National Republican., 1882-02-22
The star.Routc Prescntments.

For many months it has been reported
in the public press. with various shades
of opinion as to the correctness of the
reports, that evidences were in existence
of gross mismanagement and absolute
dishonesty in the Contract Bureau of the
Post-0fiice Department. 1t has been
charged that General Brady, as Second
Assistant Postmaster-General, had lent
himself to the mercenary purposes of
7roup of contractors over the star routes
those routes being such as are served
by other means of transportation than
the railroads. Ex-senator Dorsey has
been charged with being in interest with
his brother and other contractors, and the
contractors have been charged with con-
spring to obtain unnecessary increase of
service over their routes and with falling
short in the performance of the service
for which they were paid.
The accused persons have earnestly pro-
tested their innocence of these charges,
and have made counter accusations of
improper motives against the accusers
There has been fierce newspaper war OH
the subject, and for various reasons the
legal proceedings connected Herewith
have seemed to lag.
The public have no means of knowing
what opinion either General Garfield oi
General Arthur entertained concerning
these matters as both merely declared
it to be their intention to see that the
truth should be ascertained by judicial
proceedings and that all concerned
should be subjected to due process of law
The accusations were so loud and positive
that honesty of administration demanded
thorough work. During General Gar.
fields illness Attorney-General Mac.
Veagh employed as special counsel in
these matters Messrs. Brewster and Bliss
Upon the accession of General Arthur to
the Presidency Attorney-General Mac
Veagh refused longer to serve, and Mr.
Brewster was appointed to succeed him.
Mr.. Bliss continued under his engage
ment as special counsel.
The Government agents, who were the
accusers, have prepared the evidence
the witnesses, many of them from dis
tant parts Of the country, have appeared
before the grand jury, and, after pre-
sentation of their testimony, the grand
jury has decided that it is of such char
acter as, unexplained, to convict the
parties of the oflenses charged.
What defense the accused persons will
make can only be known upon the tria
of the indictments. If they shall ther
make satisfactory explanation of the
things charged against them it will be as
much in the interest of justice to acquit
them as it will be to convict and punish
them if a sufficient defense is not made
Every man is presumed TO be innocent
until he is found guilty by trial jury
An indictment is evidence that facts ex.
list which, unexplained, show the guilt OF
the persons indicted. The Government
guilt or innocence of the indicted persons
clearly established. The presentments
show that in the opinion of the grand
jury one side of the story, the other being
untold, would convict the parties. JUS
tice demands that the other side of the
btOIy Suall UC uedTu DtlOTt any COIClU-
sion is arrived at. The REPUBLICAN will
not join in any clamor against the ac-
cused, nor will it assume TO defend them.
1t will publish the proceedings as they
progress, and will rejoice, in common
with all right-minded people, if it shall
be finally shown that men in high official
station have not violated thu
trusts imposed upon them. lie
the law take its course, unswayed b,
popular clamor on the one hant
or regard for persons on the other, 6,
that when it speaks its majestic voice
may be respected, no matter who may
be disappointed. Before presentmen
the accusers' positive assum ptions ofguil
were naturally enough met by equal,
positive assumptions of innocence by tn,
accused and those who believed thei
statements. The matter is now in court
and there only can it be properly mad
the subject of controversy.
o