Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-31


editor OF The EVENING sTAE intended to reflect
upon this paper as one over which the defendants
IN the star route prosecutions now going on before
Judge Wylle possess either control or influence.
Notwithstanding, his remarks are so construed by
one or two of the Washington correspondents OF
New 1ork Journals The Post has enteayored
during this controversy u mant ln fair and dig
nined position. Ne are frank enough to say that
we have had no respect Tor the prosecution as 1t
was frsE Organized, and that the evidences OF
plumber and bl1ckmdil being its primary and only
object are SO plentiful and 80 authentic that We
cannot doubt them. o. course we exempt MessrS.
MacVeagh and James from any completely
in such schemes; but that conceded, we do not
ind ourselves able To justify Il great many things
that one or the other, or both OF them allowed to
be done at the beginning OF the contest Neither
% we believe II is 1air to en- Ieay0r to preju
eice Jury or court or the public by newspaper
scurrility against the defend ,ntS in a criminal
suit than the prosecutors. SO TAR as Brady's con-
necton with the newspapers OF this city goes it
would Dr. quite as WELL we think, fOr THE STAR, in
It's comments. 20 avoid vague AMI general aCcuSa-
tons. Mr.. Brady was al one tine an owner in the
RepnoiteqR but it is now un ierstoOd that in that
one OF the chief prosecutors.
We wish it distinctly IN !ersto0d. however. that
neither General Brady. Mr. Dorsey nor any other
defendant IN the trials going on has sought TO
purchase either the 'sitnce aid, or the or the
columns OF the Post. We have been asked and
declined TO publish a number Of communications,
put 6eyend such perfectly proper requests. no
attempt has been made to Influence the course OF
tbI5 paper. In number of inst tnceS We have also
refrained from publishing news of perfectly
legitimate character from a Cautious desire not 10
seem to embarrass the prose, ution, but tnis too
has been without concert or requeSt--B dShington
Post, Jdiy 20.
We chcerlully publish the above from the Post
establishing It's impartial attitude towards the
prosecution and defence in the star route eases,
but We should be glad TO supplement this puhlica-
ton by reproducing something from the incsive
pen OF the elitOr OF that paper giving his vl5w
upon the great steal perpetratei by the route
ring. We have no doubt that he has IA decided
opinion upon than subject, and that he fully
agrees with the general public in looking upon It
as the colossal fraud OF the century. The enor-
nous magnitude OF this robbery of the public
treasury IS shown by the fact that the Post Office
department is now performing the star route SER
vice for half what it cost under ring management,
and Is doing the work at the reduced cost much
more efficiently than Ii was done by the gang of
'expedting' thieves. The saving to the govern
Ient by the honest administration of the st lr route
affairs is sully two million dollars annually; and
this sum represents the amount OF plumber the
Thieves were able TO divide yearly and to employ
now such a wholesale scale In efforts to escape
punishment 1t seems to to be the duty of the
press everywhere, and especially OF Washington,
10 speak out in plain terms in condemnation OF
these star route vl!ainieS, and hope the editor
or the Post VIII not allow his dissatisfaction with
tae course or the prosecution to deter him from
joining in the work or building up wholesome
public sentiment and m king such schemes OF
maud and corruption thoroughly odou5.
The stalwarts OF Mercer county, Pennsylvania,
met with totally unexpected and very decisive
defeat az the hands of the independent republi-
cans saturday 1t was at a meeting OF the repub-
hean county committee, part or the machine,
and where the stalwarts had supposed themselves
70 be almost invincible. resolution, prepared in
accordance with machine tactics, tndOrsing the
regular state ticket course OF the regular
state committee with regard 10 the negotiations
for harmony, was offered, OF course for the pur-
pose OF making manifest to the state the stalwart
hold upon the county. The independents moved
N lay rtIrIrST
vote was counted, much to the chagrin OF the
stalwarts, that motion had prevailed. The indie
pendents were absolute masters OF the county
machinery.
The ''big four" comprising state Senators Iy-
brook, Williams. Hale and Newberry, the four
coantiOnists who sustained Auditor Massey In his
revolt against the caucus decree, and vino subse-
quentiy defeated the partisan schemes Of the re-
adJusterS, have issued address calling upon sail
good Nirsnans' to rally TO the support Of Massey
Tor CongreSSman-at-large. These men, like Mr.. |
Massey, were formerly active and influential read
)usterS Their address probably issued In an
swer to indu5triouslycirculated reports that they
mad returned to their party allegiance and would
oppose Massey. They are TO take an active part |
In the canvass and Will employ their Influence to
defeat the party which they recently helped into
power Their chief objection 10 readIuster rule is
that bOSSiSn dominates it.
The Senate has stricken out OF the naval appro- |
priation bill some of the features which the House
evidently regarded as important, and if the House
we're IN a position TO make a fight over it, the |
changes would no doubt be stubbornly resisted. |
But so many members believing the session would |
only last few days mora, have gone home. that |
Ii Is very Questionable II force enough can be mus
tered 10 follow the friends OF the original bill in
Raising an issue with the Senate. The subject OF
the completion of the four monitors Monadnock
Puritan, Amphritrite and Terror, is, by Senate |
amendment, referred 20 the next session OF Con
gress The naval advisory board is required to |
make thorough examination as TO the condition |
or the vessels, cost o. completion, etc, and sub
nit It's report 10 Congress Them In the light of
this information, action VIII be taken. Ii was |
asserted By Senators in the debate, upon the au-
fhorfty OF men skilled in naval architecture that |
these vessels would be worthless, even after |
-Slnpletion, and IL was deemed wise to await |
ohkal Information upon this point before expand-
Ing any more money on them The Senate also |
struck out the House provision aboiishing the |
rank OF commodore AMI regulating promotions to
the rank OF rear admiral, and it reduced the
amount set apart for fnishing, the MIantonomah
from 81 oeo1oO to $4,000.
The present aspect OF European affairs IS any.
Thing but reassurring to England. The French
chamber By an overwhelming vote refused to
sanction military cooperation with England In
her Egyptian campaign, even after the French
ministry had begun preparations. This action OF
the chamber has becn emphasized by the issuance
OF orders TO commandants OF French vessels in
Egypt To maintain the strictest neutrality
FOLLOWING closely upon this denial OF French
assistance TO England, Russia suddenly withdraws
from the conference OF European powers with
regard 20 Egypt, and the representative of thai
government declines to give any explanation OF
his course. Unfortunately for England, she has
gone too far in her fOrcible interference with
Egypt TO recede now. except with loss OF prestige
The Republican, has moved into its eligible new
quarters. corner Tenth and streets We con-
graduate the Republican upon getting into so
desirable neighborhood, and the nelghborhood
upon the acquisition o. so handsome a newspaper
With The STAR, Republican, Post, and various
sunday papers formed IN line here, the locality
might DC named newspaper Row." for short
yellow fever Is almost epidemic in Havana and
on tAe gulf coast OF Mexico Ii prevails In a most