The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-12-04
THE WHISKY RING FRAUDS,

Secretary Bristow deserves unstinted
praise for the energetic manner in which
he has exposed the frauds of the Whisky
Ring and brought their authors to pun
ishment. The conviction of Joyce and
Mcdonald in st. Louis, and the earnest
prosecution of Avery, Ex- Chief Clerk of
the Treasury Department, bear witness to
the sincere intentions of the Secretary,
and give assurance to the country that
there is one man, at least, who is heartily
opposed to corruption, and is determined
that the affairs of his department shall be
administered in an honest, economical way,
aud with an eye solely to the public good.
The evidence produced on the trial of
Joyce, Mcdonald and Avery shows that
these three persons-Joyce and Mcdonald
in st. Louis, and Avery in Washington to
keep them posted as to the plans of the
Admnistration-with numerous confeder-
ates throughout the Western and South
Western States, were banded together for
the purpose Of protecting certain illicit
distilleries, and of defrauding the govern
ment of the revenue due on other whisky,
lawfully distilled, but which, with their
connivance, was not accounted for. For
these services the dealers in the "crooked'
paid the ring enormous sums, Avery alone
receiving as high as three hundred dollars
in one week for the part which he per-
formed. This latter parsonage seems to
have been the most graceless scamp of all.
Occupying high and responsible position
in the Department at Washington, and
possessing, in the greatest degree, the con.
tidence of Secretary Bristow, he obtained
the secrets of the Administration, and
forthwith proceeded to make his confreres
in the West acquainted with them. In
this way, whenever the Revenue agents of
the government were sent to investigate
matters, the ring thieves, informed of their
coming, were enabled to get their house
holds in order and could cheerfuly furnish
their books for inspection. The thievery
has extended through several years, and it
is estimated that the government, in that
time, has been defrauded to the extent of
three millions of money. The vigorous
Investigations, however, of Secretary Bris-
tow and his employees, aided by the testi-
mony Of one Mcguire, who was a member
of the ring, and who, incensed at some
treatment which he had received at the
hands of his co-laborers, turned informer
uncovered this cesspool of corruption, and
promise to bear abundant fruit in the cleans
ing of the public service, and in the intro
duction of more scrupulous regard for Off
cial duty. 1t was just such rascally prac-
tees as were INDUCED in by these Whisky
Ring scoundrels that brought the Republi-
can party into the disrepute which we have
witnessed within the past few years, and
the only possible means by which it can
regain the thorough confidence of the peo-
pie is by fearless exposure of the villain
les and the punishment of the villains. Let
the good work go on, and the result will
exhibit itself in the complete publication
of the greatest and grandest party of Ameri-
can history, and in the restoration of it to
its pristine glory and power.
tB On our first page will be found the