The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-20
THE STAR ROUTE INFAMY.


record in regard to the result of the Star
Route trial. We have never believed that
the Government contemplated verdict of
guilty" Those who will take the time to
analyze the altogether infamous business
from it's inception to its close will readily
see that conviction was not what was aimed
at. The Republican administration con-
ceived the idea that 1t could thrust It's
skinny fingers into the public
Treasury and take therefrom all
the money required to purchase for the
Republican party what it stood much in
need of. Its character for honesty was totally
wrecked. In matters of integrity it was
bankrupt. Its reputation for veracity was
dilapidated to an extent that thorough re-
pair was demanded with an emphasis that
admitted of no delay. To prosecute the Star
Route thieves was thought to be a remedy
for the ills and evils Tor which the Republic
can party was everywhere denounced, and it
was resolved upon and begun. The country
Is familiar with the bitches and delays expe-
rienced at first to get the prosecution under
way. Just here it should be remembered that
there never was purpose to punish the Star
Route thieves for stealing. That was not the
programme. 1t was proved beyond all cayil
that they individually robbed the Treasury.
In that regard the testimony was oyerwhelm-
ing But the charge was not for stealing. but
for conspiracy to steal. Twelve men, good
and true, say the charge of a conspiracy to
steal was not proven. The Jury do not say
that the Star Route thieves did not steal in
fufA M
form a league or plot to steal. If the charge
had been for simple robbery, each thief
standing alone responsible for his own acts
every one of the rascals would have long
since been in the Penitennary, but the Re-
publican Administration did not do that
The Department of Justice FORMULATED the
charge of conspiracy, which it knew well
could not be proven and went to trial. The
New York Herald says:
The Attorney General and those he selects to
help him are responsible not only that there shall
be no failure of justice, but that men shall not be
brought to trial on charges which can not be sub
stantiated; for there is great wrong in the
case as in the other The verdict of the jury has
not merely acquitted the defendants; it condemns
the Attorney General and his helpers. 1t declares
on the osths of twelve men that the Government
brought false charges against these defendants.
That is a serious matter; it is an injury for which
these men ought to have redress from the Govern
ment
That the verdict does not declare tn at there has
been no waste or msladministrstion in the Star
Route management goes without saying. That
question tie Attorney General did not choose to
put to the Jury. He and his assistants deliberate
ly brought specific charge of conspiracy. The
s1,o 4 IL
they bring it?
Brewster and his pals evidently had two
reasons for bringing the specific charge of
conspirayc against the Star Route thieves.
One was by bringing a charge which they
could not prove the Republican party would
gain an immense amount OF notoriety for
virtue and honesty which lt did not possess,
thereby placing it in better condition be-
fore the country to demand a new lease of
power. 1t was a well-laid scheme of depraY
! ity and duplicity. TheDepartmento of Justice,
under Republican rule, played villain to catch
villains and the fact brings to the front
the other purpose Brewster and his pals had
in view in carrying forward the Star Route
trials. They found that the trial would af
ford an excuse for robbing the Treasury
under the sanction of law, and they have
robbed it. Brewster has deliberately per-
| mitted, ave, sanctioned the most stu
| pendous robberies of the Treasury under the
plea of prosecuting robbers. The result is
the Jury has whitewashed the Star
Route robbers, and Brewster has already be-
gun TO defend himself against charges quite
as infamous ss any that have been laid at
the door of the Star Route robbers. The in
dications now are that the corruptions of the
Department OF Justice will be thoroughly
| exposed. Brewster deserves impeachment,
and the probabilities are that an effort will
be made in that direction. The United
| States Senator from Nebraska, Van Wyck, il
| pledged to have his rascalities investigated
as soon as the Senate is again
| in session. and it is confidently
believed that the rottenness in his depart
| ment, if such thing is possible, will be found
to be in excess OF anything ever charged
against the Postoffice Department under
Hayes Administration. The scheme, so
adroitly laid by the Administration to i'm
press upon the country its anxiety to punish
fraud, has already completely collapsed.
The people see through the whole network
of hypocrisy. Dorsey is free. and it was
never the intention to convict him. He was
charged with conspiracy to rob rather than
with robbery. The trial was prolonged to
enable the Department of Justice to rob the
Treasury, and now, after the trial is over,
the Republican party is in worse
condition than it was when the
indictments were found. 1t is now
known that the Star Route thieves
did rob the Treasury. IL is known that the
charge of conspiracy was made with full
knowledge that it could not be proven, and
that in prosecuting the thieves robberies of
the most fagitious character have been per-
petrated by the Department OF Justice. The