The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-13
WAR ON THE WITNESSES.
THE RELEASED WHISKEY MEN TO
DE PROSECUTED ANEW.
Those who hnvo been Promised Immunity to
be Arrnigned for sentence Granfs Latest
PInn 20 smIrch Dristow aud Wilson.

be Arrnianed Tor sentence GrHnIs LntcN
Plan TO smirch Dristow aud Wilson.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12.-It is euthorita-
lively announced here that the President has
determined that In every instance whore immu-
nifty was granted by Secretary lIrstow and Blu
ford Wilson to indicted whiskey conspirators,
the parties who were suffered to so free on con
dltion that they give testimony against other
persons are to be prosecuted anew.
In cases where parties pleaded guilty and have
not yet been sentenced they are to be brought
into court and Judgment moved In their cases
This will make things lively In Chicago and Mil
waukee. In the nrst named place 1t said that
there are about forty distlllcrs and subordinate
revenue officers who pleaded guilty on the ex-
press understanding that they were not to be
punished. These men have not been sentenced,
and II tho court consents to this breach OF faith
In tho cases OF these individuals they may bc
judged severely. In Milwaukee there nre q less
number in the same condition.
Just what the object Of this move is cannot
be surmlsed, unless It Is to enable particular
friends Of the President to revenge themselves
on the weak-kneed fellows who squealsd on
them.
Il ia undoubtedly true that Babcock and the
leading spirits OF tho whiskey Ring are In full
favor at the white House, and that politicians
ent policy. The President evidently means TO
deny that his sanction was obtained by the Sec
retary OF the Treasury and the Attorney General
To the granting OF immunity to the majority CT
the wniskey consprs,ors who were let Oh.
1t will be claimed, probably. that the action OF
the Secretary OF the Treasury In auth orizng i'm
munty to the indicted parties 10 Chlcrgo wss
against the express PROHIBITION ~ the Pre-deut.
aud, moreover, that The Secretary did not author
izc the District Attorney IN writing to make
such terms with the Aforesaid criminals. But
even such a claim as this would have no weight
with an uprg Chit aud fearless court. The crimi-
mails, of course, acted In good faith aud believed
that the men who made terms with the were
duly authorized to do so by higher authority.
No honest Judge In Christendom would suffer
himself to be trined with In this way.
The District Attorney IN every instance had to
act with the knowledge and approval Of the
agree to the dismissal OF cases ON the mere
ommendation OF the prosecuting onirer. But
even " TIE prosecuting officers deceived the
Court, It cannot he held that the criminals who
pronted thereby are to be held responsible. un-
less IT can he clearly SHOWN IN therc was col
lusion between them aud the prosecuting on
GERS
this movement ~ in some way to smirch the
character OF Bristow and wilson. 1t Is alleged
more tnat Emory storrs, Babcock's counsel, is
shaping the policy OF the President In this mat
ter, and that he is his adviser in more ways
than one. He has certainly managed the Ad-
minstra defence before the Mhiskey
Fraud COMMITTEE @, Nj. plaisted, the Republican
member Of the same, being merely mouth
piece for Storrs and hahcock MIR. Storr, Is al
long interviews with the President He is
at the same time here as the paid
attorney OF the whiskey thieves In Chicago, who
arc seeking plrdOns. Indeed, his osteusble
. business here Is 10 obtain pardons for these
men. and lie has announced on the street
ncrs that he means to have them, ~ he has to
stay her all summer. He Ia IN close cunlmu-
mon all the time with the leading Republicans
from all parts OF the country. 50 that le appears
10 be sort ~ general adviser, not onlv fpr
Grant. Bapcock a,;d Porter, but Tor tue liepub-
lican party. a well for the convicted whis-
key thieves OF Chicago.
II u notorious fact that several days ago tho
President Intended TO send to the Whi-key
Fraud committee letter giving his side of the
case, but WAS disappointed IN this because the
committee did not call for IL, IA VS. expected.
rho story had cot out that tine Chairman OF the
sub-cOm uitttee intended to write letter to the
OF Biuford wilson, and inviting him to appear
before tho coutulttee ann make a statement.
Ia view Of this expected invitation, II j. stated
on the very best authority that Storrs prepared
a statement for the Pre- sident which IL WAS IN
tended he should send to tho committee in
answer to the Gu lirmlu's letter.
In this the Preeident went for Bristow and
Wilson In lively IA hiOn, and end avored to
show that their sole object in tho whskeY war
70 make cauital Tor the Secretary OF the
Treasury "a "A Presidential candidate. Ihis ar
rangemeni was interfered with by the failure OF
the Chairman OF the Committee on Mhiskcy
Frauds to write the letter above indicated TO
the President. 1t was then determined to have
MIR. Pl isted write letter to the committee,
but this dodge was anticipated by the publica-
tion OF the plan In INK sun aud other newspa-
pers, and failed second time. Grant ana his
advisers now seek for another opportunity to
get out the . atement prepared by Storrs, and II
may be that the talk about moving anew upon
merely another dodge to enable them TO get out
their side OF the story.