The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-11
ANOTHER CHAPTER
OF the Star Route Rascalities-Where the
Plans Were Laid.

New YORK, May s.-The Times tomorrow
will print the first of q series of articles from
Washington concerning the Star Route con-
tract The opening dispatch in a great
measure is devoted to history of the vari-
Gus routes and the means used to have the
pay for transporting the mails over them
increased The beginning OF the story is
suggestive, and is as follows:
WAsHENGroN, May S.-The time will come
when the thieves that have plundered the
Treasury of the United States of the con-
tracts for carrying the mails Will take their
place in history and in the estimation of the
people, by the side of all infamous organi-
cations That time is near at hand. The
Tweed Ring of New York and the Canal Ring
of New York State have passed beyond
the period of denial, explanation
and attempted defense and their dishOn-
esty and corruption are facts as firmly es-
tablished in history as any event of the War.
The Star Service Rings are still in existence,
but their condition resembles snake
that has lost its head and is seeking 10 re-
place it, The head is gone, but there is ire
mendous energy and power in the body.
Nevertheless, without head these organiZa-
tions must die. 1t is great strug-
gle in which these rings are engaged, and
their influence is in almost every direction.
Their agents are numerous in both great po-
litical parties, and their proportions have
been interviewer with great political under
takings Their strength can be understood
only by those who have sought for evidence
of their corruption. In the past the people
and their representatives have innOcently
been a bulwark for the protection of
these rings. Any attempt to lay
bare this accumulation of wickedneSs kas
been denounced an attack on the ener-
getic pioneers of our growing West and
Southwest, and the honest influence of those
people has frequently been sufficient TO turn
action in favor of persons who were robbing
them under the pretense of a new policy for
the thorough dissemination of intelligence.
In the last annual report of the Postmaster
General, Mr.. Maynard then holding that
office, there was the following assertion:
THE general public cares only to know that
its correspondence is carried to its destina-
ton with certainty and security, and pays
little attention to the methods with which
these ends are attained" This is true, and
in this truth may be seen the safety
rings. When the people are determined to
pay some attention to these methods, then
the reign of the ''Star Service" Rings will be
at an end. The Times article goes on to say
that the evidence which has been
rapidly accumulating since Mr.. James
and MacVeagh joined hands for
the prosecution and punishment of the
Suilty PeIsOhS VIII Oe tic oasis, IL ID CA
pected, for a large number of important
suits. These suits will be carried on by the
Government Prosecuting Officers in many
States and Territories. The authorities
who now have this evidence can't, of course,
give it to the press. Some of the inside J is
tory of the fancy" route is howei :,
notorious, and reference viii be made to it
IN connection with some If the routes
which will be described. The main pur-
pose of these histories, however, is to set be
fore the people the modes bywhich so much
money has been given away and thrown
away, as shown by the official records them
selves Washington was the place where
the official work was done. but the inside
plans were laid in New York, where a house
was hired and set apart for consultation and
rpvelrv