Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-27
President Arthur's Decisive Action.
1T MUST STRENGTHEN THE-PofgL t4R cQSF4px:NCE
IN

President Arthur's Decisive Action.
1T MUST STRENGTHEN THE POPULAR cOyf4pENCE
IN him.
From the New York Herald, Nov. &C.. 'rea
1t is doubtful whether more extraordinary
and significant communication has ever been
made by the Attorney General of the United
States to the President than the following pas
sage written by Mr.. Brewster to Mr.. Arthur
touching the star route prosecution in a docu-
ment published this morning on another page.
The Attorney General says:
81 desire to call your attention to the fact
that the officers of the law and those who have
directly been aiding me in the discharge of nv
duty in this business have been from the first
encircled with snares, pitfalls and every species
of vile device that could be invented to harm
them, hinder their usefulness and pre-
vent the administration of Justice Some
portions of this community Who sur
round these defendants and who have
enjoyed, or do still enjoy, minor official
positions, know no allegiance to any one
but this band of robbers and render no service
to any one but their evil employers From
motives OF gain or other corrupt considerations
they are saturated with affinities for these bad
men, and they have contributed by every means
in their power, at the bidding of their masters.
to Obstruct public justice and to defame it's off,
GERS, with the hope of securing the acquttal of
the worst band of organized scoundrels that
ever existed since the commencement of the
government
This is strong language, but there is much
truth in it. The government has never been
more shamefully plundered than by this star
route gang. and has never been beset with
greater difficulties in its efforts to prosecute
public robbers. The official and political in
fiuence which enabled them to carry on their
robbery has been nsed to surprising degree to
demOraZe and balk their prosecution, and the
very money stolen from the government has
been lavishly spent to defeat the efforts of the
government to bring them to justice The
atmosphere of Washington has been foul
with their corrupting influence Their
tools have been active In every DEPART
ment of the public service. Government
officers whose sworn duty it has been to aid in
their prosecution have openly or secretly worked
in their interest. Star route emissaries have
been active in their shameful attempts to cor
rupt both grand and petit jurors. The police
force of the District and its detectives have
worked In their interest, and even the district
attorneys office has been suspected to such a
degree as to lose the confidence of those charged
with the prosecution of the conspirators. That
these public plunderers should have this sym-
pathy and command this influence after what
has been proved against them is as remarkable
as it is discreditable to every one in the gov
eminent service who has treacherously given
aid and comfort to the dangerous enemies of the
government and of society.
In view Of these facts the important stem
taken by President Arthur yesterday in order
ing the summary dismissal OF five persons hold
ing prominent positions in the government SER
vice Is not likely to call forth adverse criticism
unless for the hardness of the actiOn-frOm any
quarter except the star route gang ana their
sympathizers and must receive the hearty APP
proval OF all who want to see these notorious
culprits vigorously and successfully prosecuted.
The removals have no political or partisan
significance They are made on the unani-
nous recommendation of Attorney General
Brewster and the three counsel in charge
of the prosecution, and they are made
for the good cause that the persons removed
have while being in the employ and nav of the
government not merely openly sympathized
with the plundering conspirators whom the
government is prosecuting but have rendered
them material service in their desperate at
tempts to escape the punishment which they SO
richly deserved. Marshal Henry Is charged not
only with creating sentiment preiudicial and
detrimental ia. the prosecution by abusing the
counsel In charge Of It, openly declaring that
with the more serious matter of Negligent end
irregular conduct in selecting the talesmen"
from which the jury that tried the conspira-
tors was chosen. This accusation gives a
good deal OF color to the damaging rumors
that were current at the beginning Of the
trial as to the part played by the marshal in the
formation OF that jury, and 1t shows the Inn
portance Of having the summonino Of the naTt
panel In different hands The charge araInst
Postmaster Anger and his assistant relates n
the certi6cation Of bogus star route bonds. ia
addition to which the former, 1t seems. has
been denouncing the prosecution In articles
written over his own signature and published
In bis own paper In Michigan The service
which Spencer. the government director Of the
Union Pacific road, has rendered to the efar
route defendants by hiding In order 70 dorriva.
the prosecution d tho benefit o. his important