National Republican., 1875-07-21
THE "INYAMous WASHINGTON RING"

In tho extremity 10 which the Opposition
has been pushed In tho pending State cam.
paIgIs its leading stump.spcakcr have
been compelled In their attempts 10 make
capital against the Administration and tho
Republican party 70 resort TO the time.
worn charges against the Board OF Public
Works, Particularly has this been the
case In California, where the canvass has
grown bitterly personal, and the Republl'
cans, being led by Senator Sargent and
Secretary Gorham, those gentleman have
been made the target of pointed abuse.
They are competent To answer for them
selves, however, and In SO doing have not
hesitnted TO call things by their right names.
Among the most reputable leaders Of the
party, and acknowledged by those who
know them best to be scrupulously honest,
they are independent and fearless in their
assaults upon the common enemy, and cour-
ageous In their own defense. A few more
leaders of their kidney would be worth
thousands upon thousands Of votes to the
party in the next national campaign. De-
Tending himself against certain unfounded
charges of malicious newspaper scribblers,
Senator Sargent in recent speech had oc.
casion to allude to the affairs Of this Dis
trict in the following forcible manner:
"'The Infamous Washington ring comes In
for q notice by these phrase-mongers. Half q
dozen years ago Washington was quagmlre,
with surface drainage, irregular grade, q
sickIy, intolerable hole. Now 1t is one of the
haa ankt f,1l off In ha xpffh
of miles of finely-payed streets, as many miles
of sewers, regular grades, beautiful parks;
and from being one of the most sickly is one
of the most healthful cities on this continent.
The sleepy old chivalry, who had lived In the
mud, and who liked the smell of cesspools and
the denominations of surface drainage, raised a
clamor against Gov. Shepherd and the Board
of Public Works. The Democrats in Congress
became prosecuting officers. Two inVestiga-
tions were had, one in the House of Represen-
tatives, with able Democrats on the commit
tee, and resulted in a report showing the work
had been done twenty-five per cent. cheaper
than in any other city; that It was well and
thoroughly done, and that there was an alb
sence Of fraud. The other investigation was
by a joint committee OF the two Houses, on
which, among the Democrats, was Allen G.
Thurman, of Ohio, and the report of the COM
mittee made no allegations of fraud whatever;
1t merely questioned the propriety of certain
statutory constructions. In all the twenty
five hundred pages Of testimony there is not
the least showing that Gov. Shepherd or his
colleagues ever appropriated dollar to their
own use; ever had q cents interest in any con-
tract; or did one act unworthy of honest men.
But the frauds of Boss Tweed and his asso-
ciates, in New York, made 1t necessary for
some Offset against the Republicans, and so
the Associated Press began bowling against
Boss Shepherd and though the most search
ing investigation only more and mofe vindi-
Gated the acts and character of Gov. Shepherd,
all vindication is ignored by Democratic scrib-
blers, who care more for party advantage than
for honor or decency-that of others or their
own. To illustrate the character of the tele-
grams sent across the country let me cite the one
which says that and some twenty-five others
are sued in Washington in connection with
real-estate pool. l suppose something terribly
disgraeeful is implied in that. The fact is that
i and some others of the twenty-five named
bought each for himself house lot of GER
tain real estate dealers, as a man might buy
one of q homestead association aud presume
have been, or am to be, garnisheed for any
balance due Of the purchase money for the
benefit of one of Jay Cookies creditors. This
Is my own business, and none of the business
of anybody else. But on such foundation /
End others are held up by this delectable Asso.
ciated Press for q member OF q ring. ask
pardon for alludlng TO the matter at ALL"