Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-08-15
WHERE THE BLAME RESTS.

has been made to indict the lard officers
at Devils Lake and the publisher of the
Devils Lake INTER- OCEAN for frauds, but
the effort has fallen flat so far rs an in
dictment is concerned. It will probably
have the effect desired, and that is the
removal of the officers and the INSTALL
ment in their places of some patriotic
Democrats. The people of the country,
Democrats as we'll rs Republicans, are
becoming thoroughly disguised with the
ministration, Of offering a premium on
Islander, in that it encourages world-be
Office holders in preferring charges
against those they wish to supersede. and
blackening their characters without CIV
ing them any chance for reply or defense.
If the administration thinks it can win
it will find out its mistake to its sorrow
some day. The people of the country
have consciences and a high regard for
the character and reputation of them
selves and others and when the time
comes will resent this wholesale SANDER
in the most emphatic manner. If the
Democrats want the offices, the Free
Press says let them take them; they are
entitled to them; but in taking them let
it be done honorably, and not by black
ening the reputation of those they super
sedc.-[Pierre Free Press.
The Free Press is right in its conclu-
sions, but wrong in its premises. In the
case under discussion we know of but
very few Democrats who sympathize
! with the movement to indict the fed
eral officials in this city. The scheme
to procure an indictment was Matched
by vindictive enemies of the individuals
whom it was proposed to indict. These
enemies belong to no party in particu-
lar. Some of them have been training
with the Republican party, because the
Republican party has been in power in
the Territory and threw them an occa.
sional "sop." Others were never known
to have any party preferences until Mr..
Cleveland was elected president, and
then they almost ripped their garments
trying to climb onto the Democratic
wagon. Four years hence, if q Repub.
lican president should be chosen, they
will perform similar feats trying to
get aboard the Republican vehicle.
The Indictment scheme was planned
by INSCRIPTIONS men as a means of re-
venge, and it is now coming back upon
their heads like the blow of a rebound
ing boomerang. The instigators of the
scheme are the real conspirators and
those of their weak disciples who sat
upon the grand jury are beginning to
realize that they have been used as tools.
That the judicial machinery can be
turned to a purpose so disreputable does
not augur we'll for Dakota. The char
acter of some of the men who hung
about that grand jury during its consid-
Grafton of the case; the remarkable fac
tional relation and close census affinity
which some of the grand jurors them.
selves bore toward a certain Fargo ring
ster; the palpable prejudice of some Of
the witnesses, and the determined effort
of the jury to bring in an Indictment,
without the color of laval point .un.
mistakably and with unerring certainty
to the fact that every man interested
knew what was expected of him, and
he was there to perform his part. There
was intense chagrin among the gang
when the district attorney announced
that he could find no law authorizing
him to draw an Indictment, and the
Fargo ringster aforesaid censured the
district attorney because of the absence
of a law to suit the malicious purpose!
of the consp.rators.
Judge McConnell's sending the find
ings of the jury to the interior depart
! ment at Washington has the appear
, ance of partizan work, but for aught W,
: know it may be law. If his action il
! this regard was in the interest of hi
lparty, then the Free Press is right in it