Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-01

Upon the subject of the star route
prosecution the Lancaster InteHigen.
GER is of the opinion that it is now in
order to have LESS talk and more ac-
tion." The Lnteiiigencer says that Mr..
Gibson, the special deputy of the at.
torney general to examine into the
star route letters, has made report Of
the result Of his inquiries, which very
conclusively shows that the late sec
ond assistant postmaster general. Bra
dy, administered his Office with an
eye single to the interests of the con.
tractors. which were his own. Few
persons need any further evidence of
this than they have already for q
long time had. II may be said that
no intelligent citizen has any doubt of
Brady's guilty completely with the
mail contractors in their speculaiions.
The only question that is doubtful in
the matter is as to whether Brady is
TO be punished. The publication OF
Mr.. Gibson's report would seem 10
show that the authorities who are in
charge Of the prosecutions are quite
as doubtful as the people as to wheth-
er anything damaging to the guilty
will result from their efforts toward
their conviction. The public do not
care for Mr.. Gibson's report, because
it proves what they are already con.
vinced Of what would be interesting
to them from the attorney generals of
flee would he an assurance that the
guilt thus proved is TO be punished.
They will be quite content to await
the evidence at the trial. The previ-
Gus publication of it in this official
way seems TO be an intimation that
the trial may be postponed long, if not
altogether. Il seems very strange,
indeed, that the conclusive evidence
of the frauds of Brady Is with such
difficulty brough. to bear upon him.
The very first step towards his trial
has proved abortive. in 4 way that is
quite unintelligible to the people. A
United States attorney general, aided
by three distinguished lawyers, from
the front rank OF the bars Of the three
respective cities of Washington,
Philadelphia aud New YeE,M rave
not even been successful 10 hhe at.
tempt to bring the accused into couft :
and if this lack of power is de-eloped
in the initiatory and matter-of.course
movements of that trial, what may we
not expect to occur to hinder the
course Of justice through the dangers
and difficulties that lie in wait for it
during the progress towards conviction
at the hands of twelve of Mr.. Brady's
peersf If the grand jurymen could
not be trusted TO render n majority
verdict according to the evidence, can
o unanimous verdict be confidently ex-
pected from the jurymen Evidence,
however convincing. does not always
convince juries. In this case Of Brady
the atmosphere around the court is ex.
pected TO be inimical to conviction.
Mr.. Arthur, like Mr.. Grant, is known
to stick to his friends 10 evil and good
repute. Brady and Dorsey occupy
high seats among the chosen stalwart
band. Grant protected the whisky
thieves, and that Arthur will be as
| good to the postal thieves Is fair iu-
ference from his character, associa-
tions and coniaminations.
M. Gibson fires off his gun now
perhaps because he Is doubtful wheth-
er he will ever have q chance in court ;
or il may only be to inform the public
and intensity the popular demand for
justice upon the thieves. AS we have
said. il was not necessary for this pur.
pose: nor is IL really proper in the
government. IL these men are 10 be
tried, to publish the evidence against
them In advance. II is the jury sum.
Eaoned In their cases that Is TO be con-
vinced, aud they ought 20 be unpreju-
diced men uniformed as TO the facts
which will be detailed 10 them in
court. The general public can we'll
await the testimony then produced.
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