The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-19
Bristow and His Party,
Tho CINCINNATI Gnzette saws.

"The success of Secretary Bristow in the prose-
cution of the whiskey ring thus far has inspired
with terror the conspirators who remain .uDcon-
victed The yawning of penitentiary doors reminds
them that something must be done before If is for
ever too late. Accordingly they bending
all their energies to- secure the retirement OF
Mr., Bristow from the cabinet at the conclusion of
the BIbcoCk trial. They hope TO be able annoy
the secretary in various ways until he will be driven
10 resign; but falling IN that way will move heaven
and earth to produce rupture between the presi.
success OF either scheme. the motives of the in
trguers are understood in advance
We are glad 10 see SO able and consistent
a Republican organ as the Gazette mani
fest strong sympathy with the man who Is
fighting the gigantic power of the ring
almost single-handed aud alone, so far as
his party is concerned. 1t is a remarkable
and very significant fact, which ought not
to be lost sight of, that although a great
conspiracy to defraud the government had
been in active operation at least two years
previous to the appointment of the present
secretary Of the treasury, its existence
was not even suspected by his predecessor;
or if suspected no steps were taken toward
investigation The most important part
Of the machinery of this conspiracy was
located at Washington, as has been proved
by the trial and conviction of Avery; and
yet the head Of the department thus be
trayed by one Of its highest officials was
serenely unconscious of the villainy being
perpetrated literally under his own nose
Stretching from Avery to Mcdonald was
an unbroken line Of treasury agents and
employees bound together in solemn league
and covenant to plumber the treasury, and
carrying on the work of plumber with an
impudent boldness never matched in this
or any other civilized country. And yet
not whisper of what was going on seems
to have reached the ear of the person who
should have been constantly on the watch
against just such schemes of scientific ras-
cality.
We do not Of course accuse ex-Secretary
Richardson Of having been wilfully neg
llgent of his duty, but we do assert that
not until his successor assumed control of
affairs was the duty discharged with that
vigor and skill which the vast interests in
volved demanded. Richardson was a
mere dummy, saying little and doing less.
Bristow has been from the outset an active
and energetic force. making himself heard
and felt in every branch OF his department
and setting in motion reforms which no
subsequent mismanagement can entirely
counterfeit. His earliest efforts being
general rather than particular, received
the hearty Endorsement of the Republican
press and leaders; but as soon as he left
generalities and commenced searching
inquiry into particulars, applause ended
and criticism began. And when the
attack upon the whisky ring was fairly
inaugurated, the secretary found that
he not only had to contend against com.
bination which, in the words of convict
ed conspirator, was bigger than the COY
erlment," but that the reinfoocements he
had right to expect from the party whose
scoundrels he was endeavoring to catch and
punish, were either Withheld altogether OF
given in such way as to do him and his
work far more harm than good. With 1
few notable and noble exceptions, such as
the Cincinnati Gazette, kBristow has had
small encouragement from Republican
journals. On the contrary, all the ineinua
tions, inueudoes, and lying rumors in re
gard to his motives and his conduct have
emanated from newspapers which. if they
had possessed an atom Of honor, honesty
or decency, would have done nothing t.
annoy or lbarraSsa representative Repub
lican engaged in such "a task He hal
been taught by bitter experience that
rotten party wants no exposure of it's rot
tenness; that when, in this party, a rim,
becomes bigger than the government,
the official who strikes the ring is not onl,
parked at by every dog wearing the part,
collar but is liable to find even the gov
ernmcnt divided against itself, and eithe
standing Deutral or lending aid and com
fort to the governments enemies VII,
believes that the president and attorney
general have been lii cordial alliance will
the secretary of the treasury in the rim,
fight? Who does not believe that if Gran
and Pierrepont had been put to sleep las
spring and not walked up until next spring
Bristow would have strangled Joyce, Nc
Donald, Avery, Mckee & Co., much easie
and much more expeditiously than be has
And who is there that, seeing the disad
vantages under which he has labored an.
is laboring; the obstacles which have beeI
thrown in his path by those whose assist
ance he should have had the petty insult
which have been heaped upon him b,
rogues and the friends Of rogues; the sys:
tenn OF persecution to which he has beef