Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-06-15
Who is to Blame.

most sacred feelings OF nation.
---------
Who Is to Blame.
The bigger the rascal the less the
chance of his conviction. This is pro-
position which has long been accepted.
So thoroughly and so often has it been
demonstrated that but few will deny or
attempt to refute il. The successful
robber of millions is simply Spectator,
or at worst, defaulter, who continues
to ride in his carriage and by the aid of
his best legal talent, or compromise,
contrives to retain the larger share of
his ill-gotten gains and gradually grows
into a respected citizen. The deprayed
wretch who steals loaf of bread from
the bake shop window is thief, and
serves his time in the penitentiary.
For this abnormal system of justice or
injustice public opinion, the concentrate
ed voice of millions of suffrage holders
is responsible.
II the people demand Justice, justice
will be done provided they are in earn
est in the demand. Each one is con-
tent to drift with the tide until some
Jagged rock of peculation smashes a
hole in the judicial craft and exposes
the rottenness beneath, when COM
bined and prolonged howl arises over
the compatibility of officials who will
permit such mass of iniquities to re-
main hidden.
One year ago the Star Route cases
were commenced with loud-voiced
flourish Of trumpets and laying down of
the platform that no guilty man should
escape. The end of the horn was ample
enough to take in the entire crowd of
contractors and satillites Indictments
were as thick as New Jersey mosquitoes.
Now the small end is reached and in
the passage through the bony tunnel it
is found that, through the looseness of
the legal knots or of weak spots in the
horn. the entire gang has slipped away
leaving the government its trouble for
it5 pains.
What was first fraud has now devel-
oped into farce and the government is
announced as impotent to protect itself
against the act of ring of dishonest
rascals beside which others of their class
are mere tryos. A late Washington
dispatch says, Marshal Henry admits,
in letter to Attorney General Brews-
ter, that the manner of serving process
SEES and selecting members (of the jury)
is irregular, the fault being with tho
deputy" This is handsome admis-
sion to come from official under the
very dome of the capitol. Why are depu-
ties who are open to bribery continued
in office? Why are marshals who con-
tinue such deputies left to enjoy the
fruits of official ease?
For years the government, and
through it the people, were swindled out
of hundreds of thousands of dollars an
nually. Upon the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Garfield the rumors which had
been banded about were made the SUBJ
ject of investigation. The cover was
lifted and anything but savory mess
was found beneath. Indictments fol-
lowed and vigorous prosecution was
inaugurated when the crack of Guiteau' 5
pistol sunk all action in the one great
grief. The new administration announ-
ces itself as alive to the necessities of a
vigorous prosecution. Attorney Gen
eral Brewster issued his proclamation
and the world stopped to gaze admir-
/ ingly. There was n CLEAN of hope that
Dorsey, Brady, ct al, would ornament
u suit of stripes at some one of the
numerous pententiarieS provided for
their class all over the land.
After the first blasts the toots upon
this bugle horn became more moderated
in tone until it is reduced to wall of
past promises not redeemed. That
there is something rotten in Denmark
the most insignificant citizen is aware
4 From what source the rottenness pro-
ceedS is something they cannot decide
50 readily. That a great government,
welding the power delegated to it hy
fifty millions of people is unable to forge
legal handouts which will hold some of
the greatest and most dangerous rascals
OF the age is shameluly palpable. Why
it can not do this is n question now offer
ed for solution Whether through the
willful mistakes Of MarShals, the blum
doting Of attorneys, or the interference
Of ''intlucnce, this farce and fraud
and fraud in farce has been hoisted up
on the national stage is something which
every Teller would like to find out.
The man who rebS the government i.
no better than the burglar who cracks
crib. The honor connected with
both is only that which obtains among
thieves. There should be no more diff
Guilty in sending the one to the peniten-
tiary than there is in sending the other
TO the house of correction.
That there is difficulty Is the fault of
the officers of the government. The
weight of condemnation will fall directly
on those interested in the case. incidsn-
tally on the administration which per-
mlts such tiasco So great a shame
will not be borne with impunity. A day
OF reckoning is coming. 1t will be well
for all concerned to see that their skirts
are clear OF all stain Of this great out
rage on Justice
Aud Lang Syne.