The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-07-23
cniy Tw0 Eents-Rut!

Some OF the Republican newspapers
are disposed tn be sarcastic over the
recent count of the money in the Fed
ersl Treasury, showing deficit of only
two cents in hundreds of millions,
Where are the rsscals," they say,
that are to be . turned out" when
such a showing is ma,le with illimita-
lie possibilities for steaiingr
The stealing has not been done in
this way. Since the formation of the
Government there have been very few
downright defaicStions in the public
offices, There is a cast iron system
that protects the Government, and
makes direct larceny "A very dangerous
business, sure to be discovered and
promptly punished Thore are not
now and never have been many de
faulters in the Federal service.
The plundering has been done under
the forms OF law, aud in the exercise
of discretionary. power. The mann
moth steal of the Credit Mobilier, that
run into tens of millions, was no vul-
gar operation of grabbing from a
strong bog or safe, but Il superb bit of
financiering and speculation in which
the co operation of Congressman, Fed
eral Office holders and corporations was
necessary. There came first the land
and money grants, then the waiving
of a first and acceptance by the Gov
ernment of a second mortgage, then
the plundsring construction company,
and issuance of bonds having prefer
ence oyer the Government security
Millions on millions were got away
with, and the shrewd operators escap-
ed all legal responsibility. They made
the Government protect them in the
robbery.
So, too, of the whisky ring frauds
the most gigantic steal of our day. 1t
enriched the magnates of the Repub
lican party, only a few of the rogues
OF lesser degree coming i'll for any
share of punishment.
The star route postal swindles were
of the same character Seven millions
of dollars was the amount of the esti-
mated plumber. 1t was done under
the forms of law-was within the dis.
oretion the statutes placed in high
officials. And the futile attempt to
bring the robbers to justice was made
the preteXt for a tremendous job in
their trials.
So, too, of the sWindles in the Navy
Department under the Robson rcgi-
me. Millions were stolen by favOrite
contractors and jobbars, and the Gov
ernmeut was without recourse because
the extravaganza, or the PLAIN term,
stealing, came within the discretiOna
ry powers of the department officials
There was generous disposal of div
idends.
Aud the land grabbing was carried
on in the same way. There was good
Republican law or department rulings
to cover the appropriation OF an inn
perial domain The closing hours OF
the Arthur administration we're distim-
guished by Sunday and night work in
making out patents for unearned lands
to Gould and Huntington syndicates.
Pure stealing, yet no indictment could
be found.
People who engage in such magnifi-
cent operations don't descend to the
vulgar theft OF 81 few dollars from an
Office safe. They wcuil be detected
and punished if they dill. Bat when
it comes to stealing millions OF dollars
using the powers of tiov"rnment ta
plunder the Govcrnmenl-th Repun.
lican leaders were there all the tine
They were equal to tb- emergency.-
s'ost