The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-08-06

TnE srNpY HERALD RETAINED from editorial
comment upon them, partly because ofr,-
luctance to undertake the labor, and partly
because it seemed admissible to leave the
subject without remark while 1t was in the
hands of the court. But the extraordinary
license Of abuse exercised by several local
newspapers is oiitself sufficient to absolve
other journals from all reserve in comment
ing ON these cases, and, when taken in con.
nection with the fact that they are Of such
deep public interest, almost makes it neces-
sary for a journal OF character published in
Washington to treat Of them fairly and fully
as the trial progresses. This became the
more urgent when the inexplicable refusal
of grand jury to find indictments upon new !
cases and later evidence aroused the suspi- |
cion that either the audacious newspaper de- |
fcnse was having some effect or that the
sources of judicial justice were becoming se-
cieily tainted and pervorse
Entering upon the discussion, for reasons
such as these as we did last week, we have
no intention of descending to the same level
as that chosen 10y the organs which expose
in one breath their bias and their folly by
the use of such cpithets as malignant Mer
"rick, ~" Chum Bliss, ,""lying Tom James,"
Isaac w. MeVey," and so on, all of which
is not only in bad taste but most pitiable
confession of "no case-abuse the prosecu-
"ton I"
The past week has been devoted to the
formal opening of the defense Of Brady and
his associates something the public has
| listened for in vain through all the clamor of
| their advocates for months We believe the
public would have welcomed defense. 1t
| Is not pleasant TO think of the Treasury be-
ing SO easily robbed Of two million dollars
year. ltwould have been reassuring to find at
least one charge of corruption under
| Republican regime, which overran instead
| OF undertaking the facts, and to know that
| the last Presidential election was not carried
entirely by the results of downright pecula-
tion. Unfortunately it is not too much to
say that the defense has proved rs weak
and inadequate as might have been expected
| from the slowness with which il was dis
closed. Its main feature so far seems to
consist in bringing forward by subpoena
a number of prominent men, headed by the
General of the Army, to testify that the Star
service is good thing in its way-"which
"nobody can deny" But then Mr..
Elmer is doing Just as much good with less
than half the money that appeared to be
necessary under his lavish predecessor.
Seldom has judge been more outspoken in
condemning defense which had just begun
to be unfoded before him, than was Justice
Wylie with this kind of Buncombe and at
tempted enlisting of responsibility in a bad
cause. 1--WE are trying crime, not a pol
"icy of the Government - he said, and then
pointedly reminded them of Lord Chancellor
Bacon, who attempted to palliate the taking
of brides on the ground that his decisions
We're right. This is the right tone and
temper for an upright Judge
Indeed, the special care which seems to
have been taken to get prominent men i'm
plcated in appearance in the expedition OF
these ring routes is of itself suspicious, when
considered in connection with the attendant
circumstances. Nothing is easier than tC
' get honest and conscientious men TO ask the
= Government to do things which no response
bic executive officer can honestly order
done. There is not back township in the
nous petition could not be obtained for {
5 daily instead of weekly mail service. Par
ticularly in the Western Territories is it con
sidered meritoriOus for public men to hell
e get increased mail service. a contractors
Y ring could obtain such recommendations Will
t the utmost ease and in unlimited numbers
t and even get Senators and Representative
+ to personally visit the Department to ask 10
d increase and expedition of mail service. Th
y contractors and their agents have sought
: by connecting these entirely innocent an'
If natural acts, with the rest of their opera
y tions, to create the totally false impression
Il that the corruption, il existent, must hav
: embraced those who recommend the in
!. creased service. No suspicion ought to at
d tach to such gentlemen of this class as hav
a been called to testify for the defense.
= The clustering game adopted from the star
It by the counsel lor the defense does not seer
n so effective since the Rerdell and Walsh ties
e timony, which they exhausted legal ingf
l. nuty to exclude, is at last before the jury
< 1t is difficult to imagine what explanation wi
ID finally be made 20 this testimony. Tha
N which has already been given abor
le Rerdell's confession is as unique as anythin
y the annals of criminal trials will afford.
1t is in substance that these innocent defendant
IN being prosecuted by two bad and desperat
II Cabinet officers, named Tho mas l.. Jam'
'g and Wayne MacVeagh, got Rerdell to COZ
coct false confession of being guilty q
conspirator so that he might get into tn
confidence of The prosecutors and find OF
al what they exp ected TO prove against Il
Is truly good Brady and his friends The a
Is tempt to impeach Walsh, whois probably Il
IL most important witness, also seems to ha'
On failed utterly. His testimony appears to
IL consistent with itself and with the doc
ss mentary evidence and collateral circuI
he stances into which it must tit. We can co
ly ceye of no adequate motive for man
ne means and in his position building up sue
a fabric out of whole cloth. The web
,,oott evidence seems to thicken around the d
'c- PENDANTS. Their case has thus far be'
weakened by their own witnesses, and d
M. unexpected strength shown by the proseo
,ut tion naturally deepens regret at the my
III, terious disappearance of several importa
yas but very reluctant witnesses.
rcd
,nd WHY NO POSTAL 81 WINGS BANK.
len The New York Telegram echoes the dema
md we have increasingly made for postal sayir
lon Lanks n gays.