Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-03

Washington Cor. n. Y. Herald.
1t is to be feared that Acting Attorney General
Phillips not only gave the star route people aid
and comfort, perhaps without intending it, by his
letter to Mr. Gibson, but that he was disingenuouS
in suppresSing facts The inference from his letter
was that Mr. Gibson falsely represented himself as
an agent OF the Department OF Justice, and also
that Gibsons statement concerning the star
route frauds was prepared and issued without the
knowledge OF the department. But it is stated
upon unquestionabe authority that three or four
days before Mr. Gibson's letter was given to the
press, draft OF it was in Mr.. Phillips possession,
was read at least In part by him, and its contents
discussed between himself and the counsel for
the government. 1t was referred back to counsel
for revision, and Mr.. Phillips knew that after Col
Bliss, Mr.. Brewster or Mr; Cook had passed upon
it, 1t was to be issued under the authority OF the
Department OF Justice. All the later proceedings
In the matter of the star route prosecutions have
been referred To Col Bliss other counsel for the
government, and their action has been accepted as
final.
1t may be also stated, upon like authority. that
the Gibson document was prepared with the
knowledge and consent OF President Arthur that
It's contents were known to him and that he ap-
proved OF its conclusions. There is little doubt
that Mr. Gibson acted without authority in giving
the report TO the press at the time he did, but there
is no doubt that he was justified i'm his claim OF
having prepared IL under the authority of the De-
partment of Justice, that he submitted it to the
proper persons and In the proper way, and that
Acting Attorney General Phillips knew all this at
the time his letter was written.
THE ACCUSED THROWING DUST.
The fact is that the alleged cOnsprators have
adopted every desperate means to divert the public
mind from the one main question Of their guilt or
innocence. The proofs against them seem over
whelming. They have brought forward no rebuff
ting facts but content themselves with the worn
expedient OF abusing the opposing lawyer But
they have managed. to so befog the main issue by
their assaults on the Integrity OF counsel that
considerable part Of the public seems to have lost
sight OF the mistaken evidence that that counsel
has produced.
They began by asserting, with some show of rea-
son, that Attorney General MacVeagh endeavored
to Seduce DOrSeyS private secretary into betray-
ing his masters secrets. 1t is possible that this
man Redeil was promised immunity and perhaps
sion of important evidence, which he was undoubt-
edly able to do There is cause to believe that
Redell Was at first sincere in his tender OF assist
ance. He did give the government important in
formation upon which il has since been able to
act He showed the government papers which it
Is to this day believed were genuine, and which, If
produced in court, would convict Dorsey beyond a
peradventure. He offered to give these papers to
the government, but asked for a few days delay.
In that interval he was subjected to pressure,
the secrets OF which are known to the govern
ment. He made an affidavit wherein, after Incl
dentaliy confessing himself liar and intimating
signature, ne charged that the Attorney General
and the Postmaster General had conspired TO In
duce him to break into Dorseys desk and steal his
private papers. But this even II true, did not i'm
peach the facts already produced by the govern.
ment
They seized upon the ill-adyised, unpatriotic and
petulant action Of Mr.. Macveagh to shower abuse
upon the entire prosecution. With the assistance
deliberate, thoughtless or otherwise District
Attorney Corkhil they were able to plead success
fully technical point In the first prosecution and
thereupOn caused it to be heralded abroad that the
government had no case. But in the pleadings be-
fore Judge Cox the real issue was not touched By
word or inference the question OF their guilt or
Innocence was in no wise passed upon. The mass
OF overwhelming testimony which the public has /
had spread before it has never been mpeachad In
single particular. One of the alleged cOnspfratorS
to show 6y the o testimony Of 8 Contractor named
Brott that ex-Deputy Auditor Lilley had conspfred
with him to defraud the government; but when the
case was before the court Brott had disappeared,
and the court refused to grant delay until he
could be produced. A second assertion that the
government had really no evidence to convict was
promulgated over the country. BrOtt has since been
apprehended, and hts evidence Will vt justify the
governments claims. Mr. GfbSon'S report, whether
press is endorsed, every word OF It and every fact
In it. by the special counsel selected by President
Garfield and now acting under the authority OF
thur. Mr.. Phillips has never been connected with
the prosecution. He is, by an accident, temporar-
one knows better than himself that he is regarded
neither by the President, by those connected with
the prosecution, nor by the public, as In any way
for the conduct OF the cases or to be
except as matter OF form, In regard TO
them. Yet he must have known that his letter
to to- throw Mo- a the
without consultation with special counsel or, as
far as known, with the President. He must have
that was IN q has " Ss
to unfasorabie criticism. At any y' rate his
nation They have not attempted to contrpverf a
single OF the damniAg proofs which the special
counsel Of the government through M. Gibson,