The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-30
Mr.. Bristow and the whiskcy Ring

Of which will appear on Suud ", Dec. D.
Mr.. Bristow and the Whisky Ring.
1t is very evident that serious troubles
inside the Administration are likely TO
grow out of the exposures OF the Whskcy
Ring and the prosecutions at st. Louis.
They may end in Mr. BRIsTow's retire
mcut from the Cabinet, rs was threatened
by MCDoNALD, JOYCE, aud others, when
his raid on the thieves was begun last
spring. At all events, crisis has been
precipitated, in which the President viii
be forced to sustain the Secretary Of the
Treasury to the bitter end, or to accept
his resignation with his reasons for Offer
ing 1t.
This crisis has como about from tho tes-
timony given by BEvis, one of the mdict-
ed distillcrs Of crooked whskcy, on the
trial of AVERY, late Chief Clerk OF the
Treasury. He stated, according To the
telesraphic report, that 1.-THE famous
despatch received here four days before
the seizures were made last May came
from Nj. BARNES, travelling agent of
E1-1osi:a,. nls,~-cnA-Av X Co., Louisville,
who seemed to know all about II. On
cross-examination, witness sad he had
been informed that Secretary BRIsTow
was interested in the firm OF NEwcoMB,
BUCHANAN s CO..
This statement, being made by witness
of the Governments is said to havo "crc-
ated sensation" and was doubtless pre-
concerted with the defence for that OBJ
iect. But when BEvTs was pressed for his
authority he could give none and utterly
failed to sustain himself by any reason-
able explanation of 30 gross charge. The
motive Of il is transparent. He is under
criminal indictment, and though the policy
of the prosecution is to deal leniently with
those dlstillers who were inveigled into
the whiskcy Ring by corrupt officials, it
must be borne in mind that they have all
suffered in business and character, and
that every grief is laid at the door OF
BmsTow.
OF course Mr. BRIsTow could not sit still
under an hnputauon of this kind. and
hence his energetic letter 70 the District
Attorney OF st. Louis, which has the rims
OF a sterling man reused 10 indignation
and determined not to Let his character
suffer, no matter who else may be hurt 10y
fearless and searching Investigation. II
order that the nal should be clinched' III
concludes by saying, 4" | have read this e
the President, who repeats his injunction
'let no guilty man escape
When the assault along thu whole line O
the Whiskey Ring was opened eight month
ago. the chiefs at once adopted tw
methods TO weaken its vigor aud to arrc'
any further denomination. The first wa
to threaten the exp sure Of their confel
crates in high p aces mt Washington # pro
ecuted. and the second was TO fabricat
the charge now repeated by BEvIs, tha
Mr.. BRIsrow was Interested in a Kentuck
distilery; thus they hoped TO break Il
moral force Of his proceedings again
themselves.
The threat of uncovering rogues at Il
capital did not frighten the Secretary
the least, as was discovered when the il
dictments were returned in ST. Louis; Al
the other Charge was abandoned becau
1t failed to make any impression fro
being false aud malicious. The object
reviving it at this time IS easily explaine
end the source of the SANDER is not at
doubtful.
Various witnesses have testified that Il
tiers from BABoocK were shown Ivy JOY
giving assurance that tho Ring would
protected. The relations between Z
Pre- ident and McDoEALD, the reversal
Mr. Bmsrow's order changing the snDe
Visors, and thu appointment of AVERY
chief clerk Of tle Treasury over the $
rotary head, arc all matters Of notoria
TheJ have attracted the grLyest suspciC
toward the White House, ana left stro
conviction on the public mind that
Ring had there lis chief support
70 divert attcLlion from this focal poi
md TO fix it against the very head n
front of the prosecution, WI, q piece
strategy worthy OF the scoundrels W
conceived It. That this detraction Ori
mated at Wa.hinwton aud was snread
60 ~. Lnuis, will be established at
proper time, and in way to bring
guilt home TO the beneneiaries Of the ri