The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-10


GRANr has thus far been uuaccountablv
remiss in not sending SctlENCK letter of
confidence and recommendation. Certain
ly SCIiENCK was us much entitled to
il as COLFAX or RICHARDSON, and almost
ne much as DELANo. Perhaps, how
ever, the President thought that keep
ing him in Office was as good rs n written
character, and ms 1t also saved the inlet
tered Executive the pangs of original
composition, it was adopted rs the bet
ter cxpcdicnt OF the two. But ScHENcK
was by no means satisfied. lie wished
both the office and the character. GRANT
gave him the one and REvERpY JOHNSON
has been induced TO give him the other.
MIR. JOHNSON is said to have been
always rather facile in matters Of this
sort. He was never squearnsh about
which side of case he was ON,
and for many years has been the
standing authority TO whom Congress
sional claim agents have applied for
certificates setting forth the extreme
nicely of their professional conduct in
using official power for the transaction of
private business. We remember at least
one such, IN which Mr.. Johnson came to
the rescue of a Senator in difficulties, and
succeeded only in tumbling into the ditch
along with his unfortunate friend.
But the Sc1fENcK case is almost inexpli-
cable. We cannot understand how any
right-minded man with his seven senses
unimpaired could possibly imagine, we
will not say a vindication, but an excuse
for ScHENcK. Mr.. JOHNSON surely never
did. The whole tone of his letter, labored.
heavy, and awkward rs II is, shows that
Mr.. JOHNSON was not himself convinced,
and felt that he had gone about hopeless
business in the attempt to convince his
countrymen. IL is, after all, n mere plea
for mercy-SCuESCK' whine and wall de-
livered by attorney.
Mr.. JouNsoE tacitly admits that the En-
ma mine and the whole speculation organ
lied upon it was stupendous swindle,
got up TO cheat the British. ScHENcK's
countenancc was essential to the enter
prise; it was scarcely possible, indeed TO
| cheat the British without him. One of the
conspirators, therefore, loaned him the
money TO buy 500 shares, and gave HIM n
| special and private guarantee of eighteen
per cent dividends. Upon these terms
SCHENCK agreed to join in the plot. became
a director, stood between the adventures
aud the English public, and saw them rake
in the money ami decamp, while his official
| influence covered the retreat. And now
Mr.. JOHNSON wants us to acquit ScHENcK
OF the charge of official misconduct, be-
| cause although the whole transaction was
| immoral and disastrous, SCHENCK was such
an innocent and confldng old rustic that
he really supposed it to be one Of the prin-
| cipal duties of the American Minister to
peddle mining stocks in London for a
proper consideration. in truth the story
OF his ruin. ms related Ivy this eminent
| Maryland lawyer, is very sod, and we have
no doubt Mr.. Johnson watcred it, ms h
wrote, with copious tears from his blind
eye.
1t appears from this account that the
| guleless envoy strolled ont one evening to
pass few hours with his eminent country
man, Mr.. WILLIAM NJ. EvARTs. In his quar-
tiers, strange to say, he met Red-IIeadcd
BILL STEWART Of Nevada. aud TRENoR w.
PARK Of New York. They must have had
evil designs upon him at that moment but
they were careful not TO say anything be-
| fore Mr.. EvARTs He might have warned
the poor old man that they would be
after him with shares and guaran-
tees and loans Of money, and thus
saved him from their tolls. They waited
patiently until they caught scHENcK
alone, when they wickedly and mali
ciously induced him 10 take 500 shares,
| lent him the money to pay for them, and
| privately guaranteed him eighteen per
| al & 4
they made him director, and SCHENcK
accepted upon being told that an aged
rogue representing Portugal at the Court
| OF 81. James, had taken similar position
| in horse rnilwny-nover dreaming that
he had doue anything wrong, until, in the
artless language OF his advocate, the
mine oaved in."
Then for the first time he thought he
had made a mistake" The dividends
ceased, ana the guarantee was no guar
| antee AT ALL" II was, as Red-Headed BILL
ana TRENOR w. knew very well, against
| public policy and public morals, ana could
no more be enforced than "A contract for
the sale OF II Congressinan's vote. The
distinguished director was completely
| n3orod. The little document which was
TO protect him AGAINST this very coutiu-
gency Of "oavo in was worse than
worthless. II had no doubt felt very COM
Portable in his pocket while he was sit
| ting in he Board with the rest of the hon
est miners, observing how the influence Of
his official name was stimulating the Brit
lshcrs 10 subscribe; but now that the thing
had caved in, and tho people on both sides
Of the water were in rage it was a posi-
tive embarrassment. II was in all proba-
bility soon after these unhappy occur
FENCES that he sat down and wrote that ia
nous letter to NORMAN WIZARD, telling
him he would rather not" have his name
] inserted III any more Of WIZARDS contracts