Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-04-21
0QlilmirrQtma Yovunal.
WILMINGTON, n. c.,
FRIDAY, APRIL 81, 1876.
a MgCH-NEEDED c;OMPILATIo

IL 3
A mgCH-NEEDED COMPILATION.
The New York Public is apprehen-
sive that in the rush of later exposures
the cases of Mckee and Mcguire, the
st. Louis whisky ring convicts, who
after failing in their attempt to pro-
cure new trials have been sentenced
Mcguire to six months imprisonment
and fine of five thousand dollars
may be forgotten. Mckee, Mcguire,
Avery, Joyce and Mcdonald were IN
fortunate in relying too much on Bah
cocks influence with the administra-
ton. and in being brought to trial
before Babcock's completely in the
conspiracy became SO manifest that
the President and Attorney General
Pierrepont were obliged to interpose
to put stop to the convictions. In
fact, the conviction of these men looks
very much like treachery on the part
of Babcock, who could not have been
ignorant of their danger. Had Bah
cock, instead of playing innocent, as
he did in the commencement OF the
st. Louis trials, come up to the scratch
like man, made common cause with his
confederates, and demanded the letter
which the President afterwards ordered
Pierrepont to write, warning witnesses
against testifying in the whisky cases,
and brought to bear upon their trials
the influence of the government which
he afterwards invoked SO successfully
in his own case, the ringsters who are
now pining in the seclusion of tie pen
iteDtiary would today be enjoying
with Babcock, Boss Shepherd, Har-
rington, Williams and tho rest Of the
ring their ill-gotten gains, and prose-
cutting new schemes of plumber IN
Washington. They have learned by
sad experience the meaning of the adj
monition ''put not your trust in Bah
cocks" and must content themselves
with the hope of Executive clemency
between now and the fourth of March
next. the realization of which hope de-
ponds on their keeping close mouths.
But the Public is right in its surmlse
that in the rush of later and moro as
founding exposures of Radical knavery
in higher administration circles, such
minor yillairies as those of the whisky
ring will be overlooked by the public.
The truth is, it is taxing the capacity
of the press and the comprehension Of
the people to keep up the daily record
of corruption and rascality which is
being developed in every department
of the government. 1t is impossible
for the people to bear in memory the
almost illimitab BILE number of frauds,
defalcations, embellishments, bride
ries, forgeries, and cases of official
malfeasance, corruption, peculation
and plumber that have been brought
to light within the last twelve
months. From the disclosure OF
the Credit -Mobilier swindle down tC
the Belknap bribery, enough official
fraud has been exposed to sink III
infamy all of the administrations from
the time of Washington to the present
day; and yet there are few who. il
called on to recount the villainies thai
have been exposed, would be able tc
enumerate one-half of them. FRAUD
followed in such quick succession, vii
lainy on villains head accommodating
until the record has not only shocked
credulity but literally wearied the pub
lie indignation. In the management
of the affairs of the nation official ras
cality has become the general rule anC
honesty the rare exception; and 81
familiar has the public ear become
with details of crime in high places
that the daily recital has not only
ceased to startle the public sense bu
fails to impress the memory. The
danger is that the masses of the coun
try will come III time to loose all faitf
and confidence in public men and al
respect for government.
It would be good Office for some
one who has the data at command to
compile a chronological record, briefly
and in order setting forth the cases OF
governmental and official corruption
and fraud that have been brought to
light during the last four years OF
Grants administration. Such a record
of crime, briefly stated, would make a
volume larger than the last digest Of
the statute laws of the United States,
and would contain more official villanv
than the criminal records of Europe
for the same period. AS a campaign
document, or rather, as an inexhaust-
able magazine of campaign literature,
it would be invaluable. 1t would not
only convince the American people OF
the utter rottenCess of the Radical
party, but it would bury that party
under such a load of infamy that
reach it.
South Carolina Republican COnven-
tomas these words left Judge Mack ~ s
lips, State Senator Swales, a negro
man and native of the State, who
stood just beside him and not five feet
from the table at which the repre-
sentatives of the press were seated,
asked: "To whom do you apply that
language, Judge Mackey?" ITO you,
sir, for one," was the reply. You
are one of the thieves of South Caro-