The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-10-08

"S "iS|i'Sulc vi iliuu winch mas
yet been made even in this day of po
ltlcal prohigacy and widespread off,
c'al corruption. Our correspondent,
presents tn e most iuvincible proofs
that General Babcock, who has lille.
gally been foisted into the position O.
private secretary of the President
who is the confidential agent and trust.
ed comp anion of General Grant
whether a Long Branch Or in the
White House; and whose functions
extend from looking after the Presi.
dental baggage to the negotiation OF
annexation treaties. has been engaged
in supplying the District of Columbia
Board Of Public Works With false
vouchers whereby the United States
Government has been deflauded OF
great sums of money.
This is no vague and unsubstantia
ted charge. The proofs of Babcock's
crlmInality which our correspondent
gives are so complete and overwhclm-
Ing that the most extreme partisan of
the Administration must be stunned by
them. The official reports of the
Board of Public Works, actual meas
urements made by thoroughly com
petent engineer, and even the earth
marks on the Winder Building, all
combine to show the falsity of vouch-
ers which Babcock gave his confeder-
ates in the District of Columbia Ring
in order to enable them to plumber the
tax payers of the United States. There
is no loophole for escape left to this
detected criminal.
Those who have observed the ef-
frontery with which the members of
the District of Columbia Ring have
pursued their reckless course i'm utter
defiance of law--running the District
Government into bankruptcy and con-
tracing enormous obligations which
the law expressly prohibited them
from doing-have wondered what in
tuence they depended upon to shield
them from the punishment justly due
to such malfeasance in office. The
most common explanation that has
been given of their conduct is that
they thought they could control Con-
gress by giving members profitable
contracts and opportunities to share
with them in promising real estate
speculations.
There is no doubt that several Con-
gressmen have been won to the sup
port of Ring schemes by such means.
But it is President Grant and not Con-
gress that is mainly responsible for the
laWlessness of the Board of Public
Works. 1t was the President who APP
pointed them to Office, aud it is the
President W h 0 mas continued them
there, notwithstanding that he is fully
acquainted with their fragrant viola
tons of law and honesty. What mys-
terious Influence has been brought to
bear upon him that he should thus en-
courage the robbery of the Government
and b e spoilation of defenceless
community?
This is question which we do not
propose to answer nor discuss at this
time. 1t is no longer a secret that in-
telligent and wellinformcd citizens of
W ashington believe that Gen. Grant
profits personally by the operations of
The Ring through his confidential agent
Babcock, whose sudden financial pros
Derity has occasioned general surprise.
Whether there is any foundation in
fact for this snrmise we neither know
nor care, for it makes not the slight
est difference 50 far as guilt is concern
ed whether the President abets fraud
III the Government for the benefit of
lis own pocket or only for the emolu-
nent of his favoriteS and cronies. The
simple fact that he sustajns this shame
ess Ring in all its acts is enough for
,im to answer for at present.
But it is a scandal and cause for
rational humiliation that an inmate of
The White House aud the trusted con-
idential agent of the President should
,e detected in detrauding the Treasu-
Y by means of false vouchers in order
% aid the Board of Public Works in
heir greedy violations of Y.