Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-26

Another highly interesting but very sickening
chapter in the history Of crime In Washington is
furnished In the sworn statement OF Donohue, to
b. found in another column OF to-day'5 paper. 1t
Laws bare the mystery OF the robbery OF Judge
Chrtstancy's room, in the National Hotel, shortly
after the return OF that gentleman from Peru It
must not be forgotten that it Is the statement I
an acknowie1ged criminal, and to be received
therefore with some grains OF allowance. 1t is
greatly to be regretted, indeed, that 1t Is not
wholiy untrue. To have its ralSity conclu5iVely
shown would be much more gratifying to the pub
lie than to have its truthfuiness established, Un-
fortunately, however, there is hardly q hope for
the first-named result The statement OF Donohue,
and the others who have confessed, have been and
can De so fully corroborated by unmpeachable
circuinStantfal and positive testimony that there
Is no escape from the conclusion that Washington
has for years past been at the mercy OF OF the
strongest and most corrupt combinations Of GRIM
lnais ever shown by the annals Of crime This
iamentabe result seems to be now positively es-
tabiShed. and there is nothing left to be done but
10 meet the case as 1t stands and apply the quick
est and most effective remedy I'm their reach. II
several OF the ex-detecves OF the city do not bring
up N the penitenutry, in consequence OF the rev.
Citations which have been made. 1t must be be-
cause justice miscarries They ought, indeed, to
receive double punishment, for they are twice as
guilty as the thieves with whom they consorted.
As detectives they were the chosen protectors of
society and the sworn enemies of crime and of
criminals Their position thus brought them into
continental relations with the publics which en-
aoled them to not alone acquire a knowledge OF
thieves and their practices, but also an intimate
acquaintance with private affairs and private pos
SESSIONS This knowledge, It now appears was
used against the very people whom they were en-
ployed to protect and from whom they received
their pay. blacker and more damnable prOsti-
tuition OF Official power and position was never
known.
The accused ex-offlcials are net in q position
now to assume high moral ground and protest
that the evidence against them Is confined to con-
fessed criminals They have been oyertaken by
their own misdeeds, and, stripped Of their badges,
oisgracefully expelled from office, they are ex-
posed as the companions of thieves and Sharers OF
stolen plumber. The public will look with anxiety
for further developments. and await with impa-
eenc the course OF justice.
The rumor that Senator Cameron, OF Pennsyl-
vania will resign at the close Of the present Con-
gfesS IS revived, but 1t scarcely needs denial from
the Senator himself to stamp 1t as untrue. Even
grant that he is weary OF public life, as the
rumor says, to gn now would be to hand his
seat over TO democrat, the governor and legiS-
iature or Pennsylvania are democratic. Rather
than bring about this result, at time when the
republicans will require every Senator they have
In order to control the Senate, Mr.. Cam eron will,
no doubt, bear the burdens Of public life awhile
longer.
The French government may find Ii expedient to
ieok after the Comte de Chambord. He regularly
distributes among the poor OF Paris free bread
tickets, and that the benehciaries may know and
remember who their benefactor Is, his coat-of-
arms Is stamped on the tickets Under the guise
OF Charity this inhertor OF royal blood is perhaps
seeking popularity for political purposes. Fortu-
nately, however, his benevolent project is not
amenaole to the charge of conspiracy.
In urging Jules Ferry to form a ministry, Prest.
dent Grevy comprehended the man whom France
needed. Already the difficulties and dangers
which beset the republic have been removed and
the machinery OF government is again working
smoothly. II NJ. Ferry lives he may be the next
president of the French republic.
ltFhe senatorial struggle In Michigan still dragS
along, but as Mt. Ferry has dropped out OF the
light it Is probable that the antagonism between
The republican factions may subside, so as to
bring about an early settlement upon some one or
the numerous aSpirants.
Herr Most, the communist agitator, came to this
country TO attain fame and make money. He got
neither; but instead has found that obscurity
which. sooner or later, engulfs humbugs OF his
class