The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-12
The Real Causes.

| Our learned neighbor, the Tribune,
gives four direct and one indirect cause
for the receut Wall street panic. We do
not think they are sound.
FINALLY, there has been some dis
honesty and recklessness," says our
learned contemporary. with more re-
spect for truth than for grammar
Dishonesty and recklessness have
been the true causes of our troubles;
dishonesty in public and private life;
recklessness in the mad pursuit of
wealth and in the methods resorted to
for its accumulation.
The shoddy fortunes made during
the war iDaugurated an aristocracy of
money bags. Everybody wanted to be-
long to it and to outshine his neighbor.
Grant as President, eager for money,
took presents. The members of his
Cabinet. eager for money, took brides.
dis private secretary entered into a
gang of Government thieves.
Congress bestowed 290, OOC, 900 acres
of the public lands on railroad corpor-
atoms and the Congressional saints
grew rich.
seJay Gould, Huntington and other
great operators took their lobby to
Washington and scattered wealth anon Q
the National Legislators.
Gould, Fisk and Corbin gave the
Presidents household practical illus
tration of the value of rise il, gold in
the form of a twenty-five thousand dol
lar check, and out of this grew Black
Friday.
Credit Mobilier came along and
Cakes Ames gathered in his Vice-Presi-
dents and Congressman at comparative
" low prices.
With Grants second term came the
increase of his pay to fifty thousand
dollars, the salary-grab game and back
pay to Congress.
The disguised people elected Mr..
Tilden President, but the Republicans
refused to go. By the aid of fraud and
forgery they stole the Presidency for
Hayes, and Hayes rewarded the thieves
with public offices in which they could
plumber the people.
Then came another election. The
chances of the Republicans were des-
perate. The corporations, monopolies
and banks, favored by the party, raised
a corruption fund to buy Indiana. TIE
SPECTATORS raised four hundred thou
sand dollars to the fund on the pledge
of Supreme Court Judgeships for their
tools. The army of office-holders was
assessed. The election was bought.
Arthur, then Vice President. after the
purchase banqueted Dorsey, its princi-
| pal manipulstor, and publicly extolled
the power and efficiency of soap"
Garfield became President. He
cheated those to whom he had pledged
patronage. Some of them branded
him as cheat. One of them assassi-
mated him.
The Star-route robberies, among
other public. crimes. came 10 the sur
| face. The robbers were indicted
Through bogus prosecution they es-
capped. To reward the unsuccessful
prosecuting counsel the Treasury was
further plundered.
Is it surprising that with these en-
Rnples at the head of the Government,
corruption, greed, dlshonor and de-
termination to make wealth by dishon-
est means should spread among the
people?
When Grant stepped from the Presi-
lency into a swindling brokers' office.
which obtained money from victims on
false pretenses, which sought to i'm
press the belief in its solvency upon its
| customers by pretending to be inter-
ested in heavy Government contracts,
and which used securities intrusted to
its keep;nS-is it any wonder that the
Fishes, EDos. Dodds, Matches and
int
The true cause of the panic is easily
traced. There were venality, prodigality
and dishonesty at the head of the Ma
ton. Gift-taking, bribe-taking and dis
honesty prevailed at the White House.
The Presidency was stolen. High Off
GERS of the Government boosted of their
election through the power of "soap."
The President was murdered By disap-
pointed spoils hunter. Public robbers
were protected by the Administration.
Grant descended from the seat of Wash
ingtOn into the seat of Wall street
shysterss full partner, from leading
armies to Safeguarding. Monopolists
enriched by Congress, in their turn en-
riched Presidents, congressman and
Judges. The demoralized people rushed
lhto Win sPeCuidtlOHS. dIueS were
inflated by fraud and trickery. Then
came the inevitable smash, and when it
was approaching men stole aud swindled
in the desperate attempt to save their
money.
The cause of the panic is plain. What
senseless folly to attribute it to the tar
if, the Silver bill. the election and the
frightened lambs.-M. Y. World.