route'' frauds.
1t is discreditable to Garfelds Admin
istration that such man holds the
chief place in his councils. 1t is dis
creditable to the Secretary to retain his
pOsitiOn Detroit Free Press.