The New York herald., 1875-11-17
Mckee, Mcdonald & Co. as Friends Of
the Administration.
SHAMELESS PUBLIC THIEVES.
Distillers Forced to Join the Conspir-
acy or Made Bankrupt.
General Grants "Friends" and Secretary BriS-
tOw's Threatened Removal

You ask me 10 state what / know about tho Whiskey
Ring-what il is, who originated IT. what connection,
any, had with the administration OF the conduct Of
the republican party how its exposure brought
about II a conspiracy 70 rob The government 1t
originated in the bribery Of a newspaper It's chief
object at the outset professedly object 10
the end vas 10 sustain that element the republican
party which has the of Grant to serve It's
ends Its exposure due to the courage and prac
rcs sense Of Secretary b H. Brstow But in is origin,
It's operations, and final overthrow the greed OF in
aryiduas played an important part
Prior 10 Grants Inauguration there had been
Whis&ey Ring in 81 Louis. Officials under Andrew
Johnson had made money dstillers had spent
money freely the party which johnson aided
But the Ring of those days was in comparison bung
ling affair II served The cupdity Of certain
republicans who sought the control Of certain offices
alter Grant elected Nearly all we're disappointed
Grant had formerly lived at ST Louis and had there
Ict of friends reward, few of whom had been active
partsans Mr. William Mckee, senior proprietor Of the
Democrat then the leading republican organ in that
part Of the country, demanded The appointment OF
Colonel Constantine Mcguire Collector, with the ex-
peetation that his brother, Henry Mckee, would be
Deputy Collector Now the Deputy Collector has
charge OF the dstilleres But Grant appointed Colo
mel Ford, unknown republican, who had
loaned money to Grant when he in great need and
who subsequently, acted his confidential adviser in
the disposition Of his private means. Well known re.
publlcans recommended for Supervisor OF Inter
nal Revenue in that district Grant appointed General
John Mcdonald, who had held intimate relations
with hlm when Grant was in command in the hisss-
sippl Valley and who understood TO have made some
money In cotton operations below Memphis that
time When 1t known that Mcdonald was likely to
be appointed there a general opposition alike by
hngi bv Tha Mpr-
chants Exchange protested. Prominent ct
tens and the newspapers protested. What
business had known OF Mcdonald did not
lead them to think him suitable person for
such an Office Leading republicans protested Mem
bers OF Congress from Missouri, then all republicans
led by Senator'S Schurz and Drake, who bitter
warfare personally all united in protest But while
this opposition most threatening Mcdonald
manned at St Louis, saying openly. ''They need not
trouble themselves; know General Grant better than
any Of them, and shall be appointed, matter who
protests He right.
M'KEEs vISDIcTIvESEss.
Mckee was indignant and bitter He had not been
able to control the Coectorshp, and from that time
spoke Of Grant hahtualy terms which it would not
be decent to repeat Eariy the next year the con-
troversy respecting removal Of dsfranchsement began
and the Democrats readiness 10 split the republican
party on that issue almost wholly due 10 McKees
vndictveness toward Grant and desire show his
power. He and his active partner Mr.. Houser, had
been among the most bitter disfranchsers and could
In way have been led to take position against dis
reimbursement but for desire to control the federal
offices ST. LOUIS. Grant, fully advised OF
ths, and supposing that higher motives
governed schurz and other republicans who opposed
continued dsiranchiscment, made war on the liberal
movement quite unnecessarily for nine tenths of those
who supported il cared nothing about the Offices, and
had that time feeling OF antagonism toward him
the republican party. The result the liberal VIC
tory 1870 Missouri Mckee felt that the power OF
his paper had been shown and began to talk freely of
national movement against the republican party, of
which his paper to be the chief organ, and Gratz
Brown his associate in the Democrat the Presi
Dental candidate Then began the whskey Ring.
MKEEs FRIESDsHIP-sPoms.
Early in 1871 Mckee said to me III that time editor OF
ihe Democrat that had been presented to him
for changing the Of the paper that the opposi-
ton Grant ought cease; that there very i'm
portant arrangements on foot which would be highly
profitable to all OF II could be good terms
with the federal officials. Naturally insisting upon
light was told by him at last after many signin
wnks and mods that the matter in question
cerncd the revenue service, and that We
could just as well make $1,000 each
ii we would let him arrange and say nothing more
IN the paper against Grant | declined change my
political opinions readily and presently notified
that my services editor longer needed
demanded reasons, but was pcremptorty refused any
explanation. This was in February 1871 The paper
did suddenly wheel around TO the support OF Grant,
and in March the FIRST general OF whiskcy
distIlers made. According testimony given at
st. Louis regular share OF the money collected from
dstilers from the nrst paid to John Leavenworth
since deceased, for delivery william Mckee How
~ fhf the
nlling influenced the sudden the political
opinions or Mckee and his paper others judge.
now THE sRiNcn WAS HoRGED
The first assessment made proiessedly to raise a
campaign fund for the city election in April ISL As
soon the Democrat changed its course great effort
put end to the liberal organization and
unite all former republicans support Of the admins
Iration and victory in St Louis needed as proof
that this reunion had been effected. How much
OF the money raised professcdy fer this purpose was
actually paid for campaign expenses is not known.
But than distier has told me how he was In
duced contribute and how, II he objected TO fraud,
he forced choose between participation with the
Ring or bankruptcy. Colonel Ford at that time
Collector and Mr Concannon who mas since made his
peace with the government by testifying believe, was
deputy IN the Collectors Office II distlcrs or recti-
hcrs declined 70 act with the Ring taken rst
y cntrap them 10 apparent technical violation
d law, which, BY prcarrangcmcnt among officials.
selected at oncein cases before the distlers
rectihers had time 70 discover that tho crookcdn stun
VAS on their premises Then their establishments we're
seized aud thoy we're told 70 Mr Ford When they
saw Ford they we're told 70 70 10 Concannon. When
they went 70 Concannon they told that there was
little difficulty which they could arrange Dy seeing
John Leayenworth. when Lcayenworth had
explained matters they perceived that II they did as he
desired there would be trouble, " not they
would be prosecuted and convicted for violation of law
and bankruptcy wocld be inevitable How many men
IN st. Louis forced the Ring IN this and other
ways, and how many into Il voluntarily probably
nobody Will ever know. Lcavenworth is dead Ford
dead and others who had part ia these earlier trans
actions are longer accessible But Mcgrue then an