The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-22
WANT or CONFIDENCE.


On the first Monday Of December. 1872,
the third session of the iorty-sccond Con-
gress assembled in Washington In one
sense. the condition of the county is the
same As il was then, We had the same
railroad incs, underline same management;
il was well known that the Union Pacific
railroad had been constructed by govern
ment aid, but mainly by means Of capital
and influence gained through the Credit
Mobilcr, although very few knew anything
of its origin or history; the same new rail-
road enterprises were projected, or the rail-
roads in process of construction, then as
now there was the same corruption in
high places the same interference with
state affairs by federal Office holders and
in fact. all these, as well as most other
matters, remain unchanged, yet there has
been, after all, one of the greatest changes
ever witnessed in the same period of time.
And what is it all owing to ? One man
may be said to have produced the change.
1t was accomplished, however, without
any thought or intent, on his part, that it
would so result. During the presidential
campaign, an attempt to cause diversion
from the republican ranks was made, by
connecting the names of certain gentlemen
with the Credit Mobilier and implying,
therefrom, fraud and corruption, not only
on their part, but upon that of the whole
party. Among those who were charged
with connection with this institution was
James G. Blaine, of Maine. Upon the
assembling of Congress, he called S. $.
Cox, the leader of the democratic party, to
the chair, and moved the appointment of a
committee to investigate his alleged con-
nection with the Credit Mobiier, at the
same time stating that he never had any
connection Herewith. 1t may be proper
~
ly or indirectly, with that institution, the
Union Pacific railroad, or any other pro-
ject which came before Congress for GOV
ornamental assistance or congressional legis
latIon.
The appointment of such a committee,
however, met with opposition both on the
democratic as well as the republican side
OF the house. 1t did not come from any of
the parties implicated or from anyone who
was subsequently connected Herewith, or
with any other legislation or attempted
legislation to further personal or corporate
interests. 1t is somewhat noticeable that
the investigation was urged ON by those
whose names had been mentioned in con-
nection Herewith, and by some who, if
they were not burned by the investigation
which followed, were slightly singed there
by. MIR. Archer. democratic member of
Congress from Maryland, probably, ex-
pressed the then deliberate opinion of Con-
gress and the country, when lie said that he
chopped the investigation would not take
place, because the people had passed a ver-
dict of condemnation upon these ISLANDERS
at the polls" Mr.. Blaine insisted that it
was his right, as matter of privilege, to
have his public character inquired into by
Il committee OF the house. as long rs it had
been publicly questioned and so the nyes-
tigation was ordered We all know the re-
suit. Colfax, Patterson and Brooks came
ont of it with characters rreirievably ruin
ed, while others were so badly damaged
that they are, henccforth, politically dead
This, however, was not the whole result
The whole country was surprised, excited
and startled by the disclosures. They COM
menced to lose confidence in men, institu-
lions and corporations, and this is always
fearful point for any people to reach. Con-
hdence, we are told, is plant of slow
growth, bnt when community, from nm
due excitement, loses confidence, even |
it is impossible to tell at what
lengths they may go. To this loss of con-
fidence, through the disclosures of the in
committee referred to. is partly
due the present financial difficulty in New
York city. There are, to he sure. other
causes, to some Of which we have alluded
elsewhere, but the moving cause, was the
want of confidence thus engendered.
--------=------=--------