The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-08-05
DEFENDING GRANT.

The Ottawa Republican is not happy III lis
choice of a standpoint from which to deienc
President Grant. His letter to Gov. Cham
berlin, in reference to the late Hamburg out
rage, we submit, would have afforded mucl
more eligible point OF view than to contem
plate HIM through the murky fog OF BlutorC
Wilson's late whisky ring disclosures. The
latter presents Grant in the worst possible as
pcct for grateful cnlogy. The theory" o.
the Republican is that Grant was all right II
his willingness to have the thieves punished
only he got mad at Brstow and Wilson be
cause they suspected him and set spies to
watch him. Hence he went to work to thwar
them! In all of which Grant was thus per
fectly justified. 1t is strange that the New
York Tribune, republican paper earnestly
supporting Hayes and Wheeler, should tai
to take 50 simple and obvious II view of tho
case, but on the contrary should talk as fol
lows: . ..
The testimony of Nj Blurord Wilson, late
Solicitor of the Treasury, disclosesa state OF
things which honest citizens will read OF viii
shame; an intimacy of relation between The
President and the whisky censplraOrs which
hardly falls short of actual completely. There
is no need of longer attempting TO hoodwink
the public or gloss over the conduct of the
President Nor, we submit, will it do toi
Mr. Frye, of Maine, to talk nonsense to Con
gress and the country as he did on Saturday
about bringing down the great name ofthl'
great Republican the eyes of the whole world,
BY investigations which bring out facts. The
facts and snot the investigation bring dis
grace upon the country. The people have
seen the President sending certificates Of
character to rogues whom the people drove
out of office, and himself driving GU, every
officer who had shown zeal and energy il
pursuing rogues and bringing them to jus
lice. That is what is disgracefll about 1t
and the sooner Mr.. Frye finds II out and stops
talking nonsense about ii the better 1t will bt
for his party.
And the New York Evening Post another
Hayes and Wheeler paper, equally earnest
talks right out as follows:
The first comment which Will be made or
the testimony given by EXSolicitOr BlHford
Wilson on Friday before committee Of the
House of Representatives in regard to the
prosecution Of the western whisky rings, is
that 1t Is npredjudiced, uncolored by any
feeling of mere personal wrong 10r which
there had been cause enough, and that 1t il
so connected by documentary evidence ami
by direct reference to persons who can cor
roborate il that it does not admit Of reiuta
ton A second comment will be that this dc
tailed story only completes and confirms the
impression which the public has received OF
this whole business. 1t shows the Secretary
and his principal assistant determined to fight
the thieves SO long as their tenure OF Office
gave them the opportunity. 1t exhibits the
President refusing TO believe the evidence
against the ring until ii was forced upon him,
as in the case OF the Chicago District Attor-
ney; ready to hear charges against the Off
GERS of his own administration from such
men as Babcock, Farwell ana Logan; ready
to cndanger the success Of the St Louis pros
ecutions in order that he might crafty his
own spite in removing the prosecuting OH.
Ger, Mr.. henderson; ready 20 do the ring men
the greatest favor possible by forbidding the
use OF any OF their number as government
witnesses; and, worse than all, ready to &C
cept without even word of regret the rosig-
nation of public officers for whose successful
efforts the whole country was ringing with
praise.
And In reference TO the Rcpubt@a'S point
of defence, that the President got mad for be
ing suspected and watched, &C. the Post has
the following to say:
This Is at best poor defence Of a Presi
dent Of the United States. 1t Is u confession
that the President was blind what every
body else could see, that bad men had great
err influence with him than his own faithful
officers. Over even this a film of forgiveness
might be spread if the PresidGt would give
some sign that he is conscious OF the error OF
his course. Unfortunately, however, for his
character as the hi ghest civil officer in the
land, his bad advisers of last year are his
most intimate advisers of to-day, and lie re
fuses to do anything to merit the good will
OF his party or the respect of his country The
removal Of District Attorney Wharton, OF
Kentucky, the particulars Of which are gwen
in our news columns today, is the Presidents
latest concession TO his bad counsellOrs
We give u few choice excerpts from Blu
ford Wilson's testimony on the secondpagc
Of tc.days FREE TRADER.