The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-14
THE INDICTMENT OF BABCOCK

known that the whiskey ring in the West
was to be Investigated, and even when
those remarkable words Of the President
uttered in such lottily virtuous strain
Let no guilty man escape if 1t can b,
avoided, were published, very little cX'
element was produced. The people Of
the United States had become so familiar
with fraud and corruption; dcfalcations
peculalions and malteasances in Office
with impunity, had become
such common things, that when any al
tcntion was called to the investigation at
all. 1t was only for Il moment, and the
subject was dismissed from the mind rs
being of no consequence, since the result
would, in all probability, be general
white washing, and after all, 1t was only
another of the frequent case, where a few
millions had been stolen. In all pro-
liability too, such an anticipation would
have been realized had not circumstances
defeated il. The rascallties of the
whisky ring, and the couniv"nce OF
Radical officers herewith, were found,
on very slight inspection, to
Ice so patent that they could not pos
s.hlv b, concealed. So tlagrant, indeed,
were they, that majority of those IN
dictcd deliberately plead guilty, and
since no possible opportunity was pre-
scuted for II whitewash, the trials h'd
To- proceed; ana though, one by one, the
prime favorltcs and pets Of the admins
tration, appointed 10y the President, "hy
and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, to highly responsible positions.
were found guilty and sentenced to tcIons
cells, still no wonder was expressed, for
the general sentiment prevailed that they
should have been punished .ong ago,
aud, even now, their punishment was
du, more to force Of circumstances than
anything else. So the people heard OF
these convictions with perfect indiilcr-
oncc. Even the mighty operations OF the
ring which few years ago, would have
shaken the country from centre to cir
with establishment, was sim
ply received as an ordinary circumstance.
and something which Wa not the least
unusual.
But when, finally, that mysterious let
ter from the st. Louis grand jury to the
President was published; when grand
Juror, were forced to apologize to HI
Exccllcncy for not pururing themselves,
and plead in extenuation of the circum-
stance. which had forced them to indlct.
many prominent United States Officials
the Presidents own words, "Let no
guilty man escape" then people began
to think something extraordinary had
taken place; somebody was to be tried a.
a criminal, VINO it WAS never
expected would be reached.
Thee surmiscs proved correct and
the indicted individual wh- was to thus
be placed in jeopardy Ola convicts doom,
proved to be no other than the intimate
bosom friend, and private secretary Of
the President of the United States him
self.
But even th,n it was not the mere an
nouncpment that BABCocK was indicted
that caused surprise. Already his name
had been mixed up with Boss SHEPHERD
and numerous other jobs, and 1t was
nothing wonderful for it to be con
nected with the whisky ring;
but it was tho audacity
Of the thing which made people open
their eyes. What! lndict as u criminal
one SO near the sacred person? Impossi-
Bile. Such thing would not have been
dreamed Of, no matter under what prov
ocauon, few years ago. Yet times have
changed, fortunately. a political reyo-
luton has been recently accomplished in
the country, and even the private Se,rc-
,ary Of the President can be indicted
now. though still it is considered nee
essarv BY jury to apologize for such
rashneSS.
Now from this Indictment OF the bosom
friend and confident Of His EXCellency
two things of considerable interest man
fest themselves.
First-Thc extent to which corruption
has extended over the country. There
Gem. to be no spot nor section.free from
il. Starting at the fountain head, the
Capital of the nation, it seems to have
been cast forth as huge, black and filthy
stream. 10 wend its way into every city,
own, village, hamlet, and district. All
hat appears necessary for it 10 make
Is appearance at any given point, Is
simply to station some appointed of the
j government there, and very soon the
people find themselves familiar with
he sight. BABccCK may not he con-
,ic,ed on his trial. We do
lot believe he will be. But taking into
consideration that he has been mentioned