New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-13


Administration with q warmer desirc than ever 10
make il successful while if he insisted upon urging
tho SantO Domingo scheme further there might be
complications which ought TO be avoided. Avery
short time afterw strong eortswere made to carry
the matter through in spite of the adverse vote OF the
Senate. do not know upon whose advice the fresi-
dent did this. but ne may in the mean time nave
had 70 think that that advice was not WISE
MDoNMp's APPOINTMENT SOURCE OF coRRUP-
lion.
"Again whom Gen. Mcdonald was appointed Super
visor Of Internal Revenue for the Missouri District,
nv colleague. Mr.. Drake and myself. won't TO the
Treasury protest against it. not for any political
reasons nor to favor any Cthcr candidate, for had
none hut because Gen. Mcdonald was known in ST.
Louis ~ a diSrcputable nan, and we both predicted
that his appointment would certainly corrupt the
service there. Similar rouoDstranceS were madc'
think by several members Of the Missouri delegation
and by y very large number Of the most respectable
citizens Of ST. Louis.
But Gen. Mcdonald b,aSted at the time that all
Congress and all ST. I.ouis might protest against hs
appointment and still lac would have It. IL there
was conspiracy in that matter, surely I was no
party 10 II. l tbe advice | gave was good.
When the Commissioner Of Internal Revenue had
ordered the transfer Of supervisors from one ds-
tlict To another SO as to get Mcdonald away from
ST. Louis which would have broken up the Whisky
Ring there the existence Of which was strongly sus-
pectod at the Treasury ID partment. some influence
was used with the President 10 have him counter
Inanl that order and this was done. There may nave
been conspiracy at tie bottom Of that. but surely
Twas no party TO It, The evidence ia the 1T.
hons whisky cases have read 1T III the hewspa-
Der. see.as 20 indicate that it was Gen. Paddock
used his nhueace in thai direction. SO IT appears,
generally that mus, look ior conspiracy n an
other quarter"
Tux MILITARY COURT oF INQUIRY UNwIsE.
"What do you think OF the Military Court Of In
quiry on iabcocks case -
Il thought from the ir>t Chat it was great mis-
take There is law prohibiting any officer u
the army from holding sny civil appointment,
and that II he does he shall fortci his corn-ms-
son. From this itw"uid appear very question
able wh,;her BaLcock il officer al the army
at all. Jhcn besides d. not see upon what princi-
pie OF pablo policy conspiracy 20 dei'aGd the
rgvcnne by civil officers shoud be slbmiyted 10
military court. and finally It seemed Ia me that
such measure was placing the army IA very dis
agreeable situation. No military court could pos
Siby have the evidence The cases 10 completely at
lis disposal as a civil court; anu if such inc0m-
rlete evidence they had rcodered a verdict which
aftervard by trial in a civil court bad loan showh
to be wrong. tho officers composing thai military
conri might have been placed in very false po-
sition IN spite OF their desire to do justice.
think therefore. Is was very wise FOR them 10 ad-
Journ un,l proceedius The ordinary courts of law
will he completed"
POLITICAL PowgE OF TIE WHISKY RING.
"IIss The Whisky Ring in St LOUIS exercised
much influence on the politics Of your Slater
81 think 1T has; and | can give you one striking
incident Last year Citizens tckot was nonii-
mated FOR state oiiogrs, ffom the Governor down;
majority Of the Republican party thought 1t wise
moi 10 make any party uOin atoms, but to support
that ticket 80 rs to the Stato from the control
of the Bourbon Democratic element then in power.
The Whisky Ring opposed this movement strenu-
ously and when TIE Republican State Convention
had resolved, 10y large majority, not II make any
nominations OF their own bit 10 support The ililzons
ticket the Whisky Ring gsad their whole influence
so defect IT, in which they succeeded. They sue
eecded also in having Mr. Mcguire. who is now in
dicted for completely in t'Ie whisky frauds. nomi-
mated icr The Office Of Mayor in St Louis. but were
disastroLsy defeated ia the election"
ENDORSEMENT oF rHK PRESIDENTS SCHOOL VIEWS.
what do you think OF the recommendations IN
the Presidents message concerning the school quoS
ton and tho influence of the Catholic ChurchT
Il think tboy are IN principle, correct enough,
and IN ny State myself aud my friends have awayo
most earnestly worked III that direction. Without
discussing The policy of extending the powers OF the
~
very questionable whether it would be beneficial to
tho general interests OF tho country to make 1t an
is.nsiu = national campaign. The best thing per
hans t4t can be done j. that the Democrats in Con
gross should unite with the Republicans IN accepting
TIE con3ltutional amendment proposed by MI.
Blaine aad submit it TO The Legislatures. OAe of
tho da,rqTs / SEQ in making such questions the
subject of agitation in national contest
consists IA thus: that it might push other ;hin9S
OF imui-dIlte necessity INTO tho background. Inc
things ns,g 10 be done. which 1t seems to me are o.
Immediate necessity, arc tho restoration OF specie
naymcnis. inc r.stabiishment Of sound constltu-
tonal principles and tine publication Of our Govern
ucut h. q thorough reformation Of The civil service
Oar cxnnIcAce has been that emotional politics,
sucA for instance as tho slavery question viii per
INIT q = GA. many persons OF uacloan character and
hid intentions 10 smUgglo thems,iy ot INTO pi0ni-
hence and influence under a cry appealing 10 Tue
popular Ledrt. Daring ihe war many bad thlliss
were apt TO DO overlooked when the men who did
them wore only night on tho main question. In
times of gr,at national danger this could perhaps,
not 80 avoided. lou raise the NO PopeIy' cry
no our national politics. and make IL the absorbing
ISSUE and sou Will $50 that all the Joyces ana
McDonalds will be ia a blaze of excitement against
the Pope. in th0 meantime looking Tor an oppoI-
tuni,y TO steal ali tho money they can lay Their
hands on want all luen elected to Offices OF power
and influence to DO right on the school ques-
ton. bar 1 want them no less to be right on the
question Of honest government And think the
necessity of so reforming our civil service not
only to sond thieves tO jail but to nfse into the
whole machinery of the Government q moral
spirit and a sense of honor that viii pre-
vent corruption instead of merely punish
ing IL. has never been more strikngy
illustrated than in ths very Whisky RiDS trials