Year: 1876

EoSDoy, March lii suppose I nced


scarcely .sy that London, spite Of one agree
able incident, has not been q very agreeable
place for an American this week The
special dispatches to the Tim0 have given
us--with copiousness never before known
the details OF tho crimes, scandals, invcsti.
cations, accusations, exposures, and know
rot what else which have made the past ten
days hideous You will remark that the
mode Of transmission has made them unusu
ally conspicuous The Tines has done us
the honor to print them at the head Of its
news columns in ita biggest type. The dis
grace of one existing Cabinet Minister in
Washington has taken precedence OF the ap-
pointment Of whole new-and probably
honest--Cabinet in France. This morning
we are treated to the shameful story of the
brokerage in public Offices which the Pres
ident's brother has carried on. Nor has
there been day this week when some new
American rascality has not been published
to Europe in a similar way that is, in the
way to make it most glaring. do not say
so complaininyly, These events arc matters
of news. They are by far the most interest.
ing news of the day, even to Englshmen,
and the Times Is quito right to print the
most interesting news in the most prominent
place.


1t is inevitable, also, that this news should
be commented on, and on the whole, don't
think we have much cause to complain Of
the comments. | should like to see them
reprinted in full in every paper in the
United States. They would not be pleasant
reading, but they would be profitable, and
never heard that medicine was less likely
to cure the patient because he did not like
the taste of it. Their effect over here is quite
another matter. The cause of Republican
ism in Europe has got blow from which it
will not recover all at once. The crimes at
Washington are hardly less helpful to Euro
pean Absolutism and Aristocracy than the
crimes of the Commune were in 1871 From
the crimes of the Commune mems minds
the minds of the most moderate-recoicd
with horror. From tho crimes at Wash
ington mems minds recoil with disgust; and
probably disgust is not less powerful feel
ing than horror.


Europe is more than ever convinced that
honest and cultivated people will have moth
ing to do with politics in America. We
owe our critics some gratitude for the view
they take. They do not say there are no
honest and cultivated people in America.
They do not doubt there are many such, but
they set themselves to inquire how it hap
pens that such people hold themselves aloof
from the conduct Of public affairs. 1t does
not happen, they say in monarchical coun-
tries; therc, as rule, the abest and most
honorable men are proud to devote them.
selves to the service of the State. 1t is only
in republic that the opposite rule holds,
and the conclusion drawn from this fact is
naturally unfsvorablc to { republican form
Of government The conclusion is not, in
fact, either logical or just. 1t is not true
that republic is the only nurse of vices
There has never been anything more profit
gate than the jobbing Of public Offices in
France under Louis Philippe when Guizot
was Prime Minister; nor than the jobbing
in the puplic funds and speculations of all
kinds by the ministers of Napoleon iii,
But those things happened day before yes
terday Belknap's thievery was yesterday
and everything that went before is suddenly
forgotten. Again l say, VIC have no right to
complain. The fact that corruption has left
stain on other Cabinets than those of Pres.
ident Grant is no reason why corruption in
President Grants Cabinet should not be
censured. 1t is clearly TOR the general good
that the lash should be laid on every rogue's
back as it comes along" G. w. S." in ~