The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-24
AND STILL THEY ESCAPE.

For a long time past we have plainly
expressed our conviction that the reform
of this administration is hollow and only
designed to quiet the public mind by fair
promises and fine appearances. To-day
we are more firmly convinced of the cor
rsctness of this view than ever before,
for notwithstanding the protestations
that the public plunderers were to be
prosecuted and punished, we find Niles
G. Parker living at ease in jersey City
and Dublin J. Walker occupying seat
in the State Senate, although both OF
them have been convicted by jury of
their countrymen for embezzling public
funds. We have repeatedly charged that
the Republican party does not dare pun
ish any political thief, and the facts bear
us out in the assertion. There have been
some miserable mock trials, but between
Judges skilled in the application of ha-
6eas corpus, Governors ready and willing
in tho use of the sacred trust imposed by
the power to pardon which is vested in
them, and Solicitors ignorant or careless
in the structure of their indictments and
the Development of their testimony, oil
the important prosecutions have resulted
in the liberation of criminals, and grant
ing them the security of an acquittal or
pardon to protect them from any further
danger on account of their crimes.
The most recent instance of this mode
Of. procedure is the case Of the State vs..
James A. Bowley, indicted for receiving:
bribe r. chairman of the committee on
ways and means in. the last General As
sembly. The proof made, for the State
was that an agreement was entered into
bstwesn Bowley and John B. Dennis,
then Superintendent of the Penitsntiary,
that he, Bowley, was to receive one.
sixteenth Of the amount appropriated for
the Penitestiary in order to secure his
influence for an appropriation Of $50, 1000
The indictment charged that the appro-
,priation bill was referred to the commit
tee on ways and means, and that BoHlcy
was elected chairman of such committee.
The proof; was that Bowlsy was appoin-
ted chairman, but that the committee
had the right to elect its own chairman.
There was no proof offered to chow that.
the appropriation bill Was ever referred
to the committee On ways and means.
Therefore, in consequences Of failure Of
the proof to support the indictment in
these tuo particulars, which were of no
importance to the, merits of the main
issue, the defendant was acquitted. Such
proceedings as these are not calculated
to inspire any very great confidence in
the integrity of the promises Of, tho Re-
publican party to reform. We know that
an occasional mishap will occur to the
most yigilant prosecuting attorney, but
when every Republican ofice-holder sue
ceeds in eluding the Law by some device
or other, there can be no doubt left that
the effort to punish criminals Of this
stamp ia not very vigorous one. Les
lie, Whipper, Moses and Others have
been charged With grave crimes by Off
ceI high in position, and yet they ars
not indicted. Why is thisf The an
swer ia plain. The whole Republican
party rs such is so utterly corrupt that
there is nothing pure enough within its
ranks to do the work of publication.
Tho leaders fear investigation or prosecu-
tion, for when it begins they know not
vhero it will end.