The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-15
Current Notes.


The letter of the st. Louis grand jury 10
the President is the best answer to all the
ISLANDERS upon him, whether uttered by Hen:
derson or the opposite press.-Troy Times.
All the members of the cabinet unite in
condemnation of assistant attorney general
Henderson's conduct and speech, and public
opinion will be equally unanimous in the
same direction.-B0St0n Transcript.
The Washington Chronicle says: ''The
country has long since learned that the Presi-
dent neither shields crime nor protects crimi-
mails. During the entire prosecution of the
whiskey ring, he has instructed the secretary
OF the treasury and the encouragement to
vigorously investigate and bring to Justice
every criminal, however high or low. His
talismanic words, Let no guilty man escape,'
have been heralded throughout the country
as an earnest of his purpose to crush out
fraud and corruption wherever it exists.
The reflections of Mr.. Henderson were dis
graceful and characteristic of the man. His
prompt dismissal is just rebuke to his I'M
pudence and arrogance, and will meet with
the hearty approval of every Citizen"
The grand jury indict the private secretary
warmly endorse the course of the President,
and administer rebuke to the leading coun-
sci for the prosecution, and no one ventures
to question the perfect sincerity of their mo-
tives or the wisdom of their action. The ad-
ministration adopts the only course,opeu to it
of rebuking the insult of its paid counsel, and
make haste to intrust the prosecution to
hands not less able, while having still less po-
litical affiliation with the Republican party.
And yet certain journals place so slight an es-
innate upon the intelligence and sense of fair
ness of the people as to ask them to believe
that the prosecution of the st. Louis whisky
ring has broken down! One obvious correc-
tive to this style ofparty criticism is the fact
that it does infinitely more harm to its au.
thors than to those against whom it isdi-
rected.-N. Y. Times.
One thing is conspicuous in this whole
affair: the President has stood nobly by Sec
retary Bristow in these prosecutions, and has
not only seconded his efforts but urged him
to the most vigorous prosecution Of all offend
ers. Let no guilty man escape, was his
order. When in st. Louis he refused to see
Mcdonald, saying he could hold no communi-
cation with man under indictment for de-
frauding the government. In every way he
has shown an extreme determination to see
tue laws TiSOrOuSiy eulOrceu anu every OHenu-
er punished for his crime. On the other hand,
there has seemed to be growing disposition
in certain quarters to attribute all efforts at
reform to one or two members of the admin
istration and make capital for them at the
Presidents expense; as though its councils
were divided and its members were trying to
work each others ruin. A greater mistake
could not possibly be made. The admins
tration is practically unit, and especially in
the determination 10 see the laws vigorously
enforced.-Ne,c York Graphic.
The attempt ito discredit the administra-
ton, and especially the President, on account
of the dismissal of Mr.. Henderson from the
government counsel.n the whiskey trials at
st. Louis, will not succeed. Mr.. Henderson
is an old enemy of the President, and seems
to have taken advantage of his position in
court to go outside of the evidence and make
direct personal attack. By his own show
ing his language was grossly disrespectful,
and was not called for for any purpose of the
| trial.-Boston Advertiser.