Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-12-05

Attorney General. ano Uls earnestly
hoped that IL will be acted upon IA
vorably. Moreover. our experience
shows that outsiders claiming political
influence some times sell their IN
fuence to candidates for once. OF. IN
other words. blaclxmail these csndi-
dates. There should be legislation
which will permit OF summary dealing
with sucn offenders
However. the prime need Is not new
Hesitation, but the punishment OF
those who offend existing laws. The
Postofice Department Is making GER
tain changes In the methods OF admin
istration. notably in the method OF In |
spection. by which the service will be |
improved and the chance OF eorruptUn
existing without discovery be minlmi- |
red: but the only way 20 meet the real
evil Is to punish the offenders. by re
moval in any event. and where pos
sible by prosecution under the criminal
statutes. In any great business. public
or private. wIong-doing Is certain at
times TO occur. The way To guard
against IL Is vigorously 10 scrutinize the
character OF those appointed. carefully
10 supervise their actions after ap-
pointment and. finally. TO punish with
relentless severity those who 70 wrong.
All this is being done
The immediate reformation or the
service by the turning out CO the cases
against both those within aud those
without the Postofice Department.
who. by their acts. have brought them
selves within the grasp CT the law
will be pushed with the utmost vtgor.
Every effort must be made TO see that
! both tho delinquent official and the out
I slider who shares his guilt are punished
TO the limit Of the law. In pursuance
| or this policy the individuals above
enumerated have been indicted In no
case has the indictment been sought.
/ save where the officials OF the govern
mcnt were convinced OF the mans guilt
and in every case the government Will
exhaust every eXpedient in it, power In
the EFFORT TO see that justice is me,ed
out TO the offenders. Those In the pub
lie service whose duty il Is must ever
be vfgflant in the detection % wrong
doing. fearless in is exposure. relent-
less IN its prosecution: but in the last
rcsO Z. when everything which the pub
lie official. whether legislator. Judge OF
] executive officer. can do has been done
II remains for the jury. drawn from
the people and representing the people
TO 90 even-handed justice. shieidin.
j the lNARNtuAr AuA uNNAiAAAH ~ ~ MIC
led by any plea resraining from punish
mcnt OF the guilty.
No crime calls for sterncr reproba
ton than the crime Of the cOrruptionis
ir purlic life. and Of the man who seek
20 ccTlpt him. The bribc-Eiver an
the b-.be-taker are equally guilty
Both alike sin against the primary lax
OF the States safety. All questions O
difference in party policy sink into Ia
significance Wren the people OF TIL
: country a,e brought face 20 face Wit
n QUESTION ike this. which lies az IN
A., root OF honest and decent government
On this question. end on all others ltk
IT, We can afford 70 have no civisic
q among good citizens. In the last n
T sort. good laws and good adm nistrauo
: alike must rest upon the broad has
. OF sound public opinion. dual publ
Il conscience, an easy-goinG acQHiescen'
: In corruption. infallibly means debas
- meat. in the end means Tic ruin OF OF
institutions. Self government becom
farce IL the representatives OF q
y ptonlc corrupt others CT are themselv
a corrupted. Freedom IL no; = gift Whit
= will tarry long in the hands OF q
: dishonest or o. those so foolish or
- incom Dctent as 10 tolerate dishoncs
. IN their public servants. Under O
system. all power comes from he pc
pie. and all punishment rests ultimai
y ~ with the people. The liberation
y TIE wrong. not the exposure Of (
~ wrong, IS the real offense.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT