New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-07-01
IN GREAT BRITAIN.

CORRUPTION IN GREAT BRITAIN.
In the Times Democrat of June oath
appears an article signed by Britishe,
dated at New Iberia, which we reproduce
with comments on the same:
Il was never more astonished than when
| read your remarkable assertion in your
editorial. Corruption in Great Britain"
in to-day's issue. OF late many experts
in municipal government from this ccun-
try have crossed the the pond for the
purpose of investigating just such subjects
as graft, etc. They have unanimously
declared that there was little or no cor
luption in the government over there.
They stated that there was absolutely
| none i'll our municipal government.
No one ventures to assert that there
may not be one or two instances of graft,
but when such do occur they are wide
apart.
The present army scandal will be thor
eughly investigated, and no money or In
fuence will stop the culprits from getting
| their just dues.
But what astonished me was the asser-
ton that ''in America public sentiment
expressed through the press, would have
forced an investigation more than a year
ago; in England in takes long time to
reach that result The natural conclusion
will be that perhaps after all there is
very little difference between the two
countries in the matter of official cor
ruption, the chief difference being that
the American press, ever alert in the pub
lie interest, watches the actions of officials
SO closely that fraud and corruption seldom
90 long unexposed and punished; whereas
in England the policy has been to regard
such exposures as sensationalism, and to
say little until the facts develop officially.
All of which would indicate that perhaps
our British cousins are not so much bet
ter off than we in regard to officials, their
apparent superiority in this respect being
due to fact that scandals affecting officials
are less discussed in the press and before
the people.
Now, in my opinion, the above asser-
ton is SO far from the truth it is almost
laughable.
First, we have just as free a press as
America. Second, there are several "yel
low jourals" in England, such as Reyn-
Odds Newspaper, who take delight in
publishing any scandal that they can
find, and who certainly would expose any
crookedness, if such existed.
But to compare the universal corruption
and graft existing in this country to the
isolated cases which occur at home. is in
deed "gall."
Here every man in politics with very
few exceptions) is regarded as being in
office for "what he can rake off, In
England all politicians are regarded as
gentlemen, the calling is an honorable
one, and those who are found to be other
wise are soon gotten rid of.
You state also that all charges of graft |
are Immediately investigated over here.
Now, really, Mr.. Editor, You know this
to be incorrect.
How many times have you published in
your own paper reports of graft which |
have never been investigates l do not
suppose that you could pick up single |
important daily paper which does not
print some new scandal, Every Ameri- |
can admits that his municipal government
is rotten to the core; that State govern |
ment is very little better, and that the
United States government while some |
what better, is far from being free from |
and yet you compare America
to England
Mayhap once in FIVE or ten years you
hear of some graft at home, but immedi- |
ately it is investigated and the culprits |
punished.
You must admit that were every Ameri
can political crook to be in prison at the |
present moment the prisons in the whole
country would be unable to hold them
A BRITIsHER.
In Britisher's attempt to reply to the
Times Democrat editorial entitled ''Cor-
ruption in Great Britain, The does not score
a single point, and evidently the I'D. is
If that opinion for it has taken no notice
Of it.
1.-THE King can do no wrong" likewise
hose under him who have Hvested rights"
which in this country would stand for gil
,antic graft 'IVested rights ravished
.ndia and entailed upon it starvation and
3ubonic plague "vested rights" destroy
ID two republics in South Africa, also
killed in various ways %, 500 Boer women
md children, and in order to save their
antilles from extinction the Beers sur
endered after losing $500. "Vested
lights, forces millions in church rates
rom those of every sect. and turns over
he money to my lord Archbishop OF Can
erbury, and others of Anglican faith.
he very title of England's King, ODE
ender of the Faith is species of graft,
Or it was conferred by the Pope upon
Ienry the Eight for his treatise against
Iartin Luther's professionalism.
OF course England has free press
Inch employs large faring headlines and
Irge typed columns to expose the sean
ais misfortions of other nations, but for i
erself only few sticks of exceedingly !
ne type.
Concerning degradation and corruption !,
England one should read Jack London | !
,count. (
England "by grace of Cod claims the
,sted right alone to patriotism, but a like !
ntiment in others she terms "jingoism. I
A
Has Stood the Test 20 Years :
ne old, original GROVES Tasteless Chill Tonic :.
ID know what you are taking 1t Is iron an | 4
inine in tasaeless form. No cure, no pay soc
1T WILL HELP NEW IBERIA. +