Year: 1879

tnO ~tRuuhtCu"


Let There be nO Whitewashing.


If there is any truth in the rumol
that certain public institution of thii
city, under the control ofthe mnnicipa
government has been prostituted t
shameful and lewd practices, the
soon er it is abolished the better will il
be for the credit and morals OF the com
munity. The City Council should Ger,
tainly forthwith investigate these ru-
mors and if there is found to be any
foundation to them, al once and for
once, strike blow for morality aud com
mon decency, let the stroke fall where
it will. The charge against certain
city Official alluded to in our local re-
ports Yesterday, though bad enough, Is
nothing compared to the scandal con-
nected with benevolent institution fos-
tered and supported by the tax payers.
Men in all ages of the worlds history
have yielded to temptation, and this
will probably be the case for all ages
to come, and when poor human nature
is so liable to err it is no more than
right that the mantle of charity should
be thrown around the erriug, but there
should be no charity for citadel of vice
where lewdness and crime are fostered.
The strong arm OF the law should be
invoked more against the teInpter than
the tempted, more against the promo
ters Of vice than against the victims. OF
course it is best not to be too hasty in
believing mere rumors, for it is well
known how fast falsehOod travels and
how wonderfully large it becomes as it
speeds on its course, but if the half is
true that is reported about the institu
tion alluded to, it is the duty of the City
Council to Immediately set on foot
thorough and complete investigation
that shall be entirely clear of white
wash. If there. is NO foundation for
the rumors that are afloat, then nobody
is hurt, and those upon whom the eye
of suspicion now rests can hold up their
heads like honest men in the commu-
nifty, but if, on the other hand, it is
found that there are grounds for suspi-
cion, and that there is any truth what
ever in the rumor which is casting such
discredit upon the city government, the
City Council can only vindicate itself
and the party of which the majority is
composed, by a prompt abolition of the
institution which is now in such bad
odor with the better classes of our
citizens. We know that it is expect
ed by many that the REPUBLICAN
will glory in any thing which will bring
discredit upon the Democratic party (for
the affair is purely Democratic, but if
any Republicans are caught let them
suffer- yet We prefer to await the cur
rent Of events. If the Democrats show
any disposition to protect the city from
scandal, and punish those who Judas
like have betrayed their honored trusts,
We would rather lend them a helping
hand in their efforts, than to condemn
them beforehand. 1t is true, that little
can be expected from party that de-
bauches the ballot, and afterwards
shuts down the lights upon an inves-
tigation of fraud, but there is q eli
max, point, where the tide may turn
in the lives OF parties as well as of men,
and as this is very convenient point
TO" the tide to turn with the Democra-
cy Of Wilmington, we await to see if
the buglers of the party will call a
halt, consider the situation, face about
and set their faces firmly against wrong
doing. Ii this opportunity to purge
the city from disgrace is not accepted
of course we shall then feel at liberty
to use the lancet and scalpel, and we
hops we shall be able to do it etfectual-
ly, but in the mean time We await to
see if there will be any attempt made
to clean our the Augean stables in our
city.