The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-18
OverhauIing the Books.

\ strong argument for change was
found during the late campaign in the
desirability of overhauling the Govern
ment books and ascertaining what they
really show as to the administration of
affairs for the past quarter of century.
The impression has long prevailed
that a thorough examination of these
/ volumes would disclose far more in the
way of extravaganza, maladministration
and corruption than was fully realized
| bv even the severeSt critics of the Re-
publican machine. This impression was
perfectly natural one. Ii resulted al
most inevitably from the fact that the
Government was being administered, year
after year and term after term, by a
party representing at no time more than 4
bare majority of the people. and during
most of the time a minority. Such facts
as came to light strengthened the con-
cluSion. Extravaganza was known to
exist. Frauds were known 10 have Eeen
pcrpetrated in the POst-otfice Depart
ment, the Navy Department and else
where. These frauds were disclosed by
accident, not by the good will of the
party in power; and Instead of punish
inc the perpetrators the Administration
seemed chiefly anxious to let them es-
cape with as little noise a. possible.
What more natural than that the people
should conclude that the disclosed frauds
and shortcomings are exceedingly small
in proportion to those which are con-
cealcd? What more natural than 4
popular conviction that thorough over
hauling of the books would furnish COM
panions innumerable for the HowgateS
and Bradys and Dorseys who were I'M
fortunate enough to be found out? And
what more natural, under the circum-
stances, than the Democratic appeal to
the people based upon the necessity of
turning the books over TO party which
could afford TO open them and would
open them?
The supporters of the machine sneered
at the argument, and declared there
was nothing in the books that needed
ovcrhauling. They pointed "with
pride" as they said, to the closeness
with which collections of Government
revenue had been made. and profeSsed
to regard the bookkeeping of the Adj
ministration as unimpeachable, though
it made no account of the millions stolen
by the Star-route thieves or by the ras-
Gals in other departments. But spite
of the sneer the people persisted in en-
forcing their demand. They have
hurled the Republican machine from
power; and III doing so they have been
actuated quite rs much by their desire
to examine the books rs by any other
motive.
Already there is valuable evidence
that they did wisely. Already the
trembling rascals in power are making
efforts to conceal what the books show
and TO falSify them in preparation for the
dreaded and inevitable examination.
The tools of the Washington ring
begin the bail by seeking to destroy the
evidence OF their connection with that
ring" their Indebtedness to it for their
appointment and the inference or evil
dence that they have used-or abused
their positions to pay Off that indebt-
ednesS.
There will be a good many such eff
forts between now and the 18th of March
HcAI. anu StTlCt NGlcH Will nave 10 DC
kept on all the departments to prevent
the destruction or mutilatiOn of the evil
dence of misgovernment. One of the
first efforts, probably. will be directed
to the destruction of The ''secret service
roll, upon which so Iaany are borne
who do absolutely nothing to earn the
salary paid them by the Government,
but put in their entire time in the SER
vice of some politician or oilice-seeker.
al such effolts will. however, be futile.
Is is too late. Exposure can only be
voiGed by some such device as that
which Harrington adopted in procuring
his safe to be robbed. And the resort
to devices like that, even when they
prove successful, is quite as strong evil
dence of guilt as anything that could be
disclosed by the testimony destroyed
Detroit Free Press.