The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-08-23
THE OLD STINK.

While authentic lists have been published,
showing that at least 1870 men, the bulk ofthem
scaly characters, some of them penitentiary
birds, and all more or less incompetent-have
been rewarded with lucrative Offices by Hayes
! for no other reason than that they had either
an immediate or remote connection with the
returning board frauds that counted in Hayes,
or were IN possession of dangerous secrets in
that connection, lit has always seemed passing
strange that G.. Cassanave, a member Of that
returning board, was of the whole long list Of
Iscoundrels the only one who never received
an office or other pay, Cassanave's own eX-
PLANTATION of the phenomenon is, that he never
asked for any Office. However, when the return
ing board were prosecuted for fraud and per.
jury, they had TO agree to pay certain lawyers
$4,000 to defend them, and after their acquittal
the lawyers demanded their pay, and beng
obliged TO sue the account to get payment,
and Cassanave being the only one of the board
who had any visible property, the levy being
made on him, he at last began to squrm and
finally set up an indignant cry for relief. The
iattcd oficeholders in Louisiana giving him
no comfort, he went to Washington and called
on Hayes why" said Hayes, after hearing
his story, the understanding was that Ander,
son was to pay these expenses" will you
please to give me a brief note to that effect
over your own signature 2" asked Cassanavc.
The President turDed pale and rctrcated be-
hind the cabinet that was meeting. Cassa-
nave next applied to Sherman, who at first
showed signs of treating him cavalIcrly, but
when Cassanavc indicated that unless his case
was attended to "he would expose The whole
matter Of the returning board proceedings"
Sherman referred him to his attorneys, Messrs
Shelabarger & Wilson. These gentlemen,
obviously under Sherman's direction, first
placed $500 at Cassanave's disposal TO stavc off
the execution, but the officers in New Orleans
said that sum was Of no account. $500 were
enough" Finalyto the question how much
must you havc:" the answer come that 81 $50
more would stop further proceedings until
January and in a few hours Cassanave was
that the whole sum, $3.50, had been
paid
Now the question arises, what magic spell
does this saddle-coored mulatto bear about
him that his words cause the President to turn
pale, and compel Sherman to submit to black
mailing process to the extent of SO, $50 on
threat q expose the whole returning board
proceedings" instead of kicking him out of
his office, as any honest man naturally would
nave done?
Were not Hayes, Sherman Shellabarger &
Wilson perfectly aware that this Cassanave has
t IN his power to unfold a tale" that would
yurg the administration in infamy and utterly
lemolish the Sherman boom, does any sane
nan imagine they would contribute money
Under such threats TO help this confessed knave
,ut of his difficulties? Is this submission to
ye blackmaled to the considerable amount of
50, $50 not conclusive proof that these eminent
public functionarles live in real terror of con
essedy the vi!est gang of political prostitutes
his country ha ever given birth to?