Year: 1872

alarming import ls the circumstance that the re-
and 80 ~ s BEEN 50
completely subjugated by the administration and
Its political managers as not only to lose its abty
70 rise up against such misdecds and abuses, but
ca" nnss 6ss RESs ss s sae
ever rso wrongs I and abuses may exist they can be
seek the truth and to recognize S i it, Il. But a
political party which fails to recognize abuses
them: Its very ascendancy will thenceforward
stand IN the way o. true reform. Is that the con-


ason y 'ae e % me % ,es
In O conspicuous place to denounce the abuses OF
the government and to bring about their correction.
fon nave neard perhaps, OF certain debates in Con-
gress last winter, which greatly disturbed the
equanimity OF the party managers, is.5


were revealed, and an Investigation insisted on.
What happened The men who denounced the
republican party But the voice Of the people made
itself heard, and after much manGuyring and
wranglng the administration leaders perceived that
1t was granted But not one OF the men who had
The investigstion was made. mass % Of testi ssSs
mony put the existence OF those evils beyond Q
stpd the those IN
were In vain. The truth could not be entirely
smotnered. II was clearly and beyond cavil estab-
q large scale; that the Custom House, with its
legion OF officers, had in the most unscrupul0us and
the politics Of the State ate Of r New York ana this IN
the name OF the President; that q m0st scandaOus
practice called the general order business, by
pundered, and which had been previously de-
nounced by the merchants, by Congress commit
SELF was still In full operation, and that the person
most benefited by It was one Of the favorites
Of unrghteous gain on the strength OF general in
troduction, written by the President himself main
tanned his position with mysterious power and q
a
the evil, All this the testimony made clear. What
which is before the country It 10 wonderful per-
formanee. That there was bribery and thieving
could scarcely be denied. Bribery and thievins
listed, and now there was nobody In particular to
blame for it. That the Custom House had been con-
felt In politics could not well be denied, but 1t had
always been 30, and beside, why should not
essFs ssks in politics. Thus the
into a political machine was right
after all, and nobody was to blame, and for the
irregularities may have occurred, but the enemies
Of the administration and the republican party
have been basey sandering the innocent persons
involved and, on the whole, nobody is to blame
This is a virtuous administration, and there Is the
end OF It, And all of this IN the face OF the most
conclusive testimony, and Leet Il Stocking, the
favored parties, are, with some notifications OF the
system, In the general order business to-day.


THE FRENCH ARMS iNvESfidAfIoN.' ~


An investjgation was demanded Of the sales Of
arms TO French agents during the Franco. German
war. The men who advocated the inquiry we've
held up as traitors to the republican party as ene
mics OF their country and as monsters OF wicked
ness generally. Again, not one OF those
who denounced the scandal was appointed mem
ber OF the investigating Committee. The inquiry
was made: The testimony showed In the clearest
manner man % that the the laws of the country regulat.
trampled under foot; that In direct violation OF the
orders Of the War Department prominent officers
known French agents, and that under the very
eyes Of the department. large quantities of arms
been dscovered-an act recklessly endangering tue
International standing Of the government. All
,, tniS was proven 80 clearly that no sensible man
reportf The officers Of the War Department con.
strued the law for themselves, and they knew best
direct transactions with French agents. they had
o right to do what they did, and nobody to
blame; In order to- to make 50 pleasant conclusion
In the opinions Of the officers the violation Is more
profitable than the observance, and doctrine Of
our Alabama claims, would throw us out OF court
amid the laughter Of the universe. But at any cost
the administration must be protected.


THE NAVAL AND NEW ORLEANS INVESTIGATIONS.


Certain. charges were made against the Secretary
OF tae Navy. An investigation Is ordered. 1t is
clearly proven that he paid out large sum OF
money ia direct violation of the express language
OF statute. But what Is the report Of the Com
claimant equltably entitled TO the money and con-
strued the law for himself accordingly Nobody
to blame, and the administration is virtnous Ger
tain government officers at New Orleans one OF
whom at least is dear to the heart of the President
in interfering with the politics Of the State. and
other rascaity An investigation IL had. Frag-
ments OF the Testimony only have reached the pub
damaging to those officers and TO the admnistra-
tion. And what does the committee dos 1t does
nobody is to blame bv burying the truth in secrecy


The same policy is followed with regard to the in.
docIments from the War Department. venture to
say that the report OF neither OF these two investga
tons Will see the light before the Presidential elec
ton. The people must restrain their curiosity and
rest, meanwhile, in the belief that there is nobody
to blame. And now what does all this slgnfyS
What does 1t mean that when the abuses OF the
government or the shortcomings OF the administra-
tion come into question, systematic whitewash,ng
Is cultivated as one OF the fine arts-nay, as party
dutyY What does IL mean that the President can
ever SO nagranty transgress his constitutional
the ruler Of st. Domingo by force Of arms against
any foreign assailant, and even against his own
snbjectsi that the President may ever SO wilfully
violate the laws OF the land and the commands OF
public decency; that the officers OF the admins
tration may do things ever SO arbitrary
NAV be- shown ever So pross @ and that thee


independent criticism is stenced with the charge OF
party treason, and every source of ingenuity is ex
hausted on the floor OF Congress- as well as by the
party press, to justify the wrongs committed, to
protect the guilty PARTIES to conceal the truth and
to throw dust into the eyes OF the people What
does 1t mean that You see even men Of high public
station, who might be presumed to respect them
OF Presidential ncpotism. thing SO diserscef in a
republic that no man with the spirit and pride Of
an American citizen shonld be able to mention, and
far less to defend, the humating fact without the
blush OF shame tinge In his cheeks. What does it
mean, this reckless abandonment OF truth and right
and decency and duty and manly pride


WHAT 1T ALL MEANS.


II means that the party Is to be served at any
cost. II means that a party so controlled and
animated by such O spirit demands any sacrifice
for partisan success. # means that neither the
restoration OF raternal feeling between the dYerent
portions of the American people, 80 needfu to our
national existence and welfare, nor adherence
OF that wholesale system OF robbery and scandaous
msrule prevailing In the South, nor the sanctlty Of
tne constitution m @ and laws OF the country nor the
honest and economical administration OF public
affairs, nor even the pride and honor Of the nation
must stand In the way Of the effort to elect
candidate and to retain partisan power
IL means that q republican must not
presume to serve his country Dy speaking