National Republican., 1873-02-03

started IT, It looks, after all, as II there was
some truth in It.
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS UPON THE
G. ". INVESTIGATION.
Theleading organs Of the Democratic party,
that only a twelycmonth since defended and
indorsed the crimes Of the Tammany gang,
who had robbed the city Of New York OF
twenty millions Of dollars, arc Just now de-
nouncing with all the virtuous wrath and In
dignation they can command the gentlemen
In the Republican party whose names have
been connected with the credit mobilicr. The
Boycrs, the Durants and the Brookes, oil
Democrats, arc, as may naturally be sup
posed, dealt with very leniently, while all the
Republicans, whether innocent or guilty, are
immeasurably abused. The object Of II Is, Of
course manifest TO everybody. The Democ-
racy, whose disoyalty and corruption have
led to their rcpudiation by the country; TO the
disruption of their party, so that II now exists
only in name, and that namo 80 rank that II
Is offensive to every patriot aud honest man,
hope that by averting attention from their
own record they will be able In the near or
distant future to recover portion, II not all,
Of Its lost power The hope is a vain and idle
one. No matter whether the Republican
party lives or dies, now or twUnty years hence,
| the Democracy can never obtain control Of
the Government II Ia dead beyond all hope
Of resurrection. II died Of treason and crimes
as an organization, and cun never again be
galvanized into life.
| The treatment Of the gentlemen connected
or said to be connected with the credit
mobilier scandal Is a disgrace to our ciyillza-
ton and to our party politics. While the In
yestigation Is still pending, while the guilt or
innocence OF nearly every one Of the persons
concerned In II Is still matter Of doubt and
uncertainty, newspapers like the New York
World are passing Judgment and sentence
upon every man who has been mentioned In
it, and making no discrimination whatever
between individual cases. In an article on
Saturday, for instance, It says Here Is the
chief Republican Representative from ln-
diana for seven successive Congresses, the
presiding officer Of the Senate and the Vice
President of the United States, Schuyler Col
fax, proven to have had share In the credit
mobilcr corruption, TO have published false
denial Of the fact, to have attempted sneak
ing concealmont Of his crimes, and when
confronted with unexpected and conclusive
proof, to have retreatcd into Hat per-
Jury, silly, useless, obvious perjury, which
does not even throw dust In the eyes Of
his dearest friend. Here Is Henry Will
sou, long Senator from Massachusetts,
Just elected Vice President OF the United
States, as much US any man responsible for
the policy of his party, engaged actually In
the same vile jobbery, and only seemingly in
nocent because his tratllcklug was carried on
behind the name Of his wife. Here Is Henry
L. Dawes, for so many years in Congress
from the same State, and the successor of
Thaddous Stevens in the House Of It's premier
ship being the foremost man In the financial
questions which have succeeded the recon-
structon Issues, just as Stevens was foremost
in the reconstruction days-he, too, bought
stock at corrupt valuation, paid for It, drew
dividends thereon, and then, under oath, de-
MED any ownership In the premises, but ad-
mitted that he held on to his bargain till there
was danger the light would strike IT," We
have quoted sufficient Of this diatriDe to give
an idea Of the malgnlty and the misrcpre'
sentation that animatcs 1t. Equally severe
sentences are written about Mr. Patterson
and Gen. Logan aud Mr.. Kelley and others
Now, those who have read the reports and
listened to the Investigation as 1t came out
from day to day in the two committees at III,
Capitol know how unfair and how untruthfu
the article Of the World is!' So far as Mr.
Wilson and Mr.. Dawes and one or two other
are concerned, the evidence against them
far from being what the World represents |
, to be. The case Of Mr.. Colfax, 1t Is true
: looks somewhat dark, but, In Justice to hin
Z as human being under damaging accuse
ton, he should not be condemned until b.
" has put in all he says he eau put In In his de
u fence. That Is a courtesy, a right, EXTENDED
} to the most desperate criminal, and tn,
J World should have the justice to suspend ii
Judgment until then. We have no desir
. whatever 10 attempt to cover up anything
that any Of these gentlemen may have cor
ruptly done. We do not write as party jour
, nslists, for in this whole matter there ar,
duties higher than those Of mere party, ant
u wo propose tOdschargc them. But we shoulC
not lose sight Of the fact that all the evidence
for aud against Is not yet concluded
and that the decision Of the court is yet to b,
rendered. An attempt to forestall publi
opinion Is cruel and unjust, and will newt
!, ably react upon those who attempt 1t. Their
= = Is another point In all this business whicl
should not be lost sight Of, namely, that tn
investigation is entirely the work Of the Re
, publican party and Its representatives in Con
: yress. It was moved by the Speaker Of tn
House. He II was who put Democrat II
; the chair, with tho request to appoint tn
committee of equal numbers Of his politca
friends and opponents 1t Is not Demo
cratic investigation, and was not institutes
by Democrats. The Republican party is In
vestgatlng itself, and at the proper time will
: have the courage TO punish those who ma
: be found guilty. This action Is in strikin
contrast to that Of the Democracy when az
= cusatlons were preferred against its leader
and prominent politicians. The Democrac
everywhere cudcayorcd TO cover up the
crimes, excused, palliated and defended then
:, To this day the World has not printed th
. evidence OF Tweed's guilt. The country wi
!, not fail to draw the distinction between II
two cases and to make up Its Judgment a,
!. cOrdingy.
s- TINE ATGTn ALLAN line