The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-29
The Postomce and the journal.

The Postonce and the Journal.
If the reputation of the Journal for truth
this community, the Sentinel might have
some regard for the severe allegation that
was made In its postoffce article yesterday,
that the Sentinel had uttered an unmitiga,ed
fslsehood in saying that the Journal had
started out with vigorous defense
of the postoffice employees. 1t is
sufficient for the Sentinel to simply
reiterate the charge and leave the commu-
nifty to Judge where the fslsehood lies. The
matter OF the irregularities in the postofice
was the street talk for two or three days,
and the Journal remained silent. When it
did speak, 1t opened out with al attack upon
| the judge, jury and witnesses. aud in the
most Yirulent manner impugned proceed
ings Of the court, the action of the jury and
the character of the witnesses. What else
than defense of the accused was
such course. 1t was defending them by
endeavoring to create public opinion and
drive the grand jury to ignore the evidence
and intimidate the judges upon the bench.
favorable to the accused, and has bean from
the first. 1t has declared that the Sentinel
knew, and that everybody else knew, that
W. r. Holloway was entirely innocent
while at that very time the facts were being
investigated with reference to his de-
linquency in properly fulfilling his
duties as postmaster, and also the truthful
ness OF the pay rolls of the Office. Was this
defense? Was this calculated to prejudice
the case? Was this San er parte statement?"
The Sentinel has only given the testimony
of witnesses in the case. The reckless
charge that "the Sentinel has coined
a thousand new rumors" and published
them, is not true, and we
quote simply to show the reckless and ex.
trsvagant manner that the Journal INDUCES
in when it seeks to make point. Thus the
whole course ofthe Journal upon this subject
has been directly and pointedly in the inter-
est of the accused, and the people will need
some one else to say that the Journal will
urge the punishment of the guilty; before
1t will be believed. 1t will urge no punish
ment to be inflicted upon it's friends. 1t would
have been modest in the Journal to have
remained silent in this matter, in view of
the relations existing between one of its
proprietors and the alleged frauds. 1t has,
however, seen fit to speak, and the Sentinel
was not willing that the court, grand Jury
and witnesses should be held up before the
community with its reckless charges
heaped upon them, without exposure
It is not to be wondered at that
the Journal winces and smarts un-
der the daily development of facts in
these cases. They come very near home,
personally and politically. There is po-
litical point in the case that the people of
Indiana are deeply interested in. No
man should occupy prominent position in
government offices who is not efficient and
faithful, and performs the duties of his
sworn trust. There is a political point,
plain and glazing, and the people
see it that men in the high posi-
ton of Mr.. Morton should sustain in
Office men whose official record has ava
kened suspicion tor irregulsrity for years.
The people have been inquiring why this
mail bag contract fraud was bushed up so
suddenly. They have been inquiring why
Wood was not tried under the In
dictment for defalcation. Truly political
point Is Justly taken In regard to this
affair, a more prominent point than the
Sentinel has made or attempted to make.
The situation of affairs to-day clearly and
plainly point out that Mr.. Morton, when he
spoke OF our civil service as the best in the
world, and that Democratic charges of
eli III hot
he was uttering fslsehood and
striving to cover up the delinquent
cies that would injure his party. If the
Journal feels disposed to discuss this trans
action in its political bearing, the Sentinel
is ready, and it might add that there are po-
liticsl corruptions attaching to the accused
In these cases that would before any jury
argue presumption of guilt to these alleged
civil officers. The administration of this
state remained in the hands ofthe Republican
party through fraud that has been boosted of,
or the records of the press and the utter
snces of prominent men are untruthful.
The Sentinel is ready to show the true
bearing of this ring coterie in the affairs of
the state, and it will not be hindered from
doing so by the solemn and serious twsddle
of the Journal. It's shabby tricks
and pretended independeEce is a mere trifie-
ing with the public, and shall not pass by
unexposed.
The Sentinel is willing that the public
shall Judge of its fairness In comparison
with the Journal, in this and in other cases
of corruption to which the attention of the
public has been directed.