The Washington critic., 1886-11-27
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER %, 1886.
"BLACK MAIL"

over and the public mind resuming its
normal equilibrium, after one Of the
most phenomenal disturbances on
record, 1t is to be hoped that all good
citizens will patriotically unite in re-
pairing damages.
OF course, that which is done, is done.
The dead cannot bc BROUGHT to life. 1t
will take time TO heal some of the
wounds that have bscn inflicted. The
many wild stories that have been
scattered broadcast cannot readily b.
recalled We are confident, however,
that a majority Of the people of Wash
ington are now convinced that there
has been much ado about little or moth.
ing in the whole bu-iness, and tha. the
exercise of more discretion In the first
instance would have saved the city
great deal Of unpleasant noto'icty. II
might possibly have prevented the
series of personal disasters which fol-
lowed 1t would certainly have eS.
cmptcd the District Commissioners
from much OF the harsh criticism to
which they have been subjected But
IL was not so ordered by fate and we
must now take the consequences.
We are also confident that few, If
any, of the people Of Washington, or
members of Congress, or soiourners
here, believe that the idea of black
mailing Senators or Representatives
was ever entertained for a moment,
either by the Major of Police or
single officer on the force, or that it
ever entered the head of any one con.
nected with the District Government.
People seem to forget that blackmail.
ing is one of the most odious and in
famous of crimes, resorted to only by
the base and depraved and abhorrent to
every honest instinct Of mans nature.
1t was never contemplated by the
Police Department to employ such an
agency as this to influence Con-
gressional legislation. The testimony
doesn't show it; common sense doesn't
bear out the supposition.
If anybody holding place Of trust
tuC blSillSl htiG
guilty of such an offense we should
demand not only his instant election
from office, but his speediest possible
consignment to the penitcntiary.
The true policy of the Police De.
partment, so far as its relations to
Members of Congress admit Of policy,
is one Of courtesy and attention, 1t
might not be eXpedielt for the Chief
of Police to authorize his men to keep
aspeciul look out for truaut statesmen
and see that they came to no harm,
but 1t would certainly be in the line OF
self.intercst If the object were to
secure their friendly offices at the
Capitol.
Upon the other hand, to institute a
system of espionage over such OF them
as are given to occasional seasons of
hilarity, with the view of producing
the record against them in order to
compel their support of desired legisla'
tion through fear of exposure, woull
not only be au abomlnable aal
atrocious outrage, but absolutely
suicidal, and certain TO cover the
originators with obloquy and shame,
We cannot tolerate the thought that
such scheme has been harbored or
suggested by any one in authority in
this District.
OF the same preposterous character
are the insinuations against the Com
missioneIs in connection with the
Massachusetts avenue extension. There
Is no such demand for votes that here
and there member of Congress is to
be pursued by the police into some
compromising situation, that may
thereafter be used to terrorizc him this
way or that on the floors of the Capt.
tol,
The theory is as incapable of belief
as 1t is in itself offensive
Not that our rulers are Immaculate,
but that they are in positions where
even If they were tempted to be cor.
rupt they could not afford the inevi.
table catastrophe of surrender to the
temptation.
May we not, therefore, look for q
suspension Of all the foolish talk that
has been INDUCED In about blackmqi
as an element of the late investigation,
While we cannot agree in all respect.
with the verdict that the Commits
sioners have rendered, we may credi
them at least with having rspudla,eC
this imputalion upon the Police De
partment, as we also ropudia,e th'
shameless suggestion with regard {,
the Commissioners themselves.
IT Is ESTIMATED by the BallimOr,
Sun that on the LIST of July, 1887, ther,
will be at least hundred million dol
lars in the United States Treasury
"aboye every want Of the Goyernmen
and out of the pockets of the people.
To provide against such an undesirable
plethora, the Sun says such a reduction
in taxation must be made as will IRE
duce the cost of living and the cost o
the means of making living" TC
reach this end, however, either tn,
tariff or the whisky and tobacco ta'
will have to go. Which il shall be vii
not be determined this winter. There
fore the surplus of July next is ineYl
table.
The annual reports of the Chiefs ol
Engineers of the United States Army
have for many years commenced in al
most the same language. 10 wit