The Evening critic., 1883-03-06
SENATOR VAN wYok HEDGES
Against the Charge That He is u
Friend of the Star-ROuie Defend

Friend of the Star.ROuie Defend
ANTS.
WASHINGTON, March 5.-senator Van wyck
has had the misfortune to be compllmented for
his speech of last Friday by a Washington
evening paper, which has had no other object
In existence for the last year or two than to
defend the Star-Route plunderers. Another
paper declares that these compliments settle
the status of the Senator from Nebraska In re-
lation 10 the Star-Route gang. The Senator
has quaint, old-fashioned look and manner
that always mako his talk interesting, whether
his opinions are accepted or not. A IribuHe
correspondent meeting him this evening
asked II he had seen the comments of the
papers classifying him among the friends Of
Star-Iioute defendants.
''oh yes" he replied in n comfortable tone,
81 have seen them. Let them talk. 1t doesn't
matter"
"But," 1ueried the correspondent, "do you
wish to let the statements 60 undenied, that
tion?"
"Embarrass the prosecutioni What nome
sensel Why It's monstrous! The Idea that
we should allow this thing TO go on until the
costs Of the trial mount up to such a huge
sunni 1t must have cost the Government half
million already. You know this Star.Route
business was begun two years ago. The
frauds were discovered under the adminlstra-
been done for the country was done by him,
and he did II by stopping tho service which
had been fraudulently put on. Now, them
,amp nier 9 n1yS YOU SSya began the at
They had all the Postoflce Department, all Its
detectives, all Its machinery, sending its
agents over the whole country. Then they
had all the agencies Of the Department of
Justice, with its high.salaried special attor-
neys. They protracted one trial i've months,
without themselves seeming TO know what
they were able TO prove. The same criticism,
l fear, will apply to what has taken place re.
Gently. The people demanded the punish
ment, II possible, OF the Star-Route conspira-
tors, but when, with all the power of the Gov
ernment. all It's appliances at command, they
were willing 10 employ favorite set of at
torneys, paying them at rates which outrage
public sentiment, they began fraud which
itself required punishment or at least cessa.
tion as much as the Star Route villainies.
"If allowed to continue they will equal the
aggregate amount stolen through the Star ser
vice. Had the PostofIlce Department been
stirred up as 1t should have been after an &c.
tive inquiry by Congress, 1t would have saved
that national scandal, for II Is perfectly EVIL
dent that those frauds could not have been
continued except by the criminal negligence
or still more criminal acquiescence of the
chiefs and heads OF the Department.
So with these frauds In the De-
pnrtment of Justice! 1t is far better
10 attempt 10 check them now than let them
tense that we must wink at all this and con-
sent TO It, because 1t Will embarrass the prose-
cution, is startling. Why, / drew up my reso-
luton twice last session, but tore It up for
fear such a claim would be made. Now that
they are still continued, 1t would have been
criminal on the part OF Congress to adjourn
without calling attention to the matter. II
am wrong, let them show Wherein IPaSt
Cor. N6lU YORK Tribune.