The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-19
rhe Revenue Rssoals Must Go.


The New York Times IL again very
much exercised over "southern lawless-
ness" and In recent issue discusses the
matter cditorially snd at length. The ar.
ticle In question Is a strange mixture OF
truth and error, but it, general tone Is sur
prisingly fair for the Times. When we
consider the outrage literature usually
dished up by that journal on the eve
OF every election 1t is gratifying to see that
| it Is even approaching the semblance
OF truth In It's utterances touching south
ern affairs. The ability OF the Times has
heretofore been married only by Its
mcndacity In the treatment OF southern
political questions, and therefore when
we find in It anything like sense
OF Justice we consider it a matter de
manding more than usual attention.
"The principal source OF the difficulty lin
the South appears" says the Times, "tc
be that the officers OF the law chosen by
the Federal Administration are not the men
that should be in such positions. Thest
officers should be above all suspicion as &c
their truthiulness and integrity, and they
should be the ablest men that can be
found" No one could ask anything fairel
than the above. 1t Is the truth in nut
she'll, as far as IL goes. Every southern
man knows that with a few notable
exceptions the men chosen by thu
Federal Government to fill positions
in the South have no claims &
either the confidence or respect OF ON
people. and in fact, that in the majority OF
cases where Federal officers have attended
TO their legitimate business some preteX
has been found for turning them out ant
putting in political strikers.
When, however, the Times comes to praise
| the work of the IDternal-Revenue Bureau il
is very far out OF the right track. Aftei
stating that the Government frequently
pleads incapaclty to deal with alleged
cases OF southern lawlessness, it continues
81 The Internal-Rcvenue Bureau did rot
content itself with pleading incapacity.
IL organized its forces carefully and used
them vigorously and patiently. 1t put
plucky and prudent and honest men In the
| lawless districts, and it followed every case
through delays and obstacles and defeats
| to the end" In all essential points just
| the reverse Of this is the truth. The
Democratic platform hits the nail on the
head when it declares that the internal
revenue system is ga nursery OF spies and
| informers, menace to the freedom oil
elections, an intoerable burden on the
taxpayers, a source Of the greatest cor
ruptior." II the Times does not know
this, it is because it has deliberately shut
its eyes to the evidence. II it does
know it, its statement does violence
10 common sense rs well as common hon.
esty. We do not deny that the revenue laws
have been violated in some OF the noun
famous sections of the South-for that
matter, woman mas recently been tarred
and feathered in Massachusetts, band oil
bandits have been captured in New York
State, and lynching is common in the
Northwest-and as long as these laws
are upon the statute-books we desire to
see them rigidly enforced; but under all
the parade about terrific battles with the
moonshlners, midnight detective excur-
sions, &C., the Internal-Reyenue Bureau
has been political engine in the
hands of the Radical party. Only
day before yesterday a Washington tele-
gram stated that the First Comptroller of
the Treasury had suspended the accounts
for expenses of WILLIAM T. WIMBERLY, OF
Mississippi, formerly an intcrnal-reyenue
agent, pending an investigation OF the
charges made that he had openly boosted
that he had performed no service for the
Government except Of political charac-
ter" WIMBERLY simply confesses iudg'
ment under the indictment OF the Virginia
Democratic platform. Every one acquaint'
ed with the operations OF the Internal
revenue system knows that rs far as guilt is
concerned he is by no means an exception
That his case should be Investigated prove:
nothing to the contrary. In view OF the fact
| tnal suCn pIOSbltuiiOH vi ointc Has DCcl
charged upon revenue officials time and
time again without moving the Govern
ment to action it would seem to indicate that
WIMBERLY is TO be punished, not for the
real offence he has committed, but for tell
ing tales out of school, and that this sud.
den burst OF virtuous indignation on the
part of Treasury official is an effort tC
build against the popular wrath that is tC
come.
Recurring to the general tone OF thu
TineS'S article, and taking it as basis
upon which TO formulate an opinion, W.
believe that if it will pursue il
investigations into the abuses Of the inter
nal revenue system with the same fairnes
with which it seems TO have looked int,
the other departments of the Government
il will align itself with the Virginia Demo
Gratis on one issue at least, and that is tina
the revenue rascals must go.
|
r r. A. Ayers, Esq, VS.. Attorney-Gene
t raj Blair.