New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-11

The South Carolina Ring is breaking up.
As members Of the old Tammany league, when
tae conspiracy was found out, almost trippcd
IN one another in their haste to take the wit
ness-sland and confess all they could rcmem-
her of the raScaitics of their associates, with
as little as possible Of their own, 50 the forty
thieves OF Columbia have begun to tattle, each
making excuses for himself by giving up his
comrades. Ii has already been announced that
the cy-clrrks OF the Senate and House have
been accepted as witnesses on behalf OF the
people, and haze surrendered a large amount
Of property and claims and now eX-Ireas-
urer Niles G.. Parker who Is under lndlct-
ment for conspiracy and breach OF trust
manifests Il desire to add TO the budget OF
disclosures. Mr.. Parker makes no difficulty in
acknowledging tha1 he has been Il great vii
lain: Il do not seek TO deny or cXtcnuatc
"the part which took in this Ring cOrrup-
"tiOn | frankly admit these acts OF mine IN
'South Carolina, which | now bitterly regret
land which ! would give much to be able 10
"blot out. can only say that | went to
South Corolna an honest man, and sue
"cumbed, Ike others, to the great tempta-
tons in my path" Mr.. Parker simply begs
that the deccncy of his present life, and his
labors in the cause Of temperancc-a virtue on
which he is now a Jealous lecturer-may be
counted to his credit.
In the story which he tells to reporter OF
The World, we find no very sensational par
tculars, only a general outline of facts with
which the public was already more or less
familiar But the fact that he confesses the
existence of the conspiracy, and stands ready
when called upon to give the exact details, is
significant of the utter decentralization which
prevails among the members of the King; II
is A sign of the final breaking up. and the
triumph of justice. Sooner or later, this is the
fate that overtakes all such conspiraces. We
have seen half a score of them i'll our recent
history there is no part of the country which
has not witnessed some attempt at organized
robbery by the aid of politics; and when we
are tempted to despair Of the future OF a soci
ETY. in which such gigantic frauds are common,
we may take comfort in the contemplation of
the ruin that seems TO be their inevitable con-
clusiOn. How many of these rings have been
destroyed within the past ten years. Thieves
may be bold and riotous for a while but
theirs Is a short career, and suffering and dis
grace wait ut the end Of it.
In reading Mr. Parker's statement however.
ii will De well to observe that 1t seems to be In
spired 10y fear and vindictiyeness, rather than
contrition; it must, consequently, be received
with caution wherever it deals with the dclin-
quencics of other persons. His chief anxiety
is to show that whenever he went wrong he
was tempted by Kimpton and Chamberlain,
and toward ex-Gov. Chamberlain in particu-
lar his animosity Is very strong. We cannot
discover that he has supplied any evidence in
support of his charges against the eX-Govern-
or; and the South Carolina Grand jury, at any
rate, have found no reason so far to include
that gentleman in the indictments, although
they have brought i'll bills against fifteen other
persons But the whole story now is almost
certain TO be told in court of Justice.