Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-29


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FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 40. 1881.
The Thieves Quarrel.
The present assault upon the star route
thieves by one set of the Republican
politicians is fresh illustration of the
fact that when rogues fall out honest
men get their just dues. There can he
no doubt that Mr.. Garfield, who heads
the administration, and Mr.. Blaine, who
steers it, have long known Of these frauds
over which they now find 1t to their ad-
vantage to raise their hands In holy hor-
Tor. They have too long been be-
hind the scenes OF their party manage
ment not to know that it has received
great advantage from the money that
has thus been unlawfully taken from the
treasury. The public was made clearly
acquainted with the character Of these
star route frauds by the full investiga-
ton of them made by Congress several
years ago, after they had been exposed
by Gibson in the New York Sun. The
second assistant postmaster general
made the same bold defense that he
makes now; admitting that he had vio-
lated the law in making contracts
greatly exceeding the appropriation
provided for their payment, and declar-
ing that his action was necessary to keep
the growing West properly supplied
with mail facilities. The falsity of this
plea was then as clearly shown as it is
now, by the fact that the service was
paid for extravagantly, was not needed,
and was not performed, and that the
contracts for it were changed immedi'
ately after they were made and the
figures raised SO disproportionately as
to prove to the most unsuspecting mind
that the motive was jobbery and not the
public good. All the Republican leaders
knew these things and Mr.. Garfield
knew, moreover, that his election to the
presidency was forwarded by contribu-
tions levied upon these postal thieves.
He knew that Dorsey, who managed his
campaign and to whom loud hallelu-
jahs were raised for his success in buy
ing Indiana, was one of this band. 1t
suits his present advisers now to expose
and destroy these lately embraced fellow
laborers in the vineyard, because they
have joined hands with the Conkling
band in rebellion. They put On pre-
sent cloak of virtue and declare that
though they and the Republican party
protited by their misdeeds, it will not
father their crimes. Blaine and Gar
field have the advantage of the sit
uation. They have the profit of the Of
fences and propose to destroy the agents
who are now not only useless but often.
sive to them. 1t is an old game of
thieves and cCt-throats, out of which
public advantage comes whatsoever
party survives, and the more if both are
destroyed, as usually happens.
1t is very doubtful whether Garfield
will have enough pluck to fight out the
battle into which he has been thrust by
Blaine. If the latter is permitted to
manage the business it will no doubt Ee
q fight to the bitter end. On the other
side there is plenty of courage. The
men who stood the fire of the congress
sional inquiry have the same means to
paralyze the present one. They will
not 60 down alone. They will not leave
Garfield, Blaine and their friends stand
ing as the virtuous figures for which
they are now posturing. The president
and his secretary are not now clothed in
raiment of dazzling whiteness, and if
they persist in pushing Conkling and his
friends to the wall they will get terri
BILE scattering of mud.