The Star

We concur with the New York Sun in believing that there has been a very considerable awakening of the public conscience during the past two years, and that the grand revival will go forward for several years to come. Public swindling, and corruption in all its forms, had been carried to such an extent that a reaction took place, and little besides investigation of rascality has been heard of for two years—except the Brooklyn scandal, which reveals corruption in its uglier phase. The inference from this revival of the popular conscience is that no one can hereafter expect a nomination for an important office unless his skirts are pretty clear. The time has come for scrutiny of the character of office-seekers, and woe to him who has been a jockey even on a small scale. Public men must very generally give place to new men, because those of them who are not clearly tainted are under suspicion on account of having kept so much bad company. Therefore, says the Sun, "Let Ben. Wade stop swearing, Ben. Butler give up the quarry business, Jim Blaine eschew political tricks, Morton repent of demagoguery, Washburne avoid jobs. Schenck become converted and see the wickedness of poker—in fact, let the politicians generally cleanse their ways; because the examination of Presidential candidates is going to be microscopic, and the least dirt will be discovered." This advice is good with reference to the life to come, but as for the present world the old sinners have too short a time of probation to establish public confidence in their penitential sincerity.