The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-02
THE PAN-ELECTRIC SCANDAL.
A Plain Showing of the Far-Reaching Effects
of Administrative Dishonesty.
From Speech Of Henry Cabot Lodge.

From Speech of Henry Cabot'Lodge.
Let US look now at some other features of
the administration. You remember the loud
cry of the last campaign. Turn the rascas out :"
ard you will recall the eXultaton with which we
were told after the election that now the rotten
ness and corruption of the Republicans would be
unearthed and uncovered in every department.
Thousands of Republicans have been turned
out So far the campaign promises have been
religiously kept, but the proof of rascality has
been wanting The Democrats have had pos
session of all the departments for eighteen
months, but no Republican misdeeds have been
brought to light. Rather, however, than not
have any scandals at all, the administration has
produced one Of it's own The Encouragement
of the United States was, and still is large
holder of stock in patent which might be given
an enormous value if the government could be
brought to undertake suit against rival COM
pany This suit the Attorney general caused
to be brought, and the funds and the power OF
the government were thus employed by the YER,
officer whom their employment would enrich.
The man who is involved in this scandalous pro-
ceeding is still the Attorney general of the United
States, and still sits at the council board of the
President. We are told that the President is not
responsible. that the administration is not re-
sponsible, that Mr.. Garland has not behaved
we'll, il is true but still we must not be unreas
enable, and it is even mildly added that his re-
tention may hurt the administration. Yet the
press that now treats this existing and fragrant
scandal with bated breath pursued Grant year
III and year out for standing by his friends un-
der fire." Grant, who turned out two Cabinet
officers for offenses far less than Mr.. Garlands
In this year of grace the confessed and most I'M
blushing use of public office for private gain is
seemingly slight matter; but much less once
served to bring forth torrents of coarse abuse
upon the taker of Donelson, the winner of the
Vicksburg campaign, the victor of Appomattox,
whose lightest achievement will outweigh in his
tory all that the members of this administration
have ever done or ever will do.
But the scandal does not stop here. The In
terror Department has strongly sustained the
Department of Justice The chiefs of the bu-
reaus In the Interior Department have their
pockets full Of Pan electric stock and from their
offices issue all sorts of stock -jobbing rumors.
Are these men fit guardians for patents? Are
they fit guardians for Indian affairsl Read the
reports of the secretary of the Indian Rights
Association, and learn the kind of men that
have been turned out and the kind that have
been appointed at the Indian agencies. The
poison of that Pan-electric business reaches
through two departments. and communicates all
whom it touches. Still, Mr.. Garland sits in the
Cabinet, and the administration is zealousy
pushing suit in his behalf. which, whether sue
cessful or unsuccessful, can have no result but
discredit to the government. Let US turn the
rascals out" by all means.