Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-27
THE GOLD CONSPIRACY.

THE GOLD CONSPIRACY.
The investigation of the great gold con
spiracy and panic, of last fall, developes
little not already known to the public, but
the examination of Fisk, on Saturday. was
a performance the like of which is not oft
on seen or heard. Gould was somewhat
reserved, appearing to have some regard
for decency and to understand the cireum-
stances in which he was, and freely stated
that all the stories told for the purpose OF
connecting President Grant with the con
spiracy were malicious, and without foun-
dation. But with Fisk the case was differ
ent. He told his tale without reserve, and
with as much slang and GOODNESS as though
talking to party of blacklegs and row.
dies, not however duplicating President
Grant, but maniesting how much it would
please him could he really do so.
1t appears that Fisk and Gould did UNI
dertake to entrap the President, but did
not succeed They treated him to sup
per saws Fisk, but We're surprised to hear
him ayow that he was in favor of getting
down to specie payment, which was not
part of their programme. They attempt
ed to convince him that if gold went be-
low 20 the country would be ruined, but
it seems they could not make him compre-
bend what they desired, nor change his
mind to let Erie and the wheat crop take
care of themselves. Not discouraged with
this failure they tried again and again,
DIGGING his steps, and waylaying Secre-
tary Boutwell,, in order that they might
get some clue from the one or the other
about the plans of the Treasury, and con-
meet them in some way with the scheme
to send up the price Of gold. They had
nearly given up this task, when Corbin APP
peared upon the scene, and making them
believe that he had large influence with
the President led these two arch conspi-
rators into the trap which caught them and
him too. Fisk's sensations about Corbln
were not always the same. "When got
away from the old man." said he. II did
or which he said he had with the Admins
tration. | felt a great. deal pleasanter
talking to him than when was away from
him" About the time things were ready
for the final move. a letter was sent from
Corbin to President Grant by the confiden-
tial man of Gould and Fisk, by which it
was intended that he should be committed
and bound to the gold conspiracy and
placed at the mercy of the conspirators.
Chaplin the confidential man, the best agent
of Gould and Fisk, delivered the letter ill.,
to the hands of the President; the Presi-
dent examined the letter, said ''all right"
and bid Chaplin good morning" Cha
pin at once telegraphed to New York "all
right" thereupon the conspirators went
forward with the transactions of that IA
nous day which ruined some of them,
frightened all, and sent the gold premium
down lower than for many a day, clear
example of the engineer being ''hoist
by his own petar'" Now what was in
the letter that Corbin sent to President
Grant? When Fisk was asked if he knew,
he replied, mo, that is the only mistake
we made; that is where we were over
reached; we ought to have found out
what that letter contained" A sad mis-
take indeed for them, but for the country
the best in many months, financially. 1t
was one that made the gold gamblers as
thew read its effects on the bulletin boards,
and learned that the Administration was
selling gold contrary to what they antici-
pated, feel as Fisk said in his examination,
"weak in the knees" and as though a
thunder clap had struck them. If Fisk
nicknamed Corbin -'Old Hamlet" and
pronounced him "thief," and described
the Union League fellows" as sitting
around their ''self admiration dinner" to
Mr.. Boutwell, with narrow forheads and
bald headed away back to their shirt col
lars" and endeavored to damage Presi-
dent Grant by attempting to connect him
with the gold panic, it is nothing more
than might be expected of man who had
been struck by a thunder clap, and for
once had his web of villainy which he had
industriously woven, knocked into flinders.
Evidently the thunder clap struck in the
right place that time. There has been a
better financial atmosphere about New
York ever since. The gamblers who We're
caught had no friends, and honester men
pray for more of the same kind of thun-
der claps in similar circumstances.
President Paul A. Chadbourne of the uni
ycrsity of Wisconsin, and formerly of Bow
dom College, caught cold while attending
Congressman Hopkins funeral last week, and
Il. - lo.Ad,ror atf llinn