The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D. c.. August 20, 1884.
Probably the most determined old fraud
that has afflicted the country in the pres
ent generation is Brewster, the legal non
entity of the present gruesome admins
tration. 1t was Brewster who told the
other fellows to stand back and watch
him while he landed every one of the
Star Route thieves in the penitentiary. 1t
was Brewster who never landed one of
them in the penitentiary. but made of
himself a laughing stock for the whole
country in general and the legal profess
sion in particular. 1t was Brewster who
then employed Bradley to prosecute the
civil cases against the Star Reuters, and
who with infinite buster and braggadocio
declared that thew should be drained to
the last dollar of their stolen fortunes. 1t
is now Brewster who luarrels with Brad
ley, forcing the latter to retire from the
cases, and it is Brewster who now threa-
tens to lift himself by the boot straps and
inject Brewster bodily into the civil cases
for all he is worth. And who doesn't
know what will be the outcome? After
Brewster has expended $1,000 of the
peoples money to get verdict for the
Government, he will open his eyes to dis
cover that the other fellows have had his
jurors and his witnesses and the whole
court machinery from the start. All in
all. Brewster is fresh old party.
Speaking of Brewster, | am reminded
to say that Brewster's arrival at Long
Branch the other day was the only genu-
ine sensation society there has been
experienced this season. The old
fellow hauled up before the
hotel door with his coach and
herald emblaz0nry thereon, his gilt coat
of arms protruding from the door like the
cats head from the Roman chariots OF a
thousand years ago. The trunks valiSes,
two footmen and five llveried servants,
comprised the retinue of the lordly harris
ter, and this is a Government of the plain
democracy, and this one of its Cabinet
minister's
When q politician resorts to the courts
to obtain redress for libelous attacks ups
on his character, he generally comes out
with good deal less of that commodity
than he had when he went in. Mr.. Blaine
shows an undue sensitiveness for politi,
clan in claiming $50 900 as panacea for
his wounded character. OF course libels
even of a political character are not to be
excused or defended when they involve
injury and perhaps lasting disgrace upon
the regulations of the innocent members
of a family, and in all such attacks the
intention is the gist of the otfense. No
body supposes that the editor of the In
dianapolis Sentinel intended to defamt
the character of Mrs. Blaine or hel
children in the reflections made upon Mr.
Blaines early remissness, and in so fa
! Mr.. Blaine will hardly recover damage
enough to be equivalent to the loss h
will suffer by attempting its reparatioD.
If there is any one thing that can scan
dalizc Mr.. Secretary Folger more than an,
other thing, it is to question the abun
dance and infnitude of his egotism. Thu
great minister of finance lets Wall stree
and its bowling dervishes 60 to the dogs
and keeps the president and cabinet in
waiting while he sits in the government
photograph gallery, back of the Treasury
enjoining the artist to do his level best il
posing him for the shop windows. TIL
secretary is running to photographs fear
fully and has been taken in every con
ceivable position except that of III
standing on his head, an acrobatic fea
that Gov Cleveland performed upon hir
to his satisfaction two years ago TIL
secretary's features are of character tina
naturally lead their possessor to admire
and no blushing maiden preparingiherse
for the ball room deals so deliberately i
settling upon an esthetic smirk or bans
up smile. DOM PEDRO.