The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-22
Robson Denounced,

Following is the remarkable language used
by Representative Whitthorne on the floor Of
the house in regard to Robson, exsecretary
, of the navy, and present leader OF the repub
lican majority in congress, to which the pill
loriea thief made no reply;
in the course of the investigation there
was developed the relation of the secretary OF
the navy with the firm of A. G., Cattell & Co.
and with one Simeon Nj. Johnson. BY the
proof in the case OF Hungertord it was shown
that Simon Nj. johnson had divided u fee with
some one, and as looked at the proof was
satisfied there were but two parties connected
with the case. Those were the secretary Of
the navy and Simeon NJ johnson, and Simeon
NJ. johnson paid some one large sum OF
money.
Again, the most intimate relations were
shown TO exist between the firm of A. G.. Cat.
tell & Co. and the secretary of the navy, Cattel
& Co, being engaged in real estate operations
IN the District of Columbia and in the city of
Long Branch. 1t was shown by the proof
that over 100000 had been collected by the
firm of A. g. Catlell Il Co for the sale of naval
influence.
Now, 1t occurred to me us little singular
that secretary OF the navy, who, according
to the proof, had no money, but was a poor
handling so much property and investing
AS largely as he was without some other source
of revenue than the legitimate salary he was
receiving. And the proof showing that Cattell
Il Co. had sold naval influence, that they were
his friends prior to becoming secretary and
were his partners while he was secretary, it Oc-
CURED to me that on proper investigation of
the facts it could be shown that this money
received by Simeon NJ. Johnson and the
money received by the Cattels was swag to
be divided between that secretary of the navy
and these parties.
81 believed it then; | believe 1t now; and,
believing that, | believed had right to re.
Sort and, as 1 think, q majority of the com.
mttee had a right to resort to the method
which was adopted to demonstrate it,
The above, however, Is incomplete without
the following comment of the New York Sun,
showing where the republican party stand to-
day:
A public man who, in the presence IT the
house OF which he is a member, and subsan.
TALLY in the presence of the whole country
quietly submits to being branded as liar, al
thief, and pHrjurer, must be deserving of the
stigma thus fixed on his front. No invective,
no recrimlnatlon, and noisy hurting back of
epithets can relieve him from the scOrn of his
fellow men.
SIX years ago, in a formal report, Mr. Whit
thorne officially exposed the corruption and
obbery of Secor Robson. The public
judgment was then formed on the facts then
established. He is universally regarded as
the most successful plunderer yet seen in this
No wonder SeCor Robson stood unabashed
when MIR. Whitthorne branded him in the
house. Though snarting with a towards
pain under the lash Of justice, he was all the
while counting his share of the spolls in the
monitor job ana calculating when il might go
into effect. He would TRANQUILITY have borne
more punishment ii there hau gone with 1t Il
promise of increased profit.
This rotton politician, whose name is Il by
word, and whose character is burning scan
ial in decent society, stands forth to-day as the
leader Of the republican party in the house of
He made the speaker. He
IS chairman of the republican caucus. He is
chairman practically of the committee to de-
eide what measures shall be considered at this
session. He is second on the appropriations,
second on naval affairs, first on expenditures
)f the navy and second on rules of the house.
No other man III the house enjoys the same
distinction, and no other man exercises an IN.
iuence approaching that which Secor Robson I
'xerts. Many personally moral republicans, E
Who shIn HIM Ms moral leper, and who de- .
'arty and vote for his jobblng bills, knowing =
hem to be outrageous. The party which IS
Wiling to carry this dsgraceiul burden, and
o sustain leader whose touch Is pOllu
ion, and whose public career IS that of a reck.
ess highwayman, is doomed to crushing de- d
eat; and it cannot be long deferred. G.