The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-29
The Cincinnati Con,mprciaI on the Inter
Oceans Attack on Secretary
BristOW

A very c,iJious article is elsewhere re-
produced from the Chicago Inter- Deem,
OF yesterday. Several things should be
thought of In connection with this arti-
Gle. The Inter Ocen,, has not been IA
vorably disposed toward Bristow, and
has affected anxiety to investigate him.
This solicitude was developed after the
removal Of one OF the editors Of the IN
ter Ocenn from an Appraisership The
card covering several columns, and
Astounding In insinuations against the
Secretary Of the Treasury, to which no
one paid particular attention. When
Babcock was wanted In st. Louis, he
took occasion to be In Chicago, where
the military court was called. It was
thought dcfcrcntiaI examination by
three Generals would answer the prr-
pose, and Attorney General Picrrepont
summoned District Attorney Dyer to
Washington, and wanted the testi-
mony before the grand jury relating to
the Presidents private secretary sent
appearing inadmissible, Pierrepont
told Dyer he must be very careful
about indictments. Somehow Dyer did
not take the hint, and Babcock was
indicted. Stormy scenes followed. Tho
picty Of the President was subjected to
u terrible test. He thought the blow
was aimed at himself In his judg-
ineut, also, the civil court should be
restrained until the military court con
cInded It's Iabors; and he was intense
Iy surprised when he heard that
the civil court must have the case.
Babcock fingered IN Chicago Hen
derson was removed, and the Presid-
cntial wrath cooled gradually. Instead
r. trninfr In 81 1Ar,iu & l,k oh 1, uI
brother, who grew rich In the service Of
his country in the QuirterlnaSter's De-
partment, to answer for him, and made
his way back to Washington, where, II
he is not wanted in attendance at the
White House, he can give his attention
to Boss Shepherds improvements. This
was several days ago, and yesterdays
Inter- Occan opens with insinuations
and statements with which Babcock
must be acquainted, n war upon Bris-
tow. or course Babcock regards Bris-
tow us his enemy, and proposes 10 get
even with him. Hence the counter
IF u public officer interferes with the
whisky frauds, Of course 1t Is % personal
matter. The idea Of u severe sense Of
fidelity to the public service has not
penetrated the White House as far as
where Babcock has been accustomed to
sit for some time. The inter- Oce0n ar
ticte opens with painfully evident
cffortt to show that Babcock had nothing
to do with it, We may observe that it
Is the habit Of the interviewer when u
great statesman or one OF our military
saviorS Is found frozen for publicity,
and fierce with desire TO gush through
the press, TO vindic,tte him FROM the
base imputation Of u wish to make an
in fhn L.,
5ary to protect the modesty OF our
great and good men. The Inter- Ocenn
article amounts pretty nearly to q
confession on behalf OF Babcock, while
the attack upon Bristow places on ex-
hibitiOn excessive malice, and nothing
else worthy or serious consideration.
It is quite probable that Bristow had
some whisky clients before he was
secretary OF the Treasury, and perhaps
some Of them dealt in the crooked arti- |
Gle, and it may be that the Secretary
has personal friends in tho whisky busf- |
ness. But tho story Ia that Babcock, |
the military court failing him, hopes to |
secure q Congressional investigation, Of |
'ering to make clean breast Of 1t before |
he committee OF Investigation, and |
,romis ng TO impllcate Bristow in some |
mysterious ways. The question arises |
whether the Democrats can afford to |
Undertake the share OF dirty work as
signed to them. The compensation that
$ supposed to tempt them Is the de-
Of Bristow us a Presidential |
candidate. While 1t Is true that Bris-
ow is greatly in favor as u candidate
or the Presidency, and the man. as the |
,ase stands, from whom the Democrats
AVE most to fear, it is not reasonable
o suppose that they will enter into an
that would advertise their
.nxieties.
The inter- Ocea,a's article will make a
.enuine sensation, chiefly through the
Omissions that it makes as TO Babcock.
The insinuations aimed at Bristow will
rove harmless. Thieves are liars, and
1hen hunted down they assail their
ursucrs with their natural weapons
les and il the character Of their assail-
mt is such that he seems unassailable
2 turn, they invent about him the lies
hat they think would annoy him most,
nd fling them at his head. When the
hievcs have stolen enough to have
apital, it is very apt nowadays to be
vested in part in lampblack and
lgs," and other material adapted to
nc circulation OF falsehood Now, are ,
e to see Democratic House engaged
! an effort to blackcn the Secretary of
he Treasury, that the Presidents pri-
ate secretary may appear by contrast
, be white? If this is attempted, the
ext President will sure enough be j.,
ristow. Go on with the war. !