The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-05
Hayes Abetting Most Odiou. Offences.

The weakness, hypocrisy, and imbecilty
OF HAYES have been plentifully shown in his
sham civil service reform. His canting pre-
tence appears equallyin his ostentatious as
sumption OF zeal for the improvement of the
moral tone OF the army and navy.
A few months ago his Temperance princi-
pies were so shocked by tho stories lac
heard Of hard drinking in the army that he
issued a general order. threatening the
severest penalties for drunkenness among
the officers, and reading them a moral lee
ture on the evils of deep potatons This
was very well, for too much whiskey Is con-
sumed by our military men, and HAYES has
. reputation to sustain as a temperance adj
vocate. He even conceals his White House
rum punch In oranges 10 set good example.
and drinks cold water conspicuously, and at
state dinners has big cup of coffee handed
10 everybody after the fish, TO attest his cX-
elusive love for those innocent beverages.
But when an army officer cheats and abets
murder, HAYES has a fellow feeling for him,
and his moral sense Is not outraged. He
takes pains to let him off from deserved
punishment and compels the decent and
honest officers to endure the criminals
CHARLES +. WITHERILL, who was tried by
court martial, last September. at Fort
Lyon. Colorado. He was found guilty OF
the most atrocious offences and sentenced
10 be dismissed the service.
The specifications Of the charges against
wITHERILL recitcd that he got Government
property condemned for the purpose, and
bid it In himself when il was sold at auction:
that he cheated the Government 10y pur-
chasing at cost more commissary supplies
than he needed for himself and family and
selling the surplus at profit; that no
connived at the murder Of Il man named
Bottoms. took as n gift his horse. saddle
and equipments. and lied squaiely TO the
British Minister about the affair. There
were other charges, but these were the
worst. and, indeed. they could not have
been worse.
But what did HAYES do when the court
martial found WITHERILL guilty and SEN
fenced him to be dismissed: On the 18th of
.ast January he committed the just sentence
and made it merely suspension from rank
and command, on half pay, for one year."
This was all the punishment the Fraudulent
President thought necessary for con-
victed thief, swindler. and an accessory to
a murder He not only kept WIrHERILL in
The army, but also gave him the peoples
money to spend during the years vacation
he got
Another case is that Of Capt. CHARLES H.
CAMPBELL of the Sixth Cavalry. This OFF,
Ger was accused Of lying and stealing, and
was also found guilty and sentenced to be
dismissed tho military service. The pro-
ceedings of the court martial went 10 Wash
ington, and the Fraud who stole the Prcsi-
dency, as a matter of course disapproyed
them and SGT them aside. Capt. CAMPBELL.
though found guilty by his brother officers
OF lying about his accounts and Of stealing
COLTS revolver. Is still drawing the full
pay Of his rank and staggering around in
epaulettes. No wonder the army is dis
gusted, and that enlisted mep who are lying
In prisons for far less heinous offences than
these. cry out against the injustice done
them.
At the Naval Academy. when dull. indo-
lent, or insubordinate student, are rightly
dropped or dismissed from the institution,
they rush TO the White House, where the
Fraud wipes away their tears and sends
them back to Annapolis to jeer at their pre-
coptors All through the administration Of
the navy there is evidence Of the vacillation
and imbecility of HAYES.
The Government OF Fraud is tho complete
failure all far-seelng men knew il must
prove when it was inauguratcd a year ago