The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-21
Tho Partisan view oft.

Tho Pnrtisnn View oft.
Some Democratic newspapers arc making
30 much Of the failure to convict Dorsey and
Brady that It wouldn't be surprising to hear
\ demand on the Democratic party to turn
aside from its civil service reform sneering,
drop q tariff for revenue only-perhaps to
20 80 far as to stop declaring the war
failure-and build platform with no
other plank in It, but undying hostility to
Star route frauds.
The country is being reminded that the
frauds occurred under Republican ad-
ministration and the thieves were allowed
to 70 free by another Republican admins
tration; that the thieves were Republicans
and, therefore, no honest effort was made
10 convict them-as the St. Louis Republic
can (Democratic) puts it: SIT only remains
to be added that from the beginning 1t has
been suspected that the Government never
intended to convict one prominent mem
Der Of the Star route ring, and even Repub-
lcan papers have intimated that the adj
ministration took no interest in the prose-
cution.p
Taking up these propositions "ail end
foremost" it is true that Republican news
papers have intimated that the admins
tration was not in earnest; it is also true
that there is no ground whatever for the
intimation. The whole interest Of the ad.
ministration and OF the party was against
the culprits. Whatever they had been be-
fore they were known now to be scoun-
drels, and the party could not even appear
to desire to shield them without injury to
itself and destruction to every public OIL
Ger whose duty 1t was to move on them.
But the fact is, and very few doubt 1t, that
from first to last the President was deter:
mined that justice should be done. He
took up the work where President Garfield
left it and prosecuted It with even tercer
vigor. The spirit Of his instructions to the
Department Of Justice was "Let no guilty
man escape" and in the same spirit the
department went into its work. lr
The Government did all that 1t could do
and 1t cannot be charged against 1t as a
fault II the jury would not convict. The
Republican newspapers which are giving
comfort to the Democracy are those which
absurdly maintained that the prosecution
could convict II 1t would, because the case
was so clear. The case against Dukes was
clear, but the jury acquitted. There is no
power known to our laws to compel jury
to convict. The Presidents position has
been that OF an honest man and faithful
officer. He could only order his subordi.
mates to 20 ahead with all diligence, and
give them whatever support he could com.
mand. The stigma OF acquittal cannot be
fastened upon him or upon the party, and
good citizens will resent the attempt.
II an administration is to be held respon-
aible Tor flaws in the jury system or wrongs
in the jury box, and il vengeance is to be
visited on the party which stands behind
the administration, the country will be put
ting premium on the do.nothing policy,
It will be discouraging the effort to bring
to Justice public offenders, and nothing will
be more natural than that 1t shall reap what
1t sows. 81
The Administration deserves the general
commentator for the vigorous effort ithas
made.and still is making. And when the
whole case is considered the Republican
party will be granted Its due by all fair
minded people. II the frauds occurred
under our Republican administration, in a
department presided over by man who
was appointed because he was not q Re.
publican, they were uncovered and the
prosecution begun at once by the next
administration. That being suddenly ter
minated its successor lost no time in taking
up the clue and working it out with what
ever talent and industry it could command.
No Republican administration has hesi-
tated because the arch.otienders were
Republicans. Former high standing in the
party counted for nothing in their favor,
but rather gave keener edge to the pur.
pose Of the administration.
And the Republican party has been with
the administration in this matter save those
who had pocketed part Of the spoils Not q
Republican wished the scoundrels to es-
cape, and none have been reader than Re-
publlcans to declare them outlawed by
their crimes.
There is no capital in this for the Demo,
cratic party. It's newspapers and stumpers
cannot refer to the Star route trials without
presenting to the country picture Of
courageous devotion to duty which will
not frighten off Republican voters. It is
TO be regretted that the administration was
unable to do more; but 1t stands to It's ever.
lasting credit that it honestly endeavored
to do all.