New-York tribune., 1885-07-24
BRISTO W-THE WHISKEY RING.

BRISTO W-THE WHISKEY RING.
The chief event OF Mr. BrlstOw's administration
which lasted for two years. was his attack upon the
Whskcy Ring by which many corrupt combina
Ons for defraudng tho Govornmont were broken
mp, large sums OF money recovered, and large
number of convictions obtained. Mr.. Brst0w
apparently had the hearty support Of President
rant in this course, but for some canse coolness
rev up between them which led IN Mr. Bristow's
leaving the Cabinet This supposed TO be-
partly due to the fact that General o. L. Bat cock
he Presidents private secretary, In the course
VI these prosecutions indicted for conspiracy. The
airy, however, failed To convict him. Daring
Iouse investigation which followed the trial
secretary Bristow when placed upOr the stand as
witness. declined to state what had passed
between General Grant and himself with regard e.
tho matter. taking the ground that 1t was
privileged communication. The President addressed
hun letter, absovng him from auy such restraint.
The President ultimately rardoned most of the
leading mombers of the Ring who hal been cou.
victed. and most of the officials who bad been
prominent in the prosecutions Withdrew from tn
public service or were dismissed. The entire
episode was one of the most important in the
history of the Administration. One of the pardoned
ncmbers of the Ring hal confessed to frauds
amounting to q quarter of n million Of dollars
,uicred only nominal imprisonment, and paid
Oack only $4,000. Mr. Drstow succeeded, July
= 1879. by ex-senator Lot NJ. Morrill,. of Maine
who continued to hold the place until the expiration
II President Grants second term March 4, 1877.
General Scho6ed was merely continued as Score
ary OF War for week after tho Administra
Ion camo In. In 1859, aud General john 5. Rawlns
II Illinois, VINO was then appointed, was the
residents real first choice for the place. He died
IL
" w. Belknap. Of Iowa, on October 49, lSee
General Beknap remained in office more than six
years. and until that period had elapsed was II
.scovered thnt be had been engaged almost from
he time 90 Of his appointment IN systematic /
Iribe-taking for the appointments in his gift OF
Iost-traders with the army. The disclosure was
3 great shock To the President and tO the country
hough tho people had grown accustomed TO lesser
'candals in connection with public Affairs owing to
General Grants stubborn confidence IN the class OF
who had contrived in large part to Surround
iin and 10 his unfortunate ovcr-loyaty in stand
ls by " men under charges when sometimes they
houd not have had his support. Orville Grant the
residents brother. was found 10 be implicated III
gned, and the President accepted his resignation.
Calling that in this way he might be giving the
ccretary loophole OF escape Bolknap i'm B
cached by tho House of Representatives as soon A.
ractioabe. bat his connsl set mp tho claim that he
ud not be- mpoached. as he no longer held the
ice This was the main issue Of the trial AS the
yldenco against him was overwhelming. The b
pechcation admitted Icy the House showed the
',eipt of BelSnap In five years of about S25. 900
ointment of John s. Evans TO bo posttrader a,
ort Sill. Washington Territory, and. also. of the
ccrotarys keeE there seven eompanies OF troops.
hns assuring bim "a certain nunbcr Of customers.
hs Senate voted 80 gailty." aud % not guilty."
nc latter behaving tha, the Senate had no iurSdlc
on aft"r Bellnap's withdrawal from oiics. 1ho 2
mDeaohmeut. therefore. failed for Jack of two !,
ards. Belknap was succeeded By tho Hon y
Lphon'o Taft, of Ohio. MARCH, :. 1870. and he was
.faI "a l,sa
'ost of AttornevIienersl by j. Donald Cameron, OF II
'cnnsylyania. whose father. Senator Simon Cam.
ron. had been conspicuous political friend OF the b
The member Of President Grants Cabinet longest h
n office next 70 Secretary of State Fish y
Sqs wso
eeded Mr. Borlo Secretary Of tho Navy in June Il
$50. and continued in that post until PrrsId-ni n
iobosons administration Of tho Navy was savagey =
ttaokrd by tho Democrats IN C0ngress. especially +
fter they came into control OF the House OF Repro
entstives IN December. 1878 and were able 10 ceu-
not Investigations in their own way. Tho ap II
'aront eStravagance of expen litures under Mr. X
iobesan, and tho extent 10 which certain os hi r.
rcnds appeared in connection with naval con. *
racts was one Of the sources of scandal rogardnr
resident GTants Administration, but it was mover
hown that Mr.. RobeSon had been personally cor y
upt; and IN later yoars whom he bscamc Repre-,
sntatiye In Congress and hls record ras attacked
hero he was ablc 70 make u powerful defence &
which was regarded by very many ~ entirely oatiS
aetOrY
There three Socrcta1ss Of ths Interior undei Il
irant-Jscob u. Cox, OF Ohio, Columbus Doanc Il
( Ohio (Noveniber, 1S70.) and Zacharlal e
handler Of Michigan, October. 1s7bl Mr
,eianrs ADMINISTRATION was widely believed y
D be inefficient. and TO he surrounded By corrupt h
ihncucos, aud Was another source OF scandal con y
oTnng General Grants Presidency. d. T.
Judge b. RookyQod Hoar, of Masssohusetts, tn 4
ttorney-General first appointed, remained IN the H
abInet only three months, and was succeeded by y
mos 1. Akerinan. of Georgia an obscure Southern e
phticisn without special fitness for the place. He
as followed In Decon Der. 1871, by George n. a
'iliiams. Of Oregon, who retired in May. 1875 h
ader pressure of scandal growing out of his b
Ircbasc of n "Iandauot" for his own personal n
Sc. with funds Of his Department.. Edwards z
errsp9nt. OF New-fork was now appointed and /
llowcd by Alphonso Tuft of Ohio. a.