The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-12-17
Demo,ishing the: Whisky Ring.

The history of the ST. Louis whisky
ring is remarkable history of the des-
truction Of the public conscience. 1nits-
ramiications it involved men OF wealth.
and standing. Crimes were committed
Of IN aggravated character with q sur
prising. impunitY. until the blow came,
which demolished, the com hination. The
ring had its origin as far back as the
johnson administration, 4 favorable Pc
riod for such organizations. The men
who dritted to the top of the political
cauldrOn in those days, We're the pOltl-
cal elite of st. Louis or Chicago. They
were sharp enough to bny off or staTe
of revelations until Secretary of the
Treasury came into power determined
To do his duty. Bribes, were quite the,
order 10 silrnce the officials of the john
son administration. and were always
successful. Upon the incoming OF Pres
ident Grant the ring was seriously I'M
paired by new appointments and sever
III wears were required to get into W ork
ing shape again. Col. Ford became
Collector and General Mcdonald Super
visor uf Internal Revenue of St. Louis.
When the former died suddenly, Me
Donald. who was the chief marpiot.
managed to get friend appointed liz
his place. So the work OF plundering
went on liveler than ever, until the
crash, which involved the whole in one
tell ruin. I.he St. Louis papers, the
Globe and Democrat. were involved ID
the Ring. Phe Globe bled them to the
tune OF $f4. 900 a year. which was only
one-tilth OF the amount of bribes eXtor-
ted from the tistillerS Oue-iifth was
disposed OF at Washington. to some
friends III the Department and the other
tour 10 local officials, as well Is news
papers. The Democrat and It's mana-
ger. Mckee. cane iEtc tlt9 ring in 1871,
bv certain manipulations. Dstensibl,y
tie hribeS levied on distillcTS We're fO~
political purposes, but they never so.
beyond the pockets of corrupt officials
! The political quarrel oflast year brought
matters 70 a focus. The declaration,
against the ring led to a division and the
success OF the Democratic ticket. Pc
upon this the official returns to the McI-
chants Exchange led to a deal of think
/ M. Discrepancies We're made known
70 Secretary BristOw. Prosecutions ant
convictions. as ali know. rapidly follow
ed, aud all will no doubt I've prosecuted
in furthcrance of the injunction to let no
guilty man escape. Two millions oi
dollars the government viii probably
realize by these prosecutions. Three
quarters have been paid over aud the
balance i, in coniiscated property. The
all-peryading friend Of the Ring At
Washington has not yet been brought 10
! ground hut ayea thiS mysterious beng
cannot much longer escape. Every ia
plication that the President or his rela-
; tiyca had any knowledge ofthe Ring has
| >in"nlarlv failed, upon investigati" Ii
! No nan could have pursued the course
! he has done were there fhe least chance
/ nf suspicion, as charged hv the enemies
! Of the administrations. Many opposed
! to tn. President politically are frank in
/ their endorsement OF his coarse. and 4
/ i; the opinion ~ st. Loui, that the Pres
/ ideut will not be content until every
! twist and turn of the Whisky Ring IL
J that city and Chicago shall be laid open
: - the woc!d,