Year: 1875




1t has been consequence of our po
litical wars that dishonest men hav
adopted politics as a pursuit in which ;
treasury may b robbed without burglary
and public money secured without forging
a name. To acquire this impunity nothing
has been necessary except to subscribe tt
a campaign fund, purchase a nomination
or take stock in some public officer in
trusted with public money.


The honest Democracy of New York were
first awakened to the fact that they had
been sold by Tweed and Lord in tbs city
| and canal contracts. They at once re.
| sponded to tie wishes Of the Republican
party and press and prosecuted these
offenders to arrest, exposure and punish.
ment.


The Republican administration has
suffered even more from the frauds Of
such impostors The heavy internal du-
ties on whisky have made this national
necessity q subject Of dishonest specula-
ton, aad there has been reproduced in
America the same, and improved, devices
as existed in Ireland when the revenue
duties on whisky were evaded by SNUG
glers and d;stillers all over the country.
The "poteen' that had 'niver been smelt
by thafe of gauger" was drink per-
haps more priced because it had been
made in violation of law pe ssed by n
hated government.


Whether President Grant had any dis
trust of the nerve of former head Of de-
partment or not; whether the abuse of
official authority was as great some years
ago as at present; whether the indignation
of the American people at these frauds
was as intense as it grew to be before the
last election-whatever the motive, the
President has pursued these defamers of
the Republican name and defrauders of
the national treasury with an inexorable
pertinacity which entities him to the
gratitude of every patriot. 1t would seem
that for every Democrat brought to JUS
tice by the State and municipal govern
ments, the President has convicted Re-
publican pretender. This has been done
so far as the President could command
the material. There have not been Re-
publican rogues enough to keep tally with
the Democratic offenders, nor have the
magnitude of the whisky thefts ap-
preached those of the Democratic rings.
Still the purpose has been made manifest,
and it can no longer be doubted that
President Grant means to punish these
Republican defaulters and deserters as he
would have punished the same offenders
under military discipline.


If, then, Tweed is radiant with the ze-
bra stripes of the Sing Sing prison, the
unfortunate Joyce will be an equal subject
of curiosity in the. State prison Of Mis-
souri,. There can be no more appro-
pirate occasion to display to the world
what shall be done unto the men whom
the republic delights to diShonor. These
Just victims of outraged public trust
should be set in efigy on high, that it
may be seen how republic avenges it.
self upon hypocrites and robbers.


1t was unfortunate for the cause of ma
tional morality that the Democracy went
back on Governor Tilden. Tweed, like
Napoleon, though in prison, still exer-
cised an influence, and his friends re-
buked Tilden for his undemocratic perse-
cution of those who had built up and
sustained the party. Fortunately for the
Republican party it has regarded the
Christening hand of public virtue with a
different sentiment. 1t has rallied around
the President and surrounded his policy
with the most substantial evidence of
popular approval.