The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-04-06


For several days past the Sntrnrnp, or
rather our South American diplomatic cor.
respondence investigation has been drag
cling iis slow length along In Washington.
Nothing Il comm0ner Of late years than IN.
ycstigatlng committees In theclpiial. They
cost good deal Of money, and rarely over
bring down the game they ure really allcr,
but stray shot almost invariably strikes
some unexpected and hidden statesman,
aud places a virtual quietus upon his future
aspirations. Mn. SnrHEnp's testimony
has failed to inculpatc .hc distinguished
ex-secretnry of state, but alas II has
thrown no cnyiable colorng around the
names and fame Of two prominent
officials of the goycrnment-MiNlSrE
HURLDuT and that sturdy New England
senator, the Hon. HENRY W. BLAIR. 1t is
fortunate for us that We can get. some use
ful information from these investigating
committees at any rate, although not that
sought after specifically, but it is humilia-
ting to witness this almost incessant dis
covery of villainy and iobbery in high
places, Friends, party and administration
friends, may whitewash to their hearts
content, but the disagreeable fact ana reilec-
ton is still patent to the country and the
outside world that the first officers and
representatives of the republic are en-
gagged in constant and deeply con-
cocted plans to plumber and rob either our
own government, or through our own po-
litical machinery, other nations and people
with whom we sustain the most friendly
relations. OF this latter class was the Pc
ruvian claims job, and from Shipherd' ties.
timony it appears that interested with him,
in hope Of pecuniary compensation and
actively urging government interference
for selfish ends, were a minister of the
United States and United States senator.
Notwithstanding the himsy character and
ugly nature of the claims and attempt to
possess themselves of the vast guano de-
posts of Peru, these men used their otli-
cal influence and position to draw their
government into bolstering up and assist
ing along, the job, little caring what the eff
feet might be upon the country at large
one object in view and that was the main
tenance of the integrity Of Peru as nation
in order that the United States might make
an emphatic demand for the payment OF
these vast and bogus claims, and HURL-
BUTTS whole effort was the recognition OF
that government or party in Peru from
which the greatest assistance to the jobbers
might be expected. But by the fortunes of
politics, the "lottery of assassination, the
scheme failed and Chill with no one to modest
or make her afraid has seized this great de-
post OF wealth and is likely to hold it. The
only result therefore of these brilliant
dreams of SHIPHERD, HURLBUT, BLAIR &
company is a cloud over the names of
HURLBUT and BLAIR for their participation
in the proposed job. 1t would be repre-
hensible enough in private parties to at
tempt to use the government i'll their at
least questionable schemes, hut when high
officials lend the weight of their names
and influence to mere adventures, in the
premises, they are doubly recreant to honor
and duty. AS for HURLDUT, he is small
fry any way, but when it comes to a
United States Senator the case is dis
| graceful HENRY w. BLAIR has been in
the Senate from New Hampshire for a
number of years but he will probably re-
! tire from that body next year when his
term expires. This will in all likelihood
give to Mr. WILLIAM L. CHANDLER the re.
alization of his life's ambition, seat in
the United States Senate. He has of late
been working industriously in that drec-
ton and Mr.. BLAIR's chaperonlng of
SH1pHERD and the guano claims will give
Chilly" a powerful weapon of attack.
Stroke by stroke the lightning does its
salutary work if the heads do
| fall. JUDGE ROBERTSON collector oil
the port of New York, was also in
the job, but as an attorney purely, and
while his connection Herewith may posi-
bly, be excused in legal ethics it will neither
increase his reputation for personal purity
nor add to his political influence. At the
bottom of nearly every big scheme for years
past, distinguished official" is found,
whom nobody would ever have suspected,
but such disclosures only serve to bring out
more prominently the value to their con-
stituencies of those men who have stood
the test and proven faithful and honest.
The trouble is, feeling assured that the sue,
ceeding investigation will not strike down
even the most trusted and respected, for
truly, under the light of Developments,
modern politics is IA cesspool of iniquity.