Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-06-24
A star Route Candidate.


There has been no such public scandal
since the Credit Mobilier affair as the
star Route cases. In the former there
was a pretense OF business basis, and
the fraud was in the inordinate profits
realized from the operations. The Star
Route thefts were a deliberate conspiracy
Of banded thieves, organized for plum
der, alike successful in securing II ana
getting away with 1t.
The New York Times, the first ke-
publican newspaper of this country sue
cinctly and forcibly states the exact
truth as to. these robberies when II says
that " these and other thieves had been
at work IN the postoflice department and
other departments for fifteen years.
Many millions had been stolen by men
who had for years been protected by the
statute of limitations. Thieves had laid
the foundations of fortunes in these
frauds, in land frauds, and in other
frauds had become prominent in the
party and had then invested their stolen
money in legitimate enterprises. The
secrethistory Of the mail route frauds
was interviewer with the record Of cor
ruptioH in other branches of the govern
ment service, and investigation in one
direction revealed the ramilications OF
kindred frauds lar and near"
The same high authority does not
overstate the case when, in reviewing
the so called prosecution of these offend
ers, it declares that the cases against
Dorsey, Brady, Miner and Vale, which
ought TO have been only beginning OF
a campaign against host of scoundrels,
not only failed, but "no attempt has
been made to pursue other rascals. Not
a thief has been punished, and not a
dollar of the stolen money has been re
covered. Those who were indicted, and
scores of others who ought To have been
indicted, are not only jubilant, but they
are all striving to keep IN power the
party whose leaders aud representatives
allowed them to escape the punishment
80 richly deserved, aud to retain the
money stolen from the nations tax
payers. They have been led to believe
that their fortunes and those of the
party are bound up together. Assisted
by thousands of honest but misguided
men they have secured the nomination
of their favorite. With him in the
White House they have nothing 10 fear,
for IL the people should become inquisi
tive a vigorous foreign policy would
divert their attention FROM jobs at
home"
These are very severe words, wher
applied to man who has been nOmina
ted by great party for the highest otlic,
in the country. But they come from al
eminent authority of his own party
accustomed to speak with gravity, tC
weigh its words and to accept th,
responsibility Of them. Besides, theil
truth is a matter Of record. The Stal
Route prosecutions have been before The
country for nearly three years. Dos
anybody remember that Mr.. Blaine, d
leading public man, has ever lent any
moral influence to the denunciatinn OF
the crime or the punishment of the
tbiVN'o IL ovi "ICu W utlt hIb
how
On the other hand, quite the contrary.
Mr.. Blaine's friends are implicated. In
1850. when his fortunes rested with the
success Of the Republican nominee,
Star Route money elected him and at
Chicago every shouting thief In the
gang was for Blaine, Nho had protected
them, and who will be handy man for
them TO have in the White House. lie is
their candidate. He will not dare to
open his mouth during the campaign in
denunciaton of them, and, rs the New
York jSm says: With Blaine in the
White House, the Star Reuters would
pitch their tents inside of the very
treasury walls, instead Of lowering
about the back doors of the nationa
postoflice. They are men Of the sam,
expansive quality of mind that charac
terizestheir ambitious chieftan, and theil
imaginations are tickled with such al
extension of their future exploits AS will
keep pace with the boundless concept:
of the fertile and erratic mind of james
G.. Blaine. They are for him and he i
for them, and they will work together ;