The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-24

guilt of these ring knaves as we'll as he
does to day. 1t had not been proved then,
and he did not discard them, or seek to ex-
pose and punish their criminality. In
that sense, at least, he was an accomplice
Of their villiany. Besides the public noto-
riety that the revenue was systematically
plundered, private letterg, official reports.
aud responsible affidavits were brought to
bis attention, without producing the least
Impression. He took no step and exhibited
no concern until the grand jury of ST.
Louis Numbered at the doors of the White
House. And now it is claimed as a merit
for hiEn that he allows the law to take its
course, and does not interpose difficulties
that might lead to his own impeachment
Con. Mcguire, one of the ring thieves,
published a card on Saturday, intended to
relieve Babcock, Orvil Grant, Casey, ex-
Commissioner Douglass, Luckey, one Of
the presidents secretaries, and Others
from suspicion Of being connected with
the whiskey ling hrOugs or aCiht me in
ST. Heais, The moral value of this testi-
moBy will not be misunderstood, With
the prospect of the penitentiary and per-
haps the promise of a pardon, this aid and
comfort must be very consoling to the
White House circle, Such certificate of
character deserves to take rank with those
furnished by Grant to Colfax, Cooke, and
other christian statesman, upon retiring
from public life.
1t will be observed that in vindicating
these patriots Megrue takes good care to
confne himself within very narrow limits
I-"being connected with the whiskey ring
Through or t0ith me-, Now, the general
belief is. that JOYCE and Avery were the
persons through whom the mysterious in-
Huence at Washington was procured and
paid tor. and that Megrue had nothing to
do directly with it at all. Therefore his
certificate will not help Babcuck, Casey
and company materially. though it may
serve to help himself
The bottom facts of the whiskey ring
and its secret strength at Washington have
not been reached at all and may not be
now. There is an evident purpose to
make Avery the scapgoat, though it was
wholly impossible for him alone to have
managed the various parts of the COM
binati0n, or to have welded the influence
which was Indispensable at various times
to avert an explosion.
There is one striking fact which claims
notice in this connection. When Mr. Bris-
tow was concerning his final plans to strike
the ring. Avery was his chief clerk and
under a certain degree Of distrust. NJ
record was made Of the private CORES
pondence on this subject, and no officiai
in the deparmemnt but Blutord Wilson,
the solicitor Of tie treasury. who had
materially aided the investigation, was in
formed of Bristow's intentions Avery
was in complete ignorance of what had
been going on or what was proposed, But
when everything was ready. the papers
were submitted to the president, and
some of them went into the hands Of his
two secretaries, Babcock and Luckey.
both of whom are believed to be impli
Gated in the ring, That night despatch
was sent to St, Louis, saying lightning
will strike tomorrow" Avery could not
possibly have sent it, Who did. is now the
question:; and the circle is narrowed down
to half dozen tpersons who alone knew
the designs OF the government When it
is salts actorily answered and several
clipper kilograms are explained, light will
be thrown on this matter. 1t is now yelled
in partial obscurity.