The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-01-05
senator Trnln bull's Proposed Il
90 Investigati0n. r-:as-

If proof we're needed that Grant :
Administration is so rotten that it
will not bear examination, it will be
found in the tenor Of the debate il,
tho Senate ON Mr.. Trumbull's reso-
luton to revive the Committee on
Retrenchment and cloths it with
ample powers to discharge it's duties.
If the distinguished Senator from
Illinois had proposed to proceed at
once to the trial Of Grant for high
crimes and misGemeanors without
waiting for the House to present ar
tirles ofimpeachment, it could not
have produced more Auttcring among
Grants special friends in the Cham
Der, nor so aroused the ire of his
noisy advocates on tho floor, as did
this simple motion to raise a Com
mittec to inquire into tho allegci
frauds and robberics of Grants Office
holders.
Pray what is the matter With
Messrs Edmunds and Conkling, that
at the mere thought of such an in yes-
tigation they rush into the Senatori-
al arena as if Mr. Trumbull had
shaken red flag in their faces? And
why is there an assembling of a Re-
publican caucus in hot haste, as if
there were rascalities and corrup-
tions in the Republican household
which would not bear an open.day
discussion? In so plain a matter,
why was it necessary to throttle dis
cussion and palsy the conscisnses of
Senators by the decrees Of secret
conclave? Is it true that, like the
Ring banks in this city, the admin
istration, ana even the White House
itself, are so boneycombed with ve-
nality and fraud that they are liable
to fall to pieces at the touch Of hon
est hands. One ofthe objections Of
the Grant Senators to Mr.. Trum-
bulls motion. doubtless was that if it
prevailed he would be the Chairman
of the Committee, and therefore the
investigation would be thorough and
impartial, and would not end in doing
nothing, or in whitewashiug Grants
friends, while spending little dilut-
ed censurc, just for the sake Of ap-
pearances, upon such of6ceholders as
were not hearty IN the support Of his
denomination.
The opposition to Trum bulls pro-
gramme, and the substitution for it
Of the caucus scheme, will be accept
ed by the people as confession Of
Judgment on the part of Grants
supporters. Everybody will under
stand it as an admission that they
dare not come to light lest their
deeds be reproved; that they dare not
bring the Administration Rings to
the bar Of the Senate because it will
lead to an explosion whose startling
effect would throw the Tammany ex-
posure quite into the shade.
Anybody who knows how penetra-
ting an eye and how courageous .
heart Lyman Trumbull bears about
with him willnot wonder that Grant s
advocates shrink from having him
look into their affairs and drag their
yenalities to light. But what will
honest republicans say to tho hypoc-
risy of the Administration Senators?
All through the last campaign they
have been leading the attack aga inst
Tammany, voeifcrating over the ox-
posures Of its corruptious, and in
sisting that the Democratic party
must be held responsible for its de.
linqucncies. And now when it be-
comes necessary for.these very virtu-
Gus gentlemen to show their faith by
their works, and pluck tho beam out
Of their own eyes, they suddenly be-
come sensitive to tue sunshine, and
plunge into the dark recesses Of a
caucus. hoping in this mode to skulk
their responsibilities and escape the
Indignation and contempt of a people
who love fair play and despiss double
dealing. a
We need not tell the prudent
friends of Gen. Grant that his Ad
ministration cannot survive the in =.
sane tactics which his supporters in
the Senate are pursuing. They may
stave of, or smother by indirection,
the Investigation which Mr.. Trumbull
Mr.. Schurz, and their compeers are
demanding in the name Of q people
who, at this juncture, are all alive
in the cause Of reform. But We
assure Mr.. Conkling. Mr.. Edmunds,
and Zach. Chandler, that they cannot
cover up corruptions which have no
narallel In the history nf tha E.dnxal