The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-05-23
ALLEGED OFFICIAL CORRUP-
TION,

So peIsistently has the dishonest
character of Federal officials been
charged by the democratic press and
politicians during the pastfew years,
that, undoubtedly to an extent, the
opinion has been reached by large
class that corruption of all kinds has
found its way into every depart
ment of the Federal government.
Long enjoyment Of political power
undoubtedly paveS the way to 8
certain independence and careless
ness as to that just responsibility
which officials should always feel
toward the people, whose servants
only they are. Therefore, after a
continuousrepublican rule oftwenty-
four years, it would not be strange
II there should BE found to exist n
looseness and somewhat disregard
f.of strict honesty among some, even
many, of the government officials.
But that this should be general
there was no reason for helief, ex.
cept what WAS caused by its con
stant reiteration by a prejudicrd
partizan press and INSCRIPTIONS
politicians of the opposition
Over two months have elapsed
since the democrats obtained access
and control of the Executive Depart.
ment Of the Government. Many
thousands of democratic aspirants
for office have beseechingly urged
their chosen President and the
members OF his cabinet to purge the
civil service of its corrupt republic
can officials; to, as they expressed 1t,
clean the rascals out; the assump
ton being that dishonesty permeated
every branch of the service in its
every part.
|! would seem, however, that the
President and his chosen advisers,
while claiming to recognize the adj
vantage of honesty and capacity in
all subordinate Offices, and to make
an active inquiry as to what extent
present officials throughout the
country were really subject to the
charge ofcorruption, yet their labors
in this direction have failed to dis
cover any exceptional amount of
dishonesty and incapacity.
The treasury of the government,
of which republicans have had for
years the guardianship, has been
thoroughly examined, and every
dollar of its contents counted with
the result that not penny has been
dishonesty abstracted.
OF the thousands of new appoint
ments daily heraldcd rarely has the
announcement been made of the
removal of the outgoing officer for
cause; and this notwithstan ling
secret circulars to the ravenous hord
of Office seekers to furnish erp0rte
proof of some miSfeanee or malfeance
of the officers whose places they
would themselves possess.
The truth is, and it is beco ming
daily more evident as this pallti.
cal inquiry into the late republican
official life progresses, thar these
sweeping charges of corruption are
false, Dishonest officials There nm
qnestionably are, as there always
have been, and will CONTINUE to be-;
but these sweeping accusations that
the republican monuments are al
NEST universally dishonest and in.
efficient in. the discharge of their
trusts Ia only senseless demagogical
prattle,
One significant proof of the char
acter of appointments of late ad
ministrations is the high apprecia-
ton shown by foreign govarpments
in the sincere regrets AT the depart,
ure from their cour of the Petireing
American Ministers.
DISTRICT COURT.