The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-05-30
WHOLE NO. 2os.


formed. and by the gentlemen men
toned. What did more than any
thing else to kill Gen. Bincklev
politically was his famous order to the
district attorney to have Gen. Sickles
indicted for obstructing the judicial
powers of United States courts in
North Carolina, and demanding his
removal from the command of the
Carolinas; something which trod upon
a favorlte corn Of Gen. Grants
military foot and resulted in quarrel
with Grant. Then congress, to get
rid OF an officer who conceived that
the military, in times of peace. should
be subordinate to the civil authority,
legislated Gen. Buckley s office of
assistant attorney general out Of ex-
lstence. Then President johnson.
determined that his favorite should
De cared for, appointed Gen. Buckley
law officer of the internal revenue
department. Gen. Buckley was
astounded to learn, very soon, that
the most stupendous frauds were
being perpetrated on the revenues,
and that men Of the highest repute all
over the country were conspirators in
whisky rings and other '.rings."
With all his energy and honesty he
began struggle for mastery over the
thieves who were plundering the gov
eminent Of millions upon millions
yearly. 1t was virtually one man
against an army; one dollar against
millions. Gen. Buckley was offered
fabulous sums to let up on the crooks.
his determination never weakened.
\ congressman said to him. You
nave an opportunity to make your
pie Ike man. but you reject it like
damned. fool" We can imagine the
efforts OF the rings to break Binck-
| ley down, and the influence they could
exert. President Johnson at first sus
tanned General Binckley's efforts but
it is claimed that he weakened after
he saw the size of the hornets nest
that had been disturbed. It is claim
ed however, that Gen. Binckley sue
ceeded in restoring SAC, 200, 900 to the
defrauded treasury. The efforts
against the ''rings" were discontin-
ued because of the failure to back
Gen. Binckley's plans. Then the
rings devoted their talents, money,
| and energy to the ruin of the man
who had tried to serve the country
falthfnlly-and it is hardly necessary
| to say here that the country didn't
care cent whether it's efficient SER
want was ruined or not. He was alb
solutely driven out Of Washington by
the prosecutions of the ssrings.''
Wherever he went his enemies fol-
| lowed him with hatred that never
slept, that never pitied. They ruined
HIM financially and sOwed discord in
his happy home. He was driven to
| chicago only to find that the very man
he expected to be associated with in
business wasa rank enemy in disguise,
ana had actually been prominent
member OF one of the worst ssrings.'.
Then came his domestic troubles.
| do not like to speak Of them. Bnt
whether Gen. Buckley was right or
wrong, no living person outside the
three or four directly interested will
ever be able to positively determine.
Mrs. Blnckleys statement, that her
confession which, with the conse-
quent circumstances in Chicago. ere
ated SO much interest last fall, was
extorted from her at the muZZle Of a
revolver, Gen. Buckley denied al
most with his last breath. He ad-
mitted that the charge was made.
but always insisted that the confess
sisn was voluntary, and that on it he
went to Chicago to take the life Of
his former friend. To that persons
absence from home that night his life
Is now due; for. whether right or
wrong, Gen. Binckly was determined.
He returned to Milwaukee to find his
family gone. Then he gave way hope
and. at last life. For months his
only desire seemed to he to obtain
money enough to satisfy every cent of
his indebtedness. That having been
done he was ready to go, as he often
expressed it. with clean record.''
And he has gone.
He was as trustful as q child. and IA
honest: and thereby he failed of
what we all call success in life. He
burned too brilliantly at the first TO
last long: but he was never dazzled by
his own light-he was too modest for
that. He rendered his country SER
vice. but it was not of kind that
people know about appreciate, and so
ne VIII soon be forgotten. Only
among the personal friends who came
to understand the real character Of
the man will the memory of General
Binckley last long. The day before
his suicide he said to me. and they
were the last words heard him speak;
Il have not been so happy in months
az | am to-day" and saw lock OF
satisfaction and rest in his honest
eyes that was not usual with him of
late. but did not known that it was
the pleasure he felt in tho thought
that relief would come to hla troubled
brain on the mOrrow.f