Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-11-07
lamrdstcr fatelliQenrer.
MONDAY EVENING. NOV. 2. 1881.
That Game OF Hide and Seek.


the language and action of conversa-
tion purporting to have been had be-
tween the president and the attorney
general about the management of the gov
ernment side of the star route and
Guiteau prosecutions, in which the
president is reported as strongly re-
presenting it to be the attorney generals
duty to conduct the cases, while the at.
torney general as stoutly maintains
that it is none OF his business to ap-
pear in the criminal courts. Probably
the Star did not intend that anyone
should believe that the scene had really
occurred as it portrayed it, but was
taking advantage of the privilege that
some journalists think is theirs, of tell
ing 4 story, if they can tell it we'll. with
out troubling themselves about its truth
fulness.
In this case the Star had as its starting
point the general knowledge of the dis
agreement of Arthur and Mac Veagh and
of the game that is being played between
them to thrust responsibilities upon each
other. The STIR cleverly narrates what the
president might we'll have said, and the
attorney general have replied, if they had
spoken what was in their hearts. There
is no doubt at all but that Arthur is de-
sirous to hold Mac Veagh responsible for
the conduct of the prosecutions Of tic
star route thieves and of GarGeld's as
sassin, and that Mac Veagh is resolutely
determined not to he put in that predic-
ament if he can avoid it. So it happens
that it would be quite possible for the
president and the attorney general to
talk as freely and angrily to one another
as the Star represents them to have
spoken, without dissolving their official
connection more than it is already dis
solved; since Arthur is unwilling to part
with MacVeagh, and the latter has got
out of his Office as far as he can by ten
dering a resignation which awaits ac-
ceptance.
Arthur does not like MacVeagh, and
MacVeagh does not like Arthur; the
president holds on to the attorney gen
eral to help himself and hurt him, and
the attorney general cuts loose from the
president to hurt him and help himself.
Every one recognizes the situation and
understands its motives. Mr.. Arthur is
known to have cOnsorted familiarly with
star route thieves, and to have exhibited
himself within the year at a banquet to
the chief one, Dorsey, at which he spoke
in his honor. Guiteau shot Garfield, de-
clariHg that he did it to put Arthur in
the place of power he now holds. Arthur
disclaims any sympathy now with
either Guiteau or Dorsey and Brady :;
and so far rs Guiteau is concerned-a
friendless and crack Drained man-none
of those who incline to think ill
of Arthur will he disposed to
doubt that he wishes to see him
vigorously prosecuted and speedily hung :;
that he may show that he has no SYM
pathy with the crime or the criminal
that made him president. No soft
ness about his heart is likely to inspire
him to keep the Moose from even crazy
mans neck, when his act of bravery
might he construed into one of Sympa.
thy for a tool Of his ambition. The
array of counsel that have been imported
into Washington, at the presidents in
stance, to clamor for Guiteau's blood,
shows very distinctly that Arthur aims
by the sacrifice of this creature to alb
solve himself from any suspicion of
completely in his crime. Clearly enough
he would hang G uiteau.
But would he imprison Dorsey and
Brady \ great many people think not.
Mr.. MacNcagh seems to think not. He
has no possible reason for desiring to
surrender the charge of the prosecution
except conviction that the weight of
the government influence will be thrown
secretly against him and will be most
likely to battle his efforts to condemn. He
intends to decline the responsibility of
the prosecution under that risk. His
Justification simply depends upon
whether he is right or wrong in thus ac-
cusing Arthur of having Grants dispo-
sition to stick by his criminal friends in
their trouble. Grant is very close to
Arthur, as is we'll known. When he
was president he shielded his friends of
the whisky ring, and thwarted the
most earnest efforts of the able govern
ment counsel to secure BabcOck's con-
victiOn at st. Louis. II MacVeagh be-
lieves that this same spirit animates
Arthur, or that he is controlled by
Grants spirit, he would be foolish indeed
to undertake the responsibility of
convicting such recognized supporters
of Arthur and his political set rs Brady,
Dorsey and their gang have been. There
is no doubt at all that the refusal of the
attorney general to continue in charge
of the star route prosecutions is direct
indictment of the presidents sincerity
in his pretended desire for their convic-
tion, if they are guilty and no more to
be relied on as the honest expression of
the feeling of his heart than was Presi-
dent Grants celebrated proclamation to
the prosecution while the whisky thieves
were being tried" Let no guilty man
escape"
THE Democracy of Lancaster county
are steadfast, hard-working minority.
Thov ora poyor 6,untod hv Iofaof NOR