The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-08-12
THE WHISKY Ring AGAIN.
GEN'L M'DONALD, OF ST. LOUIS,
TELLING UNPLEASANT STO-
RIES OF HIS REPUBLI-
CAN "PALS,"
And Describing Method Of Providing Cam
palgn Expenses" Revival Of Which
Would Save Mr. Jewell and Gen,
Garfield Much Trouble

Especial Correspondence OF the N. Y. World.l
st. Louis August S.-Ever since General John
Mcdonald was released from the Penitentlary In
the closing days Of the Great Administration he
has said that when the time came he would talk,
That time has evidently come. In few days
the manuscript of book to be called "The Sc
orets Of the Great Whisky Ring" will be given
to the publishers. Mcdonald was Supervisor Of
Internal Revenue for the district comprising
Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas Indian Ter.
ritory and New Mexico. when the ring was ex.
posed and he served seventeen months in the
Missouri Penitentlary for completely in the
frauds.
To the WORLD correspondent Gen. Mcdonald
said this evenings 81 never lied to Gen. Grant
all my dealings with him. He had positive
knowledge Of these operations. The ring was
formed to raise money for the campaign expenses
In 1872, and Grant and the leaders OF the Repub
llcan party knew It. When l had laid the plans
in my district l went to Washington and told
Grant about them, His instructions were to see
Babcock and give him the Details and then we
would be protected from interference and trouble
by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue aud
the Treasury Department Douglass had infor.
nation Of what was going on, but begged not to
be informed Of details that his conscience might
not be burdened Rogers knew it as we'll as Av.
cry, who went to the Penitentiary with u.s. l tell
you the Whisky Ring formed for the purpose Of
raising campaign fund had the sanction of the
Administration and was a party measure. We
sent money to Morton to be used In carrying In.
diana and used 1t In paying the expenses Of Re.
publican speakers throughout the West Thous.
snds OF 1t went to keep up Republican newspa'
perS ard to strengthen the backbOnes Of editors
and make them for Grant in 1872"
"And you wore the stripes before you would
make all this knOwn?"
II did, Nobody can say that John Mcdonald
ever betrayed friend. Before my trial, in the
fall of 1875, Gen, Grant a. Babcock were here.
l had been indicted, and they were afraid was
going to squeal They came to see what could
be done to save themselves,and when they found
that was firm they went back to Washington
leaving promises that should never suffer II
sentenced. Then came my conviction, and sim.
ultaneously with II Babcock's indictment. | was
sent to the st. Louis jail and they begged me to
hold of till Babcot k coaid have his trial fur
nished, under positive pledges that they should
be returned to me- batch Of BabcOck's letters to
be used II necessary In his trial. They were not
used, and never returned. Babcoek was acquit.
w.
Louis jail and pledged his word that my pardon
should come as soon as he returned to Washing
ton. Almost the day after he got there came the
Belknap exposure, and was urged to hold off
little while longer. Then the Cincinnati Con-
vention was at hand and there was possibility
OF Grant being renominated, and tonce more
was asked to be q martyr for my friends a little
longer. Then came the campaign, and as par
ty measure was asked to remain prisoner till
the election, waited for the November returns,
and saw that Tilden had the electoral majority
Then / said would wait no lOnger-they must
let me go had an address drawn up in which
narrated the origin Of the Whisky Ring, told as
briefly as could what proofs / had of the com.
pliclty Of Grant and other Republican leaders to
the frauds. sent word that this document was
to be laid before Proctor KnOtts committee then
investigating the ring unless my pardon was
forthcoming by the 2Oth Of January 1877. .Ex'
Governor Fletcher, Of Missouri, came to the Pen.
itentiary and read that paper Then and not till
then 1t was that my pardon came"
Referring to the loss OF part OF the Babcock let.
ters General Mcdonald said they formed but
very few of what he had and for which alone
$4,000 had been offered, He exhibited letter az
ter letter including many signed hctitiously and
sent under cover, urging him to be steadfast and
assuring him Of sympathy and help from the
White House, These letters, he stated, would be
printed In his forthcoming book, and with other
documents, some to be given In facsimile, would
leave no room for doubt that the Whisky Ring
had Its ramfcations throughout the headquar.
ters Of the Republican party.
In reply to q question as to the time when
the book might be looked for the General said
"The Republican leaders are bringing every
pressure possible on me to get the publication
postponed until after the election. They have
frightened one publishing house which had al.
ready made q commencement on the manuscript
by threatening injunction proceedings Two or
three others who stood ready 10 take hold of II
have been forced to refuse II by various political
influences brought to bear. This has delayed
me and may necessitate my going to Chicago OF
Cincinnati TO bring out the book, but 1t shall be
published and that before the campaign is over.
/ gave the evidence to the Sherman and Blaine
managers which they used effectually at Chica-
go to defeat Grant, and now they are begging me
TO hold 1t back 80 as not to hurt the Republican
party In the present campaign for the Republi
can leaders are as deep in the mire as the White
House,