The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-02-18
The Struggle OF Fraud,

1t is wonderfully strange how men Will
strive to defend a title to anything that
has been acquired by fraud. Any wea-
pom is lawful in such warfare, whether
it be truth or f;ilsehood, honesty or dis
honesty, blame or praise, right or wrong,
all will be used to urge on the contest
and accomplish the end proposed. 1t is
the struggle Of a drowning man sink
ing into his fluid foundation and any
straw will be made available for help.
The bloodiest wars recorded in history
have been those fought to establish the
fraudulent claim of some ambitious
prince; the most disastrous feuds in q
community are those based upon the
fiimsiest foundations; and the most bit
ter and deadly quarrels. between indi-
viduals are those originating from fic-
titious titles to property. Indeed, fraud
seems to carry men, al things being
equal, to greater lengths than honesty,
and the greater the fraud the greater
the efforts to defend it. The reason of
this is found in the fact that exposure
is social death, if nothing more. We
have a very striking illustration of this
struggle in the war waged at the pres
ent time against the Administration
by the Bell Telephone monopoly to per-
petuate their patent obtained, it is
charged, by fraud and misrepresenta-
tions. The Secretary of the Interior,
after Investigating the facts in the
case, decided that legal proceedings
were demanded to set aside the Bell
patent on the ground of fraud. The
Government in its own defense, having
granted the patent, ordered, through
the Attorney General, suit to be in
stituted, and directed the Solicitor Gen
eral to take charge Of the matter.
Hence, the marshaling Of all the forces
this powerful monopoly, backed it is
thought by railroad and steamship
rings, can command. 1t has an organ
lied lobby in Washington to influence
Congress; strong brigade of Republi-
can newspaper men, enlisted by bribery
and bounties, to shape public opinion
in New York, the Eastern States and
the West; strong force of slanderers,
stationed at stategic points, to abuse
Democrats and to manufacture politi-
cal capital to he used against the DEM
ocratic party in 1888; and, indeed, they
have left no stone unturned, the turn
ing of which promises to cripple the
hands of the President and to weaken
the influence of the present admins
tration. All that money can do and
malignity accomplish will be done by
the Bell Telephone Company and its
coadjutors to save patent that yields
its members the snug little income of
Sl2,O00,000 per year.
The scientific principles which con-
troll the action of the Electric Tele-
phone were first discovered by a man
named Reiss, while the speaking and
ear utensils were invented by an Italian
named Antonio Meucci, who filed a
caveat as early as December %, 1871,
which was renewed for several years
after. Mr.. Elisha Gray's claim, how
ever, seems to have been the only one
in competition with the Bell claim and
would have received the patent had it
not been for corrupt collusion with Re-
publican officials under the old regime.
What will be the final outcome OF this
suit is difficult to foresee; but there is
one thing Of which we do feel sure and
that is, that President Cleveland will
stand as firm in the position he has
taken as "a stone wall" until the Gov
eminent is vindicated and justice is
done by the courts.