The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-25
EHigy sargent's Ring.


The dismissal of ex-Paymaster SPALD-
ING from the navy, upon the finding Of
court martial at Mare Island, was inevita-
Bile from the crushing evidence. He had
suffered, IL he had not coluded with, Pm
NEY, his clerk, aud now a fugitive from
Justice, to make fraudulent contracts and
to issue spurious forms of indebtedness
upon official certificates which he signed
in blank. About million and quarter
Of dollars were procured in this way, aud
divided among n small Ring of thieves in
San Francisco, some OF whom are holding
high positions in the Republican party.
EFFIoY SARGENT is one of the intmates
and pets OF SEcoR RoBEsoN, and controls
the immense patronage at the Mare Island
Navy Yard. The enormous outlay for re-
pairs and other jobbery is the result of
this corrupt influence. Millions have been
stolen or squandered to enrich the Ring
and to sustain the party. As member OF
the House, SARGENT was one of RoDEsoN's
most INSCRIPTIONS tools, and as member
OF the Senate he has constantly piled the
same vocation.
In the routine changes Of paymasters at
Mare Island, SARGENT has uniformly in
sisted upon appointing the clerk of whom
soever might be sent there. The object was
to prevent any break in the Ring connec-
tions, and to have a confidential spy inside,
II the Paymaster could not be bribed or
captured. When SPALDTNa was assigned
to that post, he was compelled 10 choose
w. T. PINNEY as his clerk. EFFIGy SAR-
GENT ordered il, and appeal was in vain.
II n
under LA GRANGE, the present venal SUI
perintendent, and was detected as n
thief. He was mildly and quietly dis
placed, not for the crime but for being
caught in IL. Having gradua ted with this
honor, he was exactly suited TO the needs
of SARGENT's Ring, and was urged by LA
GRANGE as a fit aud responsible person to
handle the public money, and TO keep the
accounts of a paymaster through whose
hands millions passed.
He turned out rs II was expected he
would do; and after dividing the spoils
with his confederates, he hired vessel
and fed beyond the reach Of extraditon
treaties. That flight was concerted SAR-
GENT and LA GRANGE are directly respon-
sible tor this villainy, for without them
/
They belong to the same Ring and have
made the public offices scandal and a
shame to all decent people on the Pacific,
not only in political sense, but socially
and morally.
The san Francisco Mint Is rotten, and it's
management is an outrage. But the Ring
has been strong enough ut the White House
to protect LAGRANGE and TO cover up ras-
cahties which the House must investigate
at the next session. The chief coiner was
forced 10 resign year ago for using the
public money, and LA GRANGE, the Super
intendent, went through the form of writ
ing resignation last fall, which he put in
the hands of SARGENT in order TO sup
press il.
This Ring is no better than n gang OF
burglars, who make business of breaking
into BANKS and rich mems houses TO steal.
SARGENT. LA GRANGE, and all that crew on
the Pacific. organize among themselves to
plumber the Treasury by getting control
of the Navy Yard the Mint, the District
| ATTORNEYS, the Post Offices, and the Mar
shals. At Washington, they are sustained
by the President and the heads Of depart
ments against all corners. Remonstranoe
| is useless.
If Republicans protest, they are "sore-
heads" Ii Democrats complain, they are
Confederate" So there is no remedy
and the corruption grows by what it feeds
on and gets worse every day. The high
officers of State, sworn TO execute the laws
faithfully, collide with these rnscals or
condone their crimes The very machinery
| of government for which the DeOple are
sorely taxed is converted into an instru-
ment of robbery, and the greatest thieves
are its trusted agents. This is the system
by which the Republican party now lives
moves, and has its beng