The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-30
How the Republican Machine is Run.

The whiskey trials in 81. Louis cstab-
lished under oath, what had long been
known in political circles, that the Ring
for pluuderng the internal revenue was
organized in the interest OF the Republican
party, and that an enormous sum Of money
was raised 10 aid GRANTS second election
in 1872. The origin of the huge frauds
which have astounded the country was
therefore partisan, and they were extend
ed and protected under the footing thus
obtained, at the White House, with the Ad-
minstration, and with Senators and Rep
resentatives who were sent to Congress by
money stolen from the Treasury.
The secret of the strength of this Whis-
key Ring is no longer hidden. But it was
only one OF various similar agencies that
were used to keep the party in power
The Indian Ring, the Navy Ring, the Rail
road Ring, the War Department Ring, the
Bond Ring, the Washington Ring, the Post
Once Ring, tho Land Ring, and other lar
| cenous combinations, were formed on the
same basis and were conducted on the
same general plan. They Were all regu-
larly assessed for the party, through sta
tionary committees ut Washington. man
aged by members of Congress and the
| Washington Postmaster.
One Ring upheld the other when at
| tackled, ard their united power was irwin
| chile against all attempts at reform in any
department, until Mr.. BRIsTow had the
courage and the honesty to confront and
| destroy the whiskey thieves. And they
would finally have overthrown him too
| I,,4 l,a ,ot,
came after the President had determined
| to demand lis resignation.
With this leverage the Republicans have
been able, except in times of revolution
like 1874, when everything was swept
away, TO maintain their hold on close
small, and doubtful States. Money turned
the scale. Voters We're first demoralized
| by corrupting policy aud then bought
like sheep at the shambles. New Hamp-
shire has been repeatedly carried in this
way to the scandal of au old-fashioned
| New England community. North Caro-
| lima was defrauded of her vote in 1872 by
| purchase; and Pennsylvania counted in
her Governor the same year by a similar
method, which was hardly disguised
This system of forced contributions was
that the political fund raised must have
| aggregated an enormous sum. From the
| Ring chief TO the common sutler and the
poor widow clerk, the memorable rule was
applied of subscription or removal from
office. The testimony of C. X. PECK, a few
days ago, one Of the post traders who had
paid BABcocK share of his profits, was
interesting on this point
1.-THE firm Of DURFEE & PECK have contributed
money for political purposes the last lresiden-
tidl election We paid $4,000 to $S,00. We sent II
| u Washington to the Secretary Of the National
| Executive Committee IL. NJ EDMUEDs, Post
| mustrrl. Each post ne hcid lrds assessed al a
| sptifc amount M q circular ssnt US from Wash
| lhWOn, The firm also contributed for the Presi-
dental election IN loGs, but hayo forgotten tho
| amount"
Another witness ]. j. FISHER, testified
THE Arm Of EVANS Co., at Fort Sill. have. I
| INNS contributed money for political pur-
poses. EVANS pad the money. A circular was
Issued assessing Us, and we thought 1t best TO
! pay u. The circular came from Washington
| city"
Other post traders on a small scale, who
could not afford to buy their places, were
taxed for elections regularly. In fact, a
perfect system of assessments was estab-
lished at Washington, with the help OF the
President and the heads of departments,
| by which every officeholder, every Ring,
every trader and every man in the receipt
81 paVopage, was forced to contribute .