The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-24
1Ae nav MEXICAN oeEIcss.
The Old Ring in the saddle-Harrison's
Scandalous Appointments.


To THE ED1ToR-Sir: observe that Presi-
dent Harrison has been completely captured
by the old land ring of the Dorsey and Elkins
stripe in making appointments in the territory
of New Mexico. To one who is conversant
with the history of affairs in that territory it
looks like these land sharks had named the
men they desired appointed and their wishes
were considered as the only end to be obtained.
John r. McFie. lately appointed and con-
frmed as associate justice Of the supreme
court. was a register of the land Office IN the
territory under a former republican admins
tratiOn. During his term OF Office the land
ring fourished as never before or since. Thou
sands upon thousands of acres of the public
lands were acquired by the most open and vii
famous frauds and perjuries. 10 many IN
stances but little pretense was made as TO com.
pliance with the laws. After he went out OF
Office and during 3lr. Cleveland's administra-
ton these transactions were investigated by
L. ;. grand juries and most damnable
conspiracy to rob the government OF
the public domain was unearthed. A
man named Terrence Mullen, who served a
term in the Illinois penitentiary Tor attempt
ing 10 steal the remains OF the late President
Lincoln, was found TO be at the head OF the
conspiracy and he is now serving term in the
DcullGnIldrN OF new MeAlcO AoE sltdlluE gov
eminent lands. There are now pending in the
district, over which Judge McEie will preside,
a large number of indictments, based upon
land frauds committed while he was register
of the land office. In October last q
man was convicted in the district for
perjury for making an entry OF land, and his
case is now pending in the supreme court OF
the territory, and Judge McFie will be one of
the Judges before whom the case viii be
finally determined. l do not pretend to say
that any frauds have ever been brought actu-
ally home TO Judge McFie but il is somewhat
singular that many frauds should be perpe-
trated during his term, if he was an honest and
vigilant officer, and it does seem that the inter-
est of the government demanded that these
cases should be tried before some judge
wholly disconnected with the transactions
out of which they arose. McFie will
persons indicted. for it will vindicate his official
acts, and make it appear that the prosecutions
were democratic prosecutions" as the repub-
icans have been charging since the indictments
we're returned. There are also large number
of civil actions pending in the same district TO
vacate patents for lands obtained by fraud, and
for the cutting of timber on the public domain.
Ii Will just suit the defendants in these eases
10 have Judge McFie sit in judgment. Verify,
the way of the transgressor will be smooth and
easy in New Mexico for the next four years.
/ also see that one L. Bradford Prince has
been made governor Of New Mexico. He is
also OF the ring selection. He viii suit their
notions most admirably. He was at one time
chief justice of the territory. He parts his
name on one side and is a most cOnceited
popiniay. He had no fitness for his former
Office and has none for his new one. He was
on the bench when Gen. Lew Wallace was
governor, and Wallace styled Prince that
"stupendous pismire.'
1t was generally understood that he was APP
pointed chief-iustice to rid the authorities at
Washington of his presence and opportunities.
He was mere puppet in the hands OF the land
grabbers as Judge and he will be their tool as
governor. Since he left the bench he has been
a dealer in land grants and mines, and has
spent most of his time in New York organizing
schemes and companies TO carry out his de-
signs. The day of prosperity has certainly
dawned again on the old land rings that were
smashed by the democratic administration, and
the only obstacle now left in their path is that
old veteran ring-hater and honest official, the
Hon. George W. Julian, the surveyOr-general
of the territory, and | suppose they will have
his scalp dangling at their belts ere many
moons. i.
VincenneS April II.