The Monticellonian., 1895-08-09

1 banded together to shield them from merited punishment, witnes- es who could testify 10 their crimes were either bought off, in undated or murdered, to get them out of the way; while bribed jurles and false testimony manu- factured to order where available when all other means of escaping justice failed.
 But times have changed. Offici- al crime no longer enjoys the se- curity that once was its boast. High-placed criminals now trem- ble Tn their seats, not knowing when they will be dragged to court to answer for their usurpations of power, their robberies, their job. berries, their briberies and corrup- tions. This has been brought about by the arousing of the peo- pie against the public plunderers and spoilsmen, and, as result oi this popular uprising, five Alder men of the city Of New Orleans have been condemned by juries ol their countrymen to terms of i'm prisonment at hard labor in the penitentiary; while the entire pol ice force of New York city has been reorganlzed, it's high officials being sentenced to punishment or else iguominiously dismissed from the places they had dishonored and disgraced.
 Every in the great cities of the Union this work Of unearth. ing and clearing ont official cor ruption is going on, and nowhere moro vigorously than in New Or leans. It is true. powerful politi- cal combinations have been made to defeat the conviction and pun. ishing of official criminals; but so long as there are jurles that can. not be bribed and witness that cannot be bought, no political combination or conspiracy can do more than retard the good work :. | Moreover, the best citizens throughout the State are working to revise and reform the election laws and franchise, and although they are being actively opposed by the interests that seek to con. trol the political machinery in the interests of plunder and greed; the people are going to be victorious, and the more bitter the opposition to this reform the more certainly and effectively wlll 1t be consum- mated.
 This free country is the only one on earth where men known for their evil reputation and crim- inal deeds are deli berately and purposeIy employed in the public service The Daily States, of this city, remarking upon the fact tha, recently several bad men in the employ of the city had come into serious criminal prominence, de clares that if investigation were made it woull be shown that not a few, but largo number, of the men in the public service of the city would be found open to seri ous reproaeh and condemnation
 It this be SC. what does 1t provei Why, simply either that the bad men who hold subordinate places in the public service exert i certain power or influence over superiors, or that those high in authority have need of such men to do their bidding. and they em ploy them for that purpose. Ii makes no difference which horn of this dilemma be chosen, either is sharp enough to transfix those who hang upon it.
 But the people of this city are tired of bad men in office, wheth- CT in high or low places, and they will not rest until they shall be wholly busted and their places fill ed by honest citizens who have some sense of duty and some re- spect for the law.-N. Q P,edy,me.