The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-02-12
GRANT AND BRIsTOW.

There must be fire where there Is SO much
smoke as there has been arising around Wash
iprton for the past week or two IN reference
to muss between Grant and his friends on
one side, and Brisow and his friends on the
other over the whisky prosecutions The
probabilities are certainly againstany PIE
SUMPTION that Grant is fool enough to attempt
any direct interference with Bris'ow in his
chase after the whisky thieves. Having cvi-
IDENTIFY encouraged Bristow in the start to en-
ter upon the business, nothing would be more
certain political death to grant, or would be
more certainly the making of Brstow, than
any thing like an open attempt on the part OF
Grant now to throw distractions in Bristow's
way Grant is no fool and Will be caught
in no such folly.
At the same time, certain movements Of At
torney General Pierrepont can have no other
construction that an attempt to interfere with
Bristcw. There is not thc slightest doubt,
for instance, that when Writ Dexter was sent
to Chicago by Bristow to open the whisky
campaign, he came with instructions to prom.
Use the distilers and other prominent unofli
cial members of the ring, if not immunity
from, at least very light punishment, in case
they would squeal on the government officers
associated with them in the iniquity. These
instructions to Writ Dexter were promptly
met by an order from Attorney General Pier
repent, advising all the Chicago ringsters in
clined to squeal that no such immunity from
punishment. or light punishment, need be
looked for, as all would be punished in full
acc ordance with the measure OF their guilt,
whether they squealed or were otherwise
found guilty. OF course this counter-order
from Pierrepont frustrated Bristow's entire
plan of campaign. Without the smaller fry
being induced to squeal, he stood no earthly
chance of catching the bigger fish. What,
then, was the motive, and who the inspirer of
Pierrepont's order? Was 1t Grant, Most
probably not But among the fish caught in
Bristow's net at Chicago are Jake Rehm, A.
C. Hesing, Buffalo Miller, &c. These are
big politicians and did important service in
lelecting such men as Charles Farwell, John
la. Logan, r. J. Oglesby, &C., to office. If the
Bristow policy of encouraging the squealers
Is adhered to, why may not IIesing Rehm
&c, be induced to squeal, and if they do, it i:
auful to contemplate the consequences it lay
involve to Farwell, Logan, &c, &c. Thou
sands on thousands of this whisky money
, were used for electioneering purposes in every
, campaign since 1872, and if the whole bust
ness is laid open to the public gaze, the Lore
/, only knows where the Indictment bushes:
may end SO we infer that the Pierrepon
order was not inspired by Grant, but that
was the result of the earnest petition, loud CRY
and pleading and grooming on the part of thu
Farwells, Logans, and Mortons, and it may b.
hundreds of other leading radical politician
whose peace OF mind the Bristow policy 81
sadly endangered.
Doubtless these latter gentlemen, who ar
still standing in such uepida,ion Of Briotow'
movements and Of being squcaled upor
would hesitate at nothing to force Bristo'
out of the Cabinet But aside from the in
probability that the President is crazy cnoug
to commit suicide by removing him. it mus
be borne in mind that the law prevents hi
doing SO during the session of congress, III
less BY and with the advice and consent of tn
senate Congsess Is not likely to adjour
much before the LIST of July, and by that tim
all the important whisky prosecutions Wi
be over with.