The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-20

sions, unlees he had personal interest
in their amount No, Chamberlain kept
in the background, as far as he could, and
pulled tie wires or employed Kimpton
to act az his proxy. II Is too preposter-
ous for him now opretend blindness and
innocence.
Why Parker Says Hs Fell.
an 1874, a civil action was brought
against me before a mixed jury, Judge
Carpenter presiding, to recover $45O, 900,
Of which amount It was alleged | had de
frauded the State by funding coupons
wrongfully detached. The sole witness
of importance to the prosecution was o
former clerk OF mine named Ladd, who
swore that told him one day at dinner
that had funded that amount of coupons
fol- Scott, Nesgle, Kimpton, Chamberlain
and myself. He did not say that the pro-
Ceeds were delivered to Chamberlain as
well as to the others, but that Kimpton
received the amount which II was under
stood he was to account for 10 Chamber
lain. Well, the jury sat on the trial about
two weeks, and finally agreed together
that something must be done; 80 they
brought in verdict against me for S75,-
000 Assuming for the sake of the argu
ment that the verdict was legitimately
rendered, why were not indictments
drawn against the others who were i'm
peaChe by the same testimony II Ladd
was to he believed, all concerned in the
transaction were equally guilty and equal
ly exposed to prosecution for their share
in it. His evidence, il it affected one, af-
fected all, These statements will be de-
MED of course, but l have endeavored to
state the plain facts as accurately as |
could. do not seek TO deny or extenu
ate the part which l took in this Ring
corruption. frankly admit these acts Of
mine in South Carolina, which now bit
terly regret and which | would give much
to be able to blot out. can only say that
went TO South Carolina an honest man,
and succummed like others to the great
temptations in my path. We were sur
rounded by enemies and were obliged to
maintain our places by the exercise OF all
the power which we could get into our
hands. With the power and opportunity
presented to us, surrounded as we were
10y an array of unusual temptations,
temptations such as few men ever had
presented to them before, it is not strange,
perhaps, that rings were formed and cor
iuption reigned as it did in New York
City under Che Tweed Ring. So far, how
ever, as my official action as State Treas
urer is concerned, deny that there are
any Irregularities in my accounts, There
was no pundering of the State Treasury
except that authorized by the Legislature.
paid such claims as were audited and
presented in accordance with law but the
books were carefully kept and no irregu-
lar payments made to any person. The
suit brought against me was for funding
coupons after left the office of Treasurer,
and the accounts which delivered over
to my successor have never been i'm
peached. ...
"After the election of 1872 remained
in Charleston on private business. | be-
gan the study of law in Major Milton's
office, and continued as student there
until l went to Europe in 1874. In the
fall of 1874 came North and.settled in
Jersey City, engaging in business in New
York. For the past two years | have tried
to live an honest and Christian life and
to help the temperance cause and other
good measures so far as lay in my power,
| do not wish to conceal the record of my
lifein Charleston, but l desireslso that the
life which have been leading for the
past two years should be considered when
my case is passed upon in judgement.
rLo pin,x pictrrod In Natou
"I have no respect for the men with
whom / was connected for six years.
Chamberlain impresses me as a cold, re-
served calculating and INSCRIPTIONS man
in his ambition for power. place and repu-
talon In his couduCt towards me he has
been hypocritical as we'll as base.
"Cardoza l believe to be an oily ,plausi-
BILE, intriguing, uuprincipled fellow, and
it seems likely that he will be shown up,
in the present investigation, in his true
ligh'.
Frank Moses is a good ,natured, easy
going man, with no principles in particu-
lar and little pretension to any. So long
as his father was alive he had no fear of
the issue of any prosecution, and so was
more open than some of the others in his
underhand dealings.
"Kimpton is fit ally for Chamberlain,
exactly the man to have been his most
intimate friend in college. and he has
worked in close accord with him. They
we're not warm friends because each was
too selfish to care much about anybody
except himself. .
patterson was an active member OF
the ring aud is dipped as deep as any of
them. He may succeed in suppressing
the investigation 80 far as he is concern
ed, backed by the influence which he can
control, but the suppression of evidence
is the only thing that can save him from
indictment.
Gas to the present condition Of South
Carolina, l certainly think that it is bet.
ter than when in the hands of the ring
Wade Hampton | believe to be an honest
man and one who will try to do his duty
by all classes of the citizens. l have nc
doubt that many colored votes were cast
for him at the last election. Many of the
blacks had become disguised with the
Chamberlain government and the whole
sale plundering that was going ON under
the rings which Chamberlain,a at least
did not interfere to prevent. / am con-
vinced that the determined struggle
which Chamberlain made to retain his
post as Governor was due largely to his
rooted dislike of having the new admin
istration overhaul the record of the past
eight years. If immunity from suspicion
or direct charges could have been assur-
ed him he would not have held out sc
long. The control of the State is now SC
entirely in Democratic hands that the Re-
publicans have practically no chance o.
political success for years to come. The
party was trusted with the reins of gov
ernment and misused its trust. All people
have lost confidence in the integrity O.
Republican leaders, and the party, as g
political organization, has fallen tC
pieces."