The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-02
Sccor KObcsnn's Dinner.


There will bc curious collection Of ma
chine politicians. joLbcrs dcadbcats, con-
tractors. and trading dcmagogucs gathered
at Trenton to-day. under the disguise of
giving SEcoE RoBrsoN Il dinner. which,
it is understood they are t. eat at his
expense. In fact it is repetition OF an
old trick to get before the public, and to
make a speech of Standardization.
This man was made Secretary of the Navy
by the mercst accident and 10y the within Of
n personal patron, eight years ago. chiefly TO
provide him with Fat income at the public
expense. He went to Washington literally
without means. and lived prodi.lally durinl,
two terms of GrantiSm, at the end of which
he retired with n large fortune. the full eN-
tent Of which can only he measured by hi-
present mode Of life. and the opportunities
which he enjoyed for acquiring wealth.
The investigation made 10y the last Com
gross proved incontc~'ubly that he was a
direct participant in the corrupt contracts
md jobs for which the Navy Department
had become notorious under his manipula-
tion. Tho dealings with the CATIELrs.
DELL NopLrr MATTHEWS, JAY COOKE 4
Co. chiefly in person and something's
through Intermediates like Pay Director
BRADFORD, who also proiitcd by the exam
pie Of his master and confederate, brand
him with gross and glaring vonality.
lie swore. with appalling audacity, that
h. had no relations of intimacy with one Of
the CArrILLs. who did most Of the black
mailing on contractors as a middle man, and
without whose endorsement no valuable
contract Of any kind could bc obtained His
own kilograms. showing the most coniiden-
iial terms, were produced in evidence 10
prove that he did not -cruple about an oath
any more than he did about job.
Upon his false representations and fabri-
Gated statements. a million Of dollars was
obtained for deficiency in pay Of the navy at
The last session, and while he was holding
over rs Secretary for few days "a large
portion Of that money was diverted Illegally
for the benefit Of favored contractors and
others. That was his last opportunity in
the department, and hc improved it by an
net which, according to the declarations Of
his successor in Office, ought to send him to
The pcnitentiaIy
1t was through his relations with the
scoundrcl MrRrAGH, who occupied the
double position Of organ Of Grauti7m and
President Of the Board Of Police Commits
conspiracy was concoctod for iii -gracing Mr..
WHIrrHoESE, because he had exposed ROBE
BON's corruption, and traced his connections
with the plunderrrs Of the navy, SO a. oad-
nit OF no possibility OF escape On for
T"cr occasion, and in behalf Of the same
RoBEsOS, when he was first under invc,ti-
CATION. the police and detectives were cn-
ploycd in n similar service. in revenge tor
other exposures Of his lobhcry.
All the circumstances justify the belief that
portion of the police force was regularly
Employed. in cooperation with the secret srr-
vice Of the Treasury, in the conspiracy TO
ruin Mr.. COLCMnrs ALEXANDER. Robson
md MURrAGH We're special friends of Boss
hHEPHERD and tho Washington Ring. They
were capable OF using any means ~ strike
hown its opponents, AMI the police and de-
tectvcs were but instruments of their Will
In every scheme, however desperate, by
which opposition could DO silchccd or
crushed.
These Rings made common cause, whom
ever % sailed, against whoever made tine
assault without respect to persons, Just as
If they were bound together by the secret
oaths Of organized bandttl. They never
intorfcred with each others operations, and
when subjected to inquiry in or ont Of Con-
gross, they furnished witnesses who would
swear through stone wall The Army
Ring, the Navy Ring, the Indian Ring the
Iaud Ring, the Pension Ring, the Patent
hing, the informal Revenue Iuug. the Gus
toms Ring, the Congressional Ring, the
Post Office Ring, the Judiciary Hu,. and
the District Ring wo,e all parts OF tine sam,
organization, OF which Robson, nEIANo,
IlLKNAP WILLIAMS, CnIawELL, lNNER,
SnIHlED, and BABcocK were charming il
lustrtOns.
The Washington District Ring was in
tended to Doe th" head centre Of this mighty
organization, and when tho plan wns per
icctcd 1t WAS to direct the partisan
machinery, set W candidates for the Senate
anu House Of Representatives. and furnish
The money to elect them, 10 be stol. from