The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-19
Robeson-s Nomination.

The Republicans of the First District Of
New Jersey have nominated the notorious
Robson for Congress. and thereby have
assumed the odum and the nfamy Of
his corrupt administration u the navy
under GRANT No man ever held high office
in this country who So openly and daringly
prostituted it t. vcnaluscs during the seven
or eight years in which he converted the
department into n brokers' shop for jobs
and contracts. and auctioncd the public pat
ronage to the highest bidder. In this plum
dering system he was upheld bya stolid
President, himself defiant Of public opinion,
and 10y party maiorities in both Houses Of
Congress.
During the seven years, from $50 to 1870
inclusive, before the House Of Representa-
tives passed into the hands Of the Demo
Gratis, the expenditures for the navy aggre-
gated sl57 $50 si7.37, or an average Of nearly
twenty-five and half millions year in
round numbers. To this enormous total
must be added about twenty millions in pub
lie property which ROBSON bartcred away
with favored contractors. without authority
Of law in order To- swell their coilusiVc
profits. The expenditures for the navy in
the fourteen years from 1sis to 1851 in
elusive, summed up Sl59,4j6,s39ls, or less
than half the average Of RoBEsoN's seven.
For these vast expenditures there is no.
thing TO show but rotten hulks, n dcbauchcd
service. and the sudden wealth OF n Ring
who had pass keys into the department.
The investigation Of 1876 proved beyond
the possibility Of successful dispute that
a regular combination OF middlcmen was
organized. who, with robson favor, levied
toll on all contracts and open purchases for
the navy. and divided the spols In spite of
the appalling perjury Of different witnesses,
Of the alteration and mutlatioa OF books Of
account, Of fabricated vouchers, and Of other
receptions, the corrupt connection between
robson and the CATTELLs and MATTHEWS,
aud NoBLIrT. and ROACH and many others,
who monopoizcd the great jobs, was fas-
tened So strongly that no artillcc, or lying,
or false swearing could unite the knot.
Identified with JAY COOKE and the throng
Of spectators Of which he was the ostcnsi-
bic chief, Robson dit not hesitate when
the panic came to take a million Of dollars
OF the public money and transfer 1t 10 Lon
don 10 prop up the lettering fortunes Of the
foreign branch of that concern, for which
act impeachment and It's penalty would
,
reckless and interruptions, ne stopped at no
violation Of law by which his Ring might
le enriched, or the party on which he relied
t. defend his cXcc-5cs could be strengthened
The navy yards were transformed into
political headquarters, their commanders
into partisan agents, and the employees Of
al gfa!e7 became more creatures Of the
caucus who at Mare Island wore marched
to the polls IN double file, every man bear
Ing "A largo ticket with the names of the
Republican candidates to prevent the cNcr-
else Of any independent opinion. At home
and abroad, under this di-gruccfll rude. the
navy fell in public estimation, and tho gt-
liant officers who took "A just pride in their
profession would not cross the threshold If
this spoIlsman, knowing that promotion and
favor could only be procured by the sacrifice
Of sci.icspcct.
HE carr," ps Secretary closed consistently
with its whole course. Invited to act tenn
I"auly until tho advent Of his successor, to
discharge the routine duties in the six days
al holding over lac made Illegal contracts
for three or four millions Of dollars which
lad TO be broken, after having, in tho re-
manning hours Of his own term, diverted the
money appropriated for pay of the navy to
tho benefit OF the Ring contractors.
During tho two terms Of Gmntl,m in
which he llourlshod, in company with other
plnndercrs, Robson lived rotously every
day, affected certain official state, was
ono OF the leaders Of shoddy, and main.
taincd costly establishment after the
pattern OF TWEED, CONNOLLY, SHEPHERD,
ana other patriots Of that order A con
tIau' and very great revenue !.ou soEe