The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-01

been called upon TO examine 40 bad q case Tho
he considered il a very bad case Of fraud" me
law, as We all know, gives one-half OF every for
FIXTURE TO the informer and other oficials, In
Guiding the District Attorney. II was very natu-
raj that every instance which they trumped up
should he ." n very bad case, and that II should
remain so till investigation showed II to he no
case A. all We need not be surprised that an
outgoing District Attorney was somewhat eager
To- share the perqusites with his successor In
Office nor at the unpleasantncss that sprung
up when the latter being more adrot aud OK
pcrienced In such matters. succeeded In grasp
Ing the entire sway Well might the poet
Where ignorance is Bliss tia folly to be wise.
This II but one case among many. but | wish to
swindling character uf the whole transaction.
No sooner had the chief eunuch attack ed the
urn than The fact was cunningly telographed
evident purpose 81 Intimidation. The books and
papers of the house were In the custody Of the
officials The leading member was overawed
10y the solemn and awe-inspiring manner Of the
epy employed by the Government. He. too. ap-
piled To the Secretary Of the Treasury. the afore-
said boutwell,. That functionary was aware at
that very moment, that the case was trumped
up But the Secretary was chary Of giving in
formation. He did not wish. so he said to APP
pear to bc seeking to levy blackmail. lie knew
that the merchant, by artful devices and per-
slsient annoyqnce. had been 20 worried and hui
inflated that he would submit to nm enormous
mulct rather than be involved In further scan
DIAL. Accordingly. without giving the least inti-
nation uf the facts Of the oasc, the Secretary
cuntcntcd himself with suggesting the alterna-
tive Of going into court. This advice he gave In
such a manner ms to make 10 sure that ID would
not bc followed. The merchant. feeling that ho
had fallen into tho hands of banditti. and hav-
Ing no hope OF succor. only thought Of ransom.
The infOrtner, District Attorney, Collector, aud
Others connected with the Infamous affair. fixed
the hne at s2il.co, which was paid. IL then
transprcd that all the underyaluaton about
which the fuss had been made was S6,55s and
the default to the Government fi.Hbs1S Every
one Of the officials concerned knew this, but
had purposely concealed the fact. that the un-
wary merchants whom they were marrying
might he driven to submit 10 their exorbltant
demands.
The entire basis Of this atrocious persecution
has been created by the tiuctuation Of the mar
ket-the alleged NATURALIZATION having arisen
solely from the difference between the cost
price OF the goods and their market value on a
particular dav. In a pecuniry view II may well
To pay the enormous ransom OF quarter mil
Hon dollars. rather than contest the matter
either IN tue courts or In the Treasury Depart
ment. Another merchant rom whom a like
sum had been demanded, and who had success
fully resisted, bears the following testimony:
save ,pe, ne reS. hong T9sh
House oncias. and these apprsiscrs whether would
tone or luck think that the best thing that any rm
help themselves Il is much cheaper for any busincss
strate against the proceeding"
II these had been Isolated instances they
would have been proner for review, and such
they constitute the rule, not the exception. and
the base vernin OF spies and informers have not
been disturbed. Even the villain VINO BETRAYED
bis generous and noble minded employer has
been rewarded with n cierkship In the Post
once.
Such has been the conspiracy which has ex.
listed against and gone Tar to annihiate our
commerce. IL has deprived the naton Treas
ury Of more than two-thirds OF Its lawful In
come to enricn favorites.
We have but one way open TO recover our
former commercial position. IL we would re-
store prosperity and correct the abuses under
which we are rrosnug, we must direct our
efforts at the men who have perpetrated these
outtagcs. The brigandege which has ruined
our mercantile enterprise was set III oper ton
by the so-cilled Republican party. Tne spies
and informers represent the Treasury Depart
ment. They emanate from Washington. Unless
we chance the men who employ them, there can
be no exemption from the curse. In the burn
ing words Of tue great orator Of the Revolution,
whom have already quoted. I'VE have held the
subject up In every light Of which II IL capsule.
but II has been ali In VAIN. We have petitioned,
have Frustrated ourselves before the throne.
aud nave impored Its interpretation. Our pcti-
lions have been slighted; our remonstr tnces
have produced additional violence and Insult:
our supphcatons bave been disreearded; and
We have been spurnec, With contempt, from the
foot of the throne"
hope from tue party now In power. II we would
recover for ourselves and for our fellow citizens
the night To be secure In our persons, houses.
searches and seizures. In everything, In short
toSFniep etyl gvYernm ent is valuable, we must
solve, one and all, TO spare no 6orfVfs here re-
to this end. Let us dedicit our hole time,
until the closing OF the polls on the day of the
election, to accomplish this -esult. verify be-
lieve tnat Kind Providence will crown our
labors with success. Then viii the busy hum
OF industry once more be heard In your now
silent and deserted ship yards and machine
shops and peace and plerty will again abound
In the land. Applause.
The other speakers were Joseph A. Lyons, A
J. Sullivan, aud Maurice Holahan.