St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-08-28
Grant and the Whiskey Ring.
IN. Y. SUM-

cident in the annals of American politics.
Rebellions and revolutions do not nee
essarily indicate any fatal disease III the
body politics but the successful torma-
ton of great Rings like those which
grew up and fourished so remarkably
during the later period OF unchecked
Republican ascendancy, was symptom
of moral and political decay OF the most
pOrtentous description. In the one case
y combination was made to pervert a
great corporation, erected for a national
nurpose, to the enrichment of private
persons, and to the further plunder OF
the Government, which had already
granted it the most valuable privileges
and bountes. In the other comblna-
ton was made, with ramitications all
over the Union, to turn the revenues or
the nation in steady streams into the
pockets of thieves.
In each instance the scheme was pro-
NOTED and the spoils were shared by
officials whose sworn duty it was to
protect the United States. Distinguished
congressman by the score lent them
selves to the Credit Mobilier swindle,
and by their purchased votes and in
huence postponed the first mortgage OF
the United States, to enable their friends
to walk off with another lot OF bonds.
Ring were fairly uncovered, it was seen
that its agents were in every depart
ment of the Treasury, in every grade OF
officials, and in the White House itself.
It was manifest that unless the discovery
should be followed by popular indigna
ton fierce enough to sweep clean the
nlaces of the men who had organized,
promoted, or protected these Rings. all
hone of honest government might lis
we'll be abandoned.
But, happily, the people were not as
| corrupt as their servants. They saw the
peril in which they stood; they per
ceived that the government was rapidly
becoming mere den OF thieves, and
that unless the remedy was promptly
applied tile Rings would take full pos
session, and convert the power of taxa
| ton into an engine OF universal rob-
berry and oppression. They accordingly
| postponed all other matters OF political
season, and addressed themselves to the
work Of reform. They reversed the
Republican majority in Congress in 1874,
after the exposure of the Credit Mobil
ier; and they elected Tilden and Hen
lricks, by large majorities, in 1876, after
the exposure of the Whiskey Ring.
The effect of Gen. McDonald's state
ments concerning the operations of the
Whiskey Ring cannot be conjectured
until the narrative is complete and the
new evidence which he claims to have
has been produced and weighed. But
the story, with the additions of Nc
Donald, is simply appalling. The Ring
had been deliberately formed, with the
active approval of the President OF the
United States and other high officers OF
the Government, who were specially
charged with the collection OF the re-
venues which it was prepared to steal.
They had agreed, among other things, to
form a colossal campaign fund.-" to Sc
cure the election of Grant to third term,
and thus perpetuate their power of pill
lage. The plunder of this Ring, which
at the time it was unexpectedly attacked
hy Mr.. Bristow had reached many mil
lions, had been regularly divided among
the members, including the campaign
fund.- the President, and the Presidents
near friend and private secretary. Some
of the interviews between Mcdonald,
Grant, and Babcock are too shameless
for belief, without the most overwhelm-
ing evidence to support the testimony
of Mcdonald.
But is this story trues Can it be pos
sible that Gen. Grant deliberately en-
couraged and protected this Ringy We
shall not express an opinion until we
!; see the documents which McDona'd
professes to have in reserve. He is by
Ills own confession conspirator and Il
thief. who says he was abandoned by
his accomplices, and is very anxious tt
unload some Of his infamy upon Other
, shoulders. His unsupported word Ii
therefore of no value whatever. Bu
| it should be remembered that Grants
was the most corrupt administration
ever known; that his present taking
and appointments to Office in return wa
, scarcely distinguishablo from brib'
J taking; that he was coarse and grasp
. ing: that the revenue officers implicated
J in the whiskey frauds were i'll man.
+ instances his personal friends; that h'
stood by Babcock to the last; that III
fought Rristow aud Wilson bitterly
that lie prostituted the machinery ct th
! Department of Justice to prevent th
+ conviction Of the criminals at st. Louis
: and that during his whole term OF ot1ic
| Rings as Infamous as this were fostere!
and sheltered. but still the public vii
r not believe that any President OF tn
q United States received thousand -dolla
1 bills in cigar boxes. and accepted horse
Y and buggies as the undisgulsed pro
/
proof is made Overwhelming
4 Meanwhile the friends Of honest gov
:. ernment will make no mistake it the
|. resolve to turn out Of power the part
). whose campaign funds were recrHlte
e from the proceeds OF the whiskey fllud
l and elect Gen. Hancock, who broke u
the military court of inquiry which wa
IS organized to take Babcock's case frol
II the civil court in which he was arralsne
II at st. Louis.
J.. In the year 1910 Victoria, then yoqn
Queen, rode out on horseback with ne
young husband by her side to revie
;. her troops in Windsor Park. She W.
IL attired in a military costume, with
!. riding habit made with broad colls
y turned back from the bosom, shown
u a little waistcgat of white pigue. VII
turquoise buttons. A high milital
stock of black silk supported her Chi
# above which not the smallest sympto
IS of white collar was perceptible. On h'
1t head she wore military cap with tt
y wide-spIeading crown, already lndle'
e tive Of the German INFLUENCE which ";
1t SO soon to penetrate every departmel
y of the royal life and preside over evel
J. other taste, from the color of q ribbt
n to the choice Of Minister. The cf
k was dark blue cloth, and had burnisht
d leather peak in front. Not a yestige
3. hair was seen about her forehead
ie down the side Of her face, and but t.
l. the stray lock behind, just above Il
= ear, she might haye been taken for son
Young Woolwicll cadet. The blue RI
bon across her bosom and the brillia
n star above gave finish to figure wLi'
= would otherwise have appeared hal
'e and coarse. The other day-exact
d forty years had passed-the same Que'
n reviewed her troops again in that san
| 1ky;,J.or D,rIy. hut had tha same q