The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-30
Babcock's Business.


1t must be admitted that the Babcock
business is in rather a bad way. The
blame for this lies almost entirely with
Babcock himself. Since he was. con-
lfronted by that telegram in his own
Handwriting signed "Sylph," and ad-
dressed to Macdonald, his jumpings and
gyrations have been as energetic and
as confusing as the ground and lofty
tumbling OF some suddenly decapitated
rooster.
His first heroic impulse was to rush off
from Washington to St. Louis to clear
himself by testifying asa witness in the
Avery case, then ON trial. He was qul-
etly informed that such was not exactly
the thing for him to do, as nobody
wanted him as a witness in that case. He
then as suddenly fell back upon his mill
tary rights, though he had not seen the
army for seven years or more, and de-
manded Court of Inquiry. 1t was al
lowed to him as matter Of
course, and the officers to compose
the court were detailed. There
all things were to be made to appear
lovely and of good report. Then came
the indictment against him at st. Louis,
and his military court had to shut up
shop. But the jumping Babcock did not
rnsh off to St. Louis TO meet the indict-
ment there. He failed to plead his little
plea of "not guilty." until he was actu-
ally invited to come on tor that purpose.
In fact the invitation had to be repeated
in terms more positive than polite, be-
tore he conformed with this little cere-
mony of the law.
The next movement was raid ON
Bristow, which was so bungiingly and
foolishly mmaged through the columns
of the Ocean, that Babcock himself
was compelled to publicly denounce its
stupidity. We do not believe that Bab-
cock had anything directly to do with
that piece of tomfoolery. 1t originated
in another sore on different shoulder.
But it resulted in giving to Babcock's
business new and serious feature OF
additional complication.
But the worst feature in all this bad
business is found in the implied threat,
that unless the prosecution is relin-
quished, revelations will be made by the
accused, in revenge, that will astound
the country, topple down regulations
among the great and distinguished, in
volye the names Of the highest officials
in disgraceful jobbing and knayery, and
engulph the Republican party in utter
and irretrievable ruin. All this con-
summation of desolation is threatened,
in terms more or less direct, through
revelations that are to follow the rig
oroGs prosecution of this Babcock busi-
Qess.
Now, our opinion of such case is,
that of all the cases involved in this
whisky crookedness, that is especially
the one that ought to be prosecuted to
the bitter end with the utmost legal
rigor. Fol, X it be true that Babcock is
the recipient of secrets Of such direful
and blasting import, he ought to be rig
orously prosecuted as means of induc-
ing revelations that the country ought to
have for its own security. And if it be
untrue, then the prosecution ought to be
no less rigorous, as a means OF showing
example of man who would cowardly
threaten the officials of the law, upon
false assumptions OF knowledge concern
ing secret guilt.
For ourselves, we do not believe that
Babcock's bosom constitutes any such
fearful magazine of imprisoned secrets
az has been SO freely intimated in vari-
GUS quarters. II he holds secret power
to topple regulations down, he ought to
be about it. The man who knows so
much and conceals it all, is dangerous
man. Better that he should be in some
penitentiary. If he holds in his hands
the dread thunderbolt that could shatter
the Republican party into infnitesimal
splinters, he owes it to every interest,
human and divine, to hurl the bolt at
once. The party which such man can,
rend and ruin is not worth saving,
We do not pretend to say or to know
anything about Babcock's guilt or inno-
cence under the pending Indictment.
But if any tendency to laxity is shown
in the prosecution OF the charges, or any
proposition looking to the relinquish-
ment of the proceedings is entertained,
then an evil dayis coming for the friends
Of Gen. Grant. The public jealousy is
already aroused, and the. slightest indi-
cation of interference with the due
course of1aw win be met by storm OF
public indignation that no official can
Withstand. circumstances nave COM
bined in manner so peculiar as to
thrust this Babcock's business into sim
gular prominence before the nation as a
representative case wherein are to be
tested principles Of the greatest pith
land moment.
1AWE plead guilty to the failure of being
profoundly impressed with the supreme