Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-09-19
Lust for Lucre.

A pure government can not emanate from
depraved constituency, nor can corrupt
government fail to demoralize and debauch
the people When fraud and bribery rear
their heads in legislative halls, when the de-
partments are honeycombed with villainy,
when the chair of the chief executive is un-
lawfully seized, or else disgraced by truck
ling, bartering, bargaining politician, when
men high in authority, filled with an un-
hallowed passion for money and caring
naught for the public veal, indulge in
speculation and in peculation, in conspiracy
and in pillage, when the servants of the peo-
pie deliberately plot to defraud their mas
tiers beneath the dome of the capitol in
which they solemnly took the oath of Of
fice-what must be the effect on our coun-
try when such things as these are happen
ing before our eyes Can we wonder at the
loss OF respect for public men, at the laxity
OF the public morals, or at the rascality and
instability in business circlesY Long con-
tinuance in rule undoubtedly has the ten
dency to canker party. The temptations of
place and power may, however, be resisted.
After ably and honoraby administering the
government for nearly two-thirds of a cen
tury the dear old Democratic party, which
we love so well and of which we are so
justly proud, retired with pure hearts and
clean hands. Out Of the s9FPnaSh e 81 f 8Al65
with no smell OF fire about their raiment.
But from the very start the Republican
party has been the dina Mater of thieves
and cheats. 1t has produced them, and
thrown around them its protecting arm. AS
Driefy us we may, we propose to show, from
ngures that can not be gainsayed, something
OF the enormity of Republican roguery.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Mcpherson, the Sec
rotary of the Republican Congressional Com
mittee, prepared and circulated campaign
document In which he tried to prove that,
while the record Of the Democratic party
was beiouled with robbery, that of the Re-
publican party was almost immaculate. He
claimed that during Washington's two terms
$So0,9'o.3l were stolen by public officers, or
$S.oo out Of every $1,000 received or dis
oursed by the government. Under Arthur,
he says, only $5,36409 had, down to June
81, 90, been distracted, or one mill and eight
tenths out OF every $1,000 received or dis
bursed. This was fine showing. 1t only
had one fault, il was untrue. From the an
nual reports made TO the Attorney General
by the Solicitor of the Treasury whose duty
u Is TO prosecute deiauting officers we learn
that the deialcations for the fiscal year end.
ing June 30, 1881, upon which suits to re-.
cover have been entered, amounted to $685.
4TL9L by the legal proceedings $11 ,79504
We're collected, and the government lost the
remaining $476692.93. For the year end.
ing June 80 1889, the dcfacations were
$427 ,42O24, the collections by suit 81 ,224 IA,
anu the loss 10 the government was $426,.
l96.lO. The defalcations for the year end
Ing June 30, 1888, We're 1868, 1896. So, the col.
lections amounted TO Sc, 924.32, and the gov.
earnment lost $647, 9ll24 The total amount
OF the delalcations during the three years
anterior TO June 30, 1888. upon which suits
were brought in U. s. Courts was $780,.
1897, the total collections were $1S,933.50,
and the total loss TO the government was
81, 550,S0027.
Hon. q. A, Post, TO whom we are indebted
for this Information, said at our grand Demo.
cratic demonstration on Thursday night,
the 18th instant:
These suits against deiaulting public of.
ncers are brought upon a transcript of nc.
count made by the First Comptroller Of the |
Treasury who certifies to the settlement of |
the account, and that the odicer has de- |
iaulted for the balance stated, and the Comp. |
troler, who is the final accounting officer of |
the government, recommends suit be en-. |
tered against the defauter TO recover the |
the Treasury, If he comedies with the view
OF the Comptroller on the expediency of |
bringing suit, forwards the Comptrollers |
statement of account or transcript to the |
proper United States District Attorney, and |
directs him 10 enter suit 10 recover the
amount stolen as certified by the COmptrol-
ler The statement OF amount of defalca.
tons above given Is shown to be correct.
as suits have been filed by the United
States In the various United States Courts
10 recover that amount. Such cases, where
from grounds of personal or political ex-
pediency, suits have not be'n brought, the
names OF officers and amounts stolen can
not be ascertained from any official publica.
lion. 1t Is the secret Of the Republican OH.
Gals"
Now, when to the $l,550sO0 81 reported
by the First Comptroller and the Solicitor
d the lreasuary as stolen, we add the $4,-
100000 which the Attorney General de-
,lared was the amount Of the star route
,wlndles, and which may be charged To
Arthur's administration becahse proper Of.
ort was not made TO recover the money;
he $4,000 stolen in 1884 by Burnside, the
iisbursing officer of the Postoiiice Depart
nent; the $4,000 stolen in 1884 by Morgan,
he discussing officer of the State Depart
s.~Hef viz ySVOtvVV otoiCu III 1901 Dy ems !
)loyes In the Navy Department; and the
BloS,OOO stolen in 1884 by U. 5. Marshall
Hall, we find that the thieving under Ar
bur amounts " the enormous sun Of So
'O4 ,SOO27. Nor is this ALL The ,licitor
y the Treasury reports TO the Attorney ,
General that in the three years preceding ,
une 30, 1888, official deiacations amount. /
ng TO ,S54 399.S0 were compromised for {
'44l ,33S. 7S the government thus losing Al
13O61.02.
According 10 the official reports of cabi.
ct officers YEA 1851 ,072. is were stolen from I
he government and never recovered under
lincoln, $l3,140.329.03 under Grant. 81.
S4,b233l under Hayes, and $1,000, S0O.27 {
unng Arthur's three years The total /
mount Of this plunderiig is 1851, 62477.
hese figures are simply appalling, but they {
I've no adequate idea of the extent of the
iieying carried on under Republican mis-