Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-21
THE STAR ROUTE PLUNDEkERS.
What the New York Papers Say.
cohMENDATIoN or THE PROSECUTION AND OF TIL
WASHINGTON GRAND JURY.

cohMENDATIoN OF THE PROSECUTION AND OF THE
WASHINGTON GRAND JURY.
The New York Herald, to-day, slys editorially:
"1n finding indictments against the star route
plunderers the grand jury of the District OF Coum-
bla has done good work and rendered the coun-
| try an important service Twelve offenders arr
indicted, chief among whom are Brady, the two
DorSeys and Redell, ex-senator Dorsey's private
| secretary. The prosecution should now be
pushed with the utmost vgor and we have faith
that it will be President Arthur is unqncstion-
ably in earnest in this matter, while Attorney
General Brewster has shown s detern!n;t on t.
bring the cuipritS to justice which is In striking
contrast with the strange conduct OF his predcc"s-
sor, Wayne MacVeagh. In his letter u Col. Bliss,
| written some time ago, tie Attorney General
signfied his intention OF taking personal charge
OF the eases in court, and declared that these
prosecutions must be earnestly pressed toe trial
must be prompt and the clSeS must b. well pre-
concur"
The Times says" II is with uuallayed satistac-
ton that the public Will find among those to he
indicted the names of Thomas J. Brady and ste
phen W. Dorsey. There have been many predic-
ttons that money, legal skill ana political infiu-
ence would save these two men from ever being
brought TO trial for their part in the great con-
spiracy. Those who had little faith in the deter
mination OF the pr sent administration IN let no
guilty man escape have refused TO believe that
they would be presented by Washington grand
jury on any evidence that could be HHt before il.
but preSentmeHt that should have olaitt@d them
would have taken the life out Of the prosecution.
for they were the life of the conspiracy. Con
tractors might have combined and laid plans for
plunderlng the Treasury, hut with an honest
and energetic man at the head OF the con-
tract bureau OF the Post 0Iice department their
s ehelneS would have come to n&uZht and they
would have been speedily discouraged. Gen.
Brady was the one man who could give them sue
cess His Joining with them Involved him in a
double guilt. He not only became paFtiCipant I'm
lneir plot for defrauding the government and in
the ualawful gains which they were able TO make.
but he betrayed the high trust that was reposcd
in aim. He should have shut the door against the
thieves, not helped them to their booty There is
no doubt that every effort has been made that in
genuity could devise or a lavish expenditure OF
money could compass To prevent the archconspi-
rator5 from being brought 10 justice. While the
public opinion OF the country beyond their in
huence, they have done their worst Ia corrupt that
OF the District OF Columbia which must bear most
1irectly upon the proceedings against them, and
have spa red no endeayor to influence the course OF
the cover nment in their favor"
The Tribune correspondent says: "The fact that
General Brady is indicted ought TO be sufficient
answer to the talk that has been in circulation to
the effect that the little star route criminals were
to be punished, and the big ones allowed TO escape.
Allegations OF that kind are not only without
foundation in fact but are, so far as they relate TO
General Brady, Illogical. The essence of the charge
against the star route men is that OF conspiracy,
and In every one OF the great conSpracieS General
Brady is an essential factor. The Dorsey combi-
nation, the Salisbury combination and the ether
great combinations could only succeed in their de-
signs against the Treasury through either his con-
nivance or his fnefhclency. The prosecution as
Sti!ne5 anu proposes 10 prove connyance, and thus
IL Is that he becomes a common factor in all the
great combinations making up what is called the
star route ring.
There are not wanting those who assert tn ut the
indictment Is to be only form, and that the sin
nerS OF political influence like Gen. Brady and eX-
senator Dorsey. are to be allowed 10 Slip away.
Charges OF this nature have even appeared OF late
III the republican newspapers taat have profeSSed
entire sympathy with the star route prosecutions.
Such inslnuati0ns are utterly unjust Nothing
ever seemed clearer than the honest energy OF
these prosecutions as conducted by Col. George
Bliss. That gentleman has been at work every
day tor months past upon these cases. and persons
Who nave become familiar with the details OF the
prosecution say that he has Infused into il a re-
lnarkable degree-0f spirit and determination and
predict that his efforts viii be crowned with the
conviction OF the defend ants. A gentleman who
was not connected with the preparation Of the
cases, but who has knowledge OF i good part of
the evidence, remarked the other day that ii the
star route men had any idea of the mass OF proof
that was stored up against them in Col. Bliss
rooms in the Post Office department they would
either commit suicide or leave the cOuItry'H