Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-16
Will the Star Route COnspiratOrs
be vigorously Prosecuted!

This is question which is being very
generally asked in various quarters by
numerous contemporaries, without re-
gard to section or party. All likewise
agree in one answer, and that is that the
duty of the government in the premises
is plain, and that Notwithstanding the
immense cost which the trials have
already incurred, no efforts should be
spared to mete out to the alleged conspi-
ratOrs stern and ample justice.
Neither the government nor the Re
publican party can afford to take any
other course. The remarkable verdict
of the star route jury which was recently
rendered as clearly convicts Brady and
the two Dorseys as if that verdict had
been guilty" Miner and Rerdell could
not have been guilty of conspiracy
unless a conspiracy had have existed,
and that was impossible without the
concurrence and participation of the
leaders in the star route swindles, of
whom the convicts were but the crea-
lures. To permit these leaders to
escape when even a palpably "fixed'
jury could not find it in their conscience
to acquit them would be a stigma upon
the government and American Justice
which the people cannot afford to bear
Already the unpunisted crookedness of
leading Radical officials within the past
two decades have so loaded the title
American citizen" with infamy that it
will be well nigh impossible for the coun-
try to bear the additional buroen which
would be imposed were Brady and the
two DOrseys to go unwhipt of Justice.
To the Republican party the effects
would be still more disastrous. The
high position which all three of these
alleged arch-cOnspirators have, and do,
occupy in the ranks of that party-one
having been Radical carpet-bag Senator
from Arkansas, and being even now Sec
rotary of the Republican National Execu-
tive COmmittee-makest that party largely
responsible for their crimes, since but
for their influence with the party, they
could never have been able to success
fully expedite" so many star routes.
II, through the money or in
fuence of leading Republicans and
the powers that be, they escape the
penitentiarY, it will bring the party
into an Odium even greater than any
which has heretofore attached thereto.
Whether this would result in the defeat
of the party it is hard to say. Hubbell-
ism is powerful, and may again, as it
has so often in the past, rise superior to
odium. Still the additional stigma can
do the party no good, and its most pru-
dent leaders will most probably, as a
matter of policy, insist that the Depart
ment of Justice shall, at least, make a
show of as much zeal in bringing these
prominent lights of Radicalism, already
half convicted, to merited punishment,
as it has shown--and is getting ready to
again shown conducting political
prosecutions in the South.
No matter, then, what view may be
taken Of the star route trials, it is clearly
both matter of duty and policy that
they be pushed to the bitter end. One
thing is very certain, as the Boston Id
rertiser truly says: Washington is prob
ably the worst place in America in which
to secure the punishment of men who
have abused high positions to plumber
the Treasury, but nevertheless there
will be no satisfaction without
another attempt The next trial
will begin under somewhat diff
ferent conditions from the last one.
There will certainly be less Wanting on
the part of the defendants. Their pro-
LESSONS of eagerness for judicial investi-
CATION have evaporated. Their assur-
ances that all they desired was chance
to establish their innocence will not be
repeated. And the popular judgment
as to two or three on the jury which has
disagreed as to the real culprits may be
a great help to the prosecution when Mr..
Brady and the Dorseys are tried again. u