The daily gazette., 1880-08-17
Grant and the Whiskey Ring.

w ulSkoy nluS WAS pTOUdUly Cne
most startling incident in the annals
Of American politics. Rebellions
and revolutions do not necessarily
Indicate any fatal disease in the
body polite; but the successful
formation of great Rings like those
which grew up and flourished so re-
markably during the later period of
unchecked Republican ascendancy,
was a symptom of moral and politi-
cal decay Of the most portentous
description. In the one case COM
bination was made to pervert great
corporation, erected for a national
purpose, to the enrichment of pri-
vate persons, and to the further
plunder of the Government, which
had already granted it the most
valuable privileges and bounties.
In the other combination was
made, with ramifications all over the
Union, to turn the revenues of the
nation in steady streams into the
pockets of thieves.
In each instance the scheme was
promoted and the spoils were shared
by officials whose sworn duty it was
to protect the United States. Dis
tinguished Congressman by the score
lent themselves to the Credit Mo-
bilier swindle, and by their pur-
chased votes and influence postponed
the first mortgage of the United
States, to enable their friends to
walk off with another lot of bonds.
When the operations of the Whiskey
Ring were fairly uncovered, it was
seen that its agents were in every
department of the Treasury, in every
grade of officials, and in the White
House itself. 1t was manifest that
unless the discovery should be fol-
lowed by popular indignation fierce
enough to sweep clean the places of
the men who had organized, pro-
NOTED, or protected these Rings, all
hope Of honest government might
as we'll be abandoned.
But, happily, the people were not
as as corrupt as their servants.
They saw the peril in which they
stood; they perceived that the gov
ernment was rapidly becoming a
mere den of thieves, and that unless
| the remedy was promptly applied
the Rings would take full possession,
and convert the power of taxation
into an engine of universal robbery
and oppression. They accordingly
postponed all other matters of po-
litical consideration to a more con-
venient season, and addressed them
selves to the work of reform. They
reversed the Republican majority in
Congress in 1874, after the exposure
of the Credit Mobilier; and they
elected Tilden and Hendricks, by
large majorities, in 1875, after the
/, exposure of the Whiskey Ring.
| The effect of Gen. McDonald's state
ments concerning the operations of the
Whiskey Ring cannot be conjectuisd
until the narrative il complete and the
new evidence which he claims to have
has been produced and weighed. But
the story, with the additions Of NcDon-
alb, is simply appalling. The Ring had
baen deliberately formed, with the &C.
tive approval Of the President Of the
United States and other high officers ol
tho Government, who were specially
charged with the collection Of the reve.
nues which it was prepared to steal.
They had agreed, among other things, to
form colossal Campaign fund.-" to
secure the election of Grant to third
term, and thus perpetuate their power
of pillage. The plunder of this Ring,
which at the time it was unexpectedly
attacked by Mr., Bristow had reached
many millions, had been regularly divi-
ded among the members, including the
Campaign fund.-" the President, and
the Presidents near friend aud private
secretary. Some Of the interviews be.
tween Mcdonald, Grant, and Babcock
are too shameless for belief, without the
most overwhelming evidence to support
the testimony of Mcdonald.
But is this story true? CSn 1t be posi-
BILE that Gen. Grant deliberately encour-
aged and protected this Ring? We shall
| net express an opinion until we see the
documents which Mcdonald processes
| to have in reserve. He is by his own con.
fession conspirator and thief, who
says he was abandoned by his accomplices
aud is very anxious to unload some O.
his infamy upon other shoulders. Hi,
unsupported word Is therefore o.
no value;whaLever, But il should be le
mem5ered that Grants was the mos
corrupt administration ever known; tha
his present taking and appointments tt
office in return was scarcely distinguish
able from bribe taking; that he wal
coarse and grasping; that the revenue
officers implicated in the whisksy frauds
were. in many instances his persona
friends, that he stood by Babcock to til,
last; that he fought Bristow aud Wilson
bitterly; that he prostituted the
machinery of the Department of Juste,
tip event the conviction of the criminal
at st. Louis, and that during his whole
term Of office Rings as Infamous as thi
were fostered and sheltered. But still
, | the public will not believe that an,
President of the United States receive,
thousapd-dollar bills in cigar boxes, an'
accepted horses and buggies as tn
, undisguissd proceeds Of criminal opera
tions, until the proof is made overwhelm
ing.
Meanwhile the friends Of honest goverl
/ ment will make no mistake il they re
solve to turn out of power the part
} whose campaign funds were recruite
, from the proceeds of the whiskey fraud
, and elect Gen. Hancock, who broke u
the military court Of inquiry which wa
organized to take Babcock's case froL
5 the civil court in which he was arraign
D ed at st. Louis.
UNPARALLELED MEANNE:S.