The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-01
STEALING IS NoNPARTIsAN.

STEALING is NONPARTlSAN.
1t is now apparent that the land
frauds are far more extensive than had
been assumed at the outset. 1t is ap.
parent likewise that some attack will
be made on the republican party be-
cause of the frauds. Instead Of being
confined to Oregon, as was at first sup
posed, the Irregularities seem to nave
extended into Montana, Idano, Wash
ington and Wyoming. Possibly they
will be found on investigation to have
still wider range. Most Of them, or
all of them, probably occurred in the
past eight years. Therefore they have
taken place during republican admin
istrations. Most of the officials involv-
ed in them are probably republicans.
This much will be conceded. The land
sale scandals will take place beside
the regulates in the post office de-
partment, which have been revealed in
the past two years: AS the republican
party has been dominant while these
peculations were going on, an attempt
will be made to show that they have
been a legitimate outcome of republic.
an leadership and republican policy.
This pretense, however will not de-
ceive any sensible person. In the vast
volume Of transactions of the general
government these days there need be
no surprise that there are some irreg-
ularities. Some were discovered during
each of Cleveland's terms. Democrats
as we'll as republicans were involved
in the postal steals. In the millions of
acres of lands sold by the government
every year it is not surprising that
there should be some crookedness. The
public lands are scattered over an area
larger than several big Kingdoms. They
cover domain nearly as large as all
of Europe, exclusive Of Russia. Neces- |
sarily the government has to select its
appointees from all sorts and condi- |
tions Of men. 1t can not vouch for the
integrity of all of them Some of the
indicted persons in the land frauds
have stood high among their fellow.
citizens in their states for many years.
They have received offices of honor and
responsibility at the hands of the peo-
pie among whom they resided, and who
would be likely to know more about
them than strangers could. They have
deluded their old neighbors, and it is
not surprising, therefore, that they
have been able to deceive the general
government. This has been so from the
beginning of the country's days as a
nation. 1t is the same in all civilized
lands. Crookedness is of all parties
races, nationalities and ages.
But the republican party has always
shown that it can expose and punish
its malefactors. 1t did this in the star
route cases. 1t did it in the postal |
frauds. The land grabbers will not
escape. taf less FRAUDS nave Deen
committed in the past eight years than
were perpetrated in Jackson's and Van
Buren's time, in proportion to the size
OF the country No individual crook Of
Roosevelt's time has stolen as much
as Swartout did in the Jackson-Van
Buren era Moreover, the exposure and
the punishment are more prompt and
Roosevelt is irnmeasurably more reso-
Lutte in hunting down malefactors tnan
Jackson and bis successor were. It is
well to bear in mind that indictment is
not equivalent to conviction. Indict-
ment does not always mean guilt. In