The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-10-10

reposed in those called to the direction
of affairs where not only the purses but
the personal rights of everybody are in
volved, are greater than in the case OF
the private concern, in which only few
are. concerned, and none of them in the
interested way of the citizen with. his
government.
One would naturally think that the.
man who had been entrusted with the
power OF administering the affairs of
government and OF designating
persons for the performance OF detail
duty, would be careful to a
high degree in selecting persons to serve
as employees, lest their own honesty
and integrity might be impugned
through the roguery of those for whom
they are responsible. Unfortunately
this is not the rule with Republican adj.
ministrations. In Grants time govern
ment was so corrupt and its officers and
employees SO dishonest, that absolute
confidence in the public servant was the
exception. The thieves, defaulters and
official rogues were so common, that
their exposure created no sensation or
establishment except in the case OF
whisky ring explosion or some similar
gigantic crookcdness, involving millions
Hayes went into the Office thief and
by means of the monumental theft OF
the age, hence only theft was ex-
pected from his administration.
He carried the business somewhat
further than was looked for,
surrounding himself with star route
rogues protected by himself, his cabinet
ministers and department chiefs and
clerks. We have before US a long list of
thieves and scoundrels who were re-
warded by Hayes for helping him to
steal the Presidency, including United
States Commissioners, judges of cleo
ton, marshalS, and so on. Arthur was
notoriOusly corrupt as a federal official
under Grant; indeed, the fact that he
was an official under Grant was suf-
ficient to cast suspicion upon his
honesty. But when he became President
there was profession Of honesty made
for him, and the idea of reformation
having gotten hold of the people, it was
announced that he would reform
the service which had grown SO cor
rppt His idea OF reform is not like
that Of the merchant or the banker who
detects an employee in the act of robbing
him. Mr.. Arthur seems 10 think the
way to lead the erring man from his evil
ways is to reward him with better Of
fee and enlarge his opportunities for
or committing other rogueries.
Somebody has taken the trouble to hunt |
up the antecedents OF a few of President |
Arthur's appointees, and a formidable |
list is going the rounds OF the press,
telling of this rogue or that, what was
his crime and his present office. From
this list We select q few at random:
Mr.. Bigham, who, while deputy col
lectOr, interfered in a most unjuslifable |
manner with the examiners Of the De-
partment of Justice, and in the prose /
cution against an officer on trial for |
the government, was soon |
thereafter rewarded with the position OF |
Internal Revenue for the whole State. /
Paul Strobach. who was appointed a !
deputy marshall in Alabama in order /
that he might make the government |
pay the expenses of his canvass as a.
candidate for Congress, rendered four |
accounts against the government, every |
one OF them containing false charges.
He was promoted to the position Of |
United States marshal.
Mr. Wilson, who, when his accounts |
as deputy marshal were being exam
med, made violent and unwarranted
assault upon the officer investigator g
them, was afterWard rewarded with the
position of receiver of public moneys.
In Texas, Mr.. Russell, who was ap- |
pointed United States marshal, had. ac
cording to the testimony, proved de-
faulter 10 the State OF Texas for over
S13, 700, which seems to have been his
principal qualification for the Office.
Mr.. Arther knew OF the offenses OF
these men, for the newspapers were not
silent, yet he promoted them, suggest
ing that either he or those who in
fuenced him in the matter either pro-
flied by their misdeeds, or were under
such criminal obligation TO them that
they dare not deny anything the
might ask.
Happily the country is approaching
change in the administration, and one
which promises real reform, and not
he Republican kind which rewards evil
loing and protects official thieves be
cause they are good political workers or
hold party secrets. II is time the change
vas made.
A DEMOCRATIC newspaper saVs that