The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-12-17
WHAT HENDERSON SAID.


There was some establishment
expressed few days ago when a
telegram announced that Ex- Sena-
tor John b. Henderson, who had
been ably acting as assistant prose-
cutor in the whisky trials at st.
Louis, had been removed. 1t was
stated that in one of his speeches
he had furiously attacked Pres
ident Grant. A cabinet meeting
was held before which g certified
copy of Henderson's language was
laid by Attorney General Pirepont.
After the meeting Pirepont sent
telegram to U. S. District attorney
Dyer, at st. Louis, relieving Mr..
Henderson from further service,
and instructing him to procure an
other assistant, the ablest that
could be found, Irrespective of his
politics.
The public will be Interested to
know just what Mr. Henderson
said, seeing that his words were of
so much importance as to call for
the Interference of the administra-
ton We may state here that Mr..
Henderson telegraphed TO Attorney
General Pirepont that he did not
intend to reflect on President
Grant, but that he had no apollo
gies to make.
AS We look at the matter the use
of the P-esiden ts name, by HEADER
son, in the cinucction in which it
was used, was entirely un-
called for. Had there been
any evidence that the Presi-
dent was endeavoring to shield
any of the criminals, then TIE
use would have been different
Is not the evidence all the other
way? Did not the President
know of Bristow's work for
months, and has. he not aided him
in every particular, telling him TO
'let no guilty man escape" Is he
not, then, entitled to .he praise of
men acting in the capacity Hen
derson was acting in, rather than
to have his name slurrcd by innu-
endo, and the impression made on
those who heard Mr.. Henderson
speak, that he was really interior
ing to prevent justice being me-
ted out to criminals. We think
such will be the verdict of all just
men.
The following is Mr.. Henderson's
language as printed in the papers:
This is the blot upon our Govern
ment, that 1t is possible for such
things to exist. They could not
exist in England, France or any
other civilized government, but are
peculiar to our boosted Republic.
1t Is party, party, party that
'damns our country, aud he who has
the nerve to resist the behests of
party is worthy of more credit
than the braYest of old Roman
soldiers. Under the name of party
every fraud and infamy within the
range of possibilities are perpetrs-
ted. 1t is to be hoped aud prayed
that the time is coming When q man
who has the imperious force of
character to resist the dictates of
party will be looked up to as hero.
But we may go to the bottom-cor-
ruption may feast IN all our institu--
tons, aud our nation may decay
and fall before we learn this grand
truth. / respect party when it is
composed of honest men, organ
lied for honest purposes but when
it is composed of men banded to-
gether to perpetrate frauds upon
the Government or to serve the
personal ends of its leaders, then
away with IL. Pll none OF 1t.
What right had Babcock to go to
Douglass TO induce him 10 with
draw his agents2 Douglass was
placed in his position to see that
the revenue laws of the Govern
ment were properly enforced.
What business, then, had Douglass
with him? When an official goes
into Office he should be free and in
dependent of all influences except
that of law, and if he recognizes
any other master, then this Govern
ment is tumbling down. What
right has the President to interfere
with Commissioners Douglass in the
proper discharge of his duties, or
with the Treasurer? None; and
Douglass showed a lamentable