New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-31
THE HISTORY or 4 "CRIME. =

II Is not possiblc 10 examine the report OF the
Cummings Committee regarding the armor-plate
frouds without n feeling Of shame. There Is no
oscope from It's conclusions. 10 possibility of
refuge in the assumption that some enc may
have been mistaken. The investigation has been
searching and comprehensive. The differences
have been accurate and inevitable. The docu-
mont carries conviction with it. No treatment
Of IT, however plausible and ingenious. hvalls
to break its crushing force.
That officials Of the Carnegie Company wcr"
aware Of the frauds long before they wer"
brought 10 the notice Of the Government seems
beyond doubt. That Mr.. Prick WAS Informed
of them some time before the Navy Department
was pu, In possession of the whole huge swndle
he has himself admitted on the stand. Even II
he had not admitted H. or been asked To admit
II. his action and that of Mr.. Carncsi" in going
,o the Navy Department and negotiating
treaty Of secrecy would 81 itself be- evidence
enough The treaty was conditional. to he sure
and the exposure Of the scandal IN me Iri"-
unc compelled the department TO act B''
Mcssrs Carnegie and FrIck did cndeayor 10
keen ,hc matter quiet. and In doing 50 furnished
all needed proof Of their knowledge II ho' "i
their guilty completely. Nor Is 1t credible 'h''
Mr. rrlck alone. having possession 81 su'h S'rl'
,us information withheld Il from Mr. Carnegie.
or. In other words. that he was wlln& ohhh''
70 ploy rhc role Of "wclcd partner" Not rca-
son and probability merely. but concurrent iac'S
~ unmisrakabIc significance. forbid the idea
Why did Mr. Carnegie write that letter audihS
the Wilson bill II not In recognition Of the Pres
dont's Indulgence? Why did the President +"
ducc the penalty fixed 10y The naval experts II
not to pay Mr.. Carnegie IN advance Tor MS
culoglumt II is impossible 10 60 over The
ground covered by this Congressional report
and by conicmpolancouS history without rcaliz-
nc beyond lhr chance Of error that III" fr'H''
dent. the Navy Department ana MoSNr'. tar
ncslc and Fr.ck MI knew The truth. ana w'r"
buslly engaged In an attempt 10 conceal II from
the people.
Rut whatever we may think ~ the President
and the Secretary ~ the Navy. and ~ IA" plr'
they took in the transaction. IN" ilci romans
that McSsrs Carnegie and FrIch are IN chl'l
bcncnclarc> and therefore the arch"fcndrrs III
the episode The President may have been De
tray.d 10y that ovcrwccnlng vanity ~ ms auh
the Secretary have fallen victim 10 MS iu'''
.frd Irrcsnutc nature: but Mcs>rs. Carnegie and
Frick were inspired 10y s"rh!d ana iHh"p'
motive. There WIS money IN 1t FOR them. Moth
ing else Just money! III pdili'lH- VA ''' w.
fcctivc and Inadequate armor plates upon III"
Government they wrr, impcrillinE III" lives 81
thousands II orr soamcn and jcopnr,llng ih'
Nations honor and welfare, hul they wcr" max
ing money Ii Is an appalling conclusion. oh'
shrinks from believing n thing :" monstrouS
And vet there j. the record IN all H. hid""ns
simplicity and ccarncSS. 1t Is a record rich III
instance. ~ craft and avaric". but utterly drStl-
uu,c in fruits ~ candor and good faith.
Well may the report declare that no fin" or
mere financial penalty will provide ~ at"nrment
for such crimes" Well may Il b"wa the lack
Of legal and official machinery for dealing with
such Offenders as they deserve. But II III" con
dcmnation Of an emil ghtcncd public sentiment. II
the scorn Of honest people and II the phngS 81
conscience be Of any avail whatever they VIII
not 90 unwhippcd Of justice The cxpcndl'nr"
of money In ostcntatiouS charity AMI bcnehcencc
will not excuse IN" shameful means by which
that money was acquired The REIMBURSEMENT
of mocty Of plumber does not condone the
theft McssrS Carnegie and Frick Will 90 down
10 history covered with the olium u the Cum
mngs report Theirs the fault. and more the
pty and the shame.