The times., 1899-02-27
MONDAY. FEBRUARY 81, 1898.
The Carter Scandal.

lalntutdDit III lnt way ol
madness must all the Administration, or
il would not continue as it does. 10 fly
in the face of public sentiment and TO out
rage the national sense of justice and
decency. 1t defiantly shoulders the deadly
load of Alger. Eagan, and Sampson. 1t
lends itself openly TO attempts to sup
press the truth of crime perpetrated
against the country's defenders, in feeding
them rotten and poisonous meat 1t sup
ports and coddles man sentenced 10 dis
honorable dismissal from the army by
not unfriendly court-martial, pays him the
fun salary Of brigadier general, and sus-
tains him in the impudence of wearing the
uniform of that position. although the
President himself has ordered his suspen-
sion from rank for period of six years.
It forces the discredited Sampson upon the
nation as a hero and insists upon his pro-
motion over the head of the gallant officer
who commanded in and won the great
naval battle with which Sampson had
nothing TO do. if, indeed. he had not pur-
poseiy absented himself from it under the
operation of his characteristic personal
prudence. II has done and is doing every
thing conceivable to disappoint and dis
gust the mass of American citizenship with
its methods and its conformation of i'm
becility disgraceful conduct, and corrup-
tion. What can il expect the results 10 be?
Americans have not had time 10 recover
from the shame put upon them in the
Essan case, or from their contempt for the
AIger Relief Commission scandal; or to
Ia
ism before they are treated to another
chapter of army ring infamy! The Carter
case. which has been blot on the record
of the War Department since last spring.
comes TO the front again in more hideous
guise than ever.
Now it appears that the Carter court
martial papers are to be pigeon-holed
again by the Attorney General until he
goes On his summer vacation. when he
viii try 10 find time 10 take another lonk
at them. Whatever may be the intention
Of the Administration in thus postponing
action for an additional term of months
the circumstances and condolences of the
situation can produce but one effect upon
the public mind, and that, to put it mild
ly, will not be conducive to Administra-
tion popularity nor to the future ambition
OF President Mckinley.
On May u. 1888, Capt. oberlin NJ. Car
ter on the charge Of having misappropri-
ated 81. 600. 600 of Government money while
in charge of the improvements of Savan-
nah and other Southern harbors, was SEN
terced TO dismissal from the army. to i'm
prisonment for five years, TO pay fine OF
hve thousand dollars. and to have the SEN
Ience published in the newspapers of his
home town for period of one year.
Since that time the papers in the case
which should have gone the rounds with
in thirty days. have been picked in pieces
by legal. extra legal, and illegal hands
in the hope that some flaw might be dis
covered which would excuse the Presi-
dent in permitting his own, the War De-
partment's. and the corrupt army con
tractors ring fayorite to escape punish
ment. The erratic and ominously sug-
gestive course they have taken may be
stated as follows:
Record Of trial sent to Judge Advocate General
Mag -, Ices.
Record forwarded to Secretary Alger, June 90
ls9s.
Record given to former Senator Edmunds Il
fick flaws in courts proceedings, about Jul,
Returned to Alger. Who transmitted it to Pre.i
estt Mckinley for final action, July l5 Isjs.
Mckinley returned il 10 Ager, November o
Alger returned it to Mckinley, December L.
1,t-.
Mckinley passed IT up to Griggs. Altorney
General, Decciniier %. lsss.
Griges asked Colonel Barr, who assisted in pros
ecgtion Il Captain Carter, 10 '.rcyicgg'' record
.isuuary :, 1853
Colonel Barr reported proceedings regular, Jan.
tsary Is. 1893
Attorney General Griggs passed it back u
Mckinley. February ---
Mckinley TO GriEgs, February -
Now. Griggs has the record again for q
further suppression of at least six months
What is at the bottom Of this wild deter
mination to defeat justice and to encour
age crime? We know some of the power
full influences which have been brought tc
bear to save the cuiprit. II is notorious
that certain persons interested in securing
immunity for him were heavy investors
in the Republican campaign fund of 1886
II is equally known that among Carter's
relatives are counted people in high politi-
cal station. A leading party machinis,
and Senator is one of his chief protectors
and other potent friends are at his com
mand. But perhaps the most suggestive
feature of the miserable scandal and out