The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-02
pREsJpENr ARrHuR BRACES UP.

| PRESIuENT hhInUA ohnV6s We
II was no, only notorious during the pro
gress OF the famous star route trial a
Washington last winter and spring, bu
was the subject of ceaseless newspape
comment all summer and fall, that promi
nent government Officials we're IN league
and cheek by jowl with the star route
thieves, resorting to every means and leav
ing no stone unturned to secure for them
verdict of acquittal When the favorable
verdict, through their instruTentality, wa:
finally procured, popular Indignation ros'
to a high pitch, and constant demands
we're made upon the President to remove
the guilty officials. To all of them, how
ever, he turned deaf ear. But the outcry
went on, and IN November certain impor
tant elections occurred, and it was evident
that the delinquency IN the star route prose
cution had contributed very largely to the
very disastrous character of the returns.
The effect upon the President, to whom the
newspaper outcry up to that time had been
as mosquito attacks upon the hide of an
elephant, was now like bayonet stabs and
seems TO have finally walked him up, The
second trial of the star route thieves, il was
known, had been set for the 4th of Decem
her, and the President appears TO have
come to the conclusion that it would no
longer do 10 slosh them over. So a week
or two ago he addressed an inquiry to
Prosecutor Bliss who these government
officials are that are obstructing justice in
the star route prosecutions. Bliss answer
cd with aiacrify that they were L. S. Mar
shall Henry, government detective Marshal
o. Roberts, City Postmaster Anger and
Parker, his assistant; Mr. Helm, superln-
tendent of the Record IN the government
printing Office, and Geo. E. Spencer, gov
eminent director Of the Pacific railroad.
The President referred Bliss's answer to
General Brewster, and he said
Bliss was right, with an emphasis, and
that the gentlemen named ought to be re-
moved. And thereupon the President,
without moments hesitation, took off
their heads.
The prompt action of the President was
like the explosion of key of dynamite
lmong the political quidnuncs of the CAPT
tai. II friendship tor Dorsey, Brady and
the rest of the star route thieves is danger
ous to official life, who is safe? The gen
.lcmen named, it is true, had been excep
EQUALLY ofiiclous. Detective Roberts had
detected only to screen the thieves: Mar
hal Henry had packed the jury in favor
If the thieves; Postmaster Anger and his
assistant had certified to bogus bonds in
avor Of the star reuters, and were the pet
creatures of Dorsey; Helm controlled two
newspapers that were especially yenomous
n their abuse of the government prosecu.
ors; and Spencer when summoned as q
witness against the thieves had run away.
But all these gentlemen were the friends of
fairfield, and had accompanied Dorsey to
indiana In 1880 and been efficient in help.
ng HIM to save that state for Garfield.
They all belonged to what Is known as the
Ohio ring" and ali were substantially in
he same boat 1t appears, however, that
he President has no intention TO proceed
ny further in the work of decapitatlon,
nd Ohio once more is tranquil. But net
o the victims. Henry Is especially bellig.
rent and threatens oil sorts Of vengeance,
nd Helm and his two papers are boiling
yer with wrath. But the effect on the star
QUITE prosecution, 1t 10 safe to say, will be
ignally healthful. There will be no pow.
rful government ring to harrow and ham.
er the government courts in the next
rosecution of the robbers.