Year: 1875

The revelations at st. Louis in connection
with the exposure of the whisky frauds have
a double aspect. As showing the existence
rob the Government, embracing officials who
were sworn to do their duty, and private citi-
zens Of supposed good character-in this light
the revelations are simply sickening. But, as
indicating determined purpose on the part of
the Government to expose and punish the
thieves, supported by universal expression
of public sentiment in favor of that course,
they become source of encouragement to the
friends of honesty and good morals. That
such q fraudulent combination should have
been formed at all, and that the members
of the ring, officials and non-officials, should
have engaged so deliberately and so ex-
tensiyely in the work of plundering the
Government is a shocking proof of low
moral sense. But that the President and
his law advisers should show such an infex-
ible purpose to bring the rascals to justice,
and that the whole moral sentiment of the
country should rally on the side of right, is,
we repeat, a cheering sign. OF course, such
such an Infamous conspiracy could only have
its origin in that which has been pronounced
the root of all evil-the love Of money-and in
the insane idea which has prevailed to such a
ruinous extent of late years, that the accumu-
lation of wealth is the chief end of man, and
that its acquisition by any means short of
murder or highway robbery is justifiable.
This idea and this standard of morals consti-
tute one of the frightful legacies of the late
civil war. Perhaps the worst result of such q
conflict is the social Generalization which,
as history shows, great wars always pro-
duce, and it cannot he doubted that this
country is still suffering from that cause.
The exaggerated value placed upon wealth,
the intense desire to make money rap
idly and easily, without much regard to the
honesty or dishonesty of methods, is one
of the unmistakable symptoms of such demor-
alization. 1t has produced frightful crop of
crime in this country during the past ten years,
and was the inspiring motive Of the whisky
ring, as it has been of countless other breaches
of trust and outrages upon honesty. The de-
moraliZation referred to is not confined to any
locality nor to any political party. 1t has pre-
vailed, in greater or less degree, everywhere,
and in all classes of society. There has been
quite as much dishonesty among bank officers
as among Government officials, and every fraud
ulent combination against the Government has
been composed of men of both parties. The
disease has been pretty nearly epidemic. Let us
hope the timei is not far distant when the country
will experience q thorough revival of common
honesty, and when a purified public sentiment
will compel the recognition of higher stand
ard of morals and action. Anexample should
be made of the men implicated in these latest
frauds. Some of them were trusted officials,
and others personal friends of the President.
They all took advantage of their positions to
defraud the revenue like villains and to plum
der the Government like thieves. 1t is due to
the cause of public morals that they should
all be vigorously prosecuted, and, If found
guilty, severely punished. They are entitled
to no consideration whatever. 1t is a case for
justice, not for sympathy. Thus far the
President has honored himself by his stern re-
fusal to interfere in behalf of the delinquents,
and he will render great service to the cause
OF public virtue if he will see that all of them
are brought TO Justice,