National Republican., 1873-02-25

word In Congress cost tho happiness Of a woman
and the life Of o man. Mr.. Fernando Wood made
the House, OF which he was a member, that the
question Of his expulsion was raised. BY mis-.
taken kndness he was only called TO the bar Of
the House Tor censure and public reprobatlon.
That duty fell upon Mr.. Cnlfax, as Speaker Of
the House, and he gave Mt. Wood tolerable
warming. lie was the Judge and Wood was the
culprt; hut the latter, submitting TO the SEN
tsnce, Just az he once pleaded the statute Of
limitation on an indictment for forgery, remitted
himself to his old business OF leasing buildings
at an eNorbitant rent TO the city of New York
and TO buying successive elections 10 Congress
Yesterday came his chance Of revenge. lie
had never forgotten and never can forget the
moment when he stood at the bar Of the House
and schuyler COlfax read him lecture on the
common decencies Of politics and the ordinary
dutles Of patriotism. And 30 Fernando Wood,
With record that no man defends except on
the ground Of harl cunning and wonderful
shtewdness, becomes the Accuser Of Schuyler
ColfaN. The Pecksnln Of virtue has the door OF
the House.
We are not pleading the cause Of Mr.. Colfax.
Any one who has read his testimony, carefully
prepared and sworn TO by himself, must zee that
there was a momentary lapse In his integrity
honorable public life. He got out Of the squab-
bile as soon as he could. He kept no more Of the
unwlse bargain than he could help. II is not
claimed or charged that he was more than o. 800
the richer for his connection with the credit mo
biller, and II Is easy to see how he could have
been swindled Into taking that and how, with
always his own wlfe-he would do as he has done,
preNartcate and tell half the truth, like any other
nan Of his make, more afraid Of the breath Of
nature S W. would have T puSshcd to he world And
then again, Mr.. Colfax Ia not the man he was he
| fore his paralytic stroke. "When the blow fell,
| to quote his own words, he was no longer his own
adviser, and under better counsel than he has
| had he might have been safe,
| We nnd ourselves compelled to q study oi
moral character and the record Of two important
| IlVaa EaFnanhA wi plaadad hs
statute Of limitation on an Indictment forfor.
gerry; who has for years used his oticlal position
as means Of pecunlary gain by corruption; who
| premises to the city At extrayaRant rents; who
was the head and father OF the Infamles Of tho
Iammany ring who, as mayor, was dlsloyl Al
the outset Of the war who was hauled up before
the bar or Congress for shameful and insulting
utterances In public debate and In the Interests
| Of the rebellion; whose name has no sweetness
In any relation Of life, In Church or State, turn
up as the prosecuting attorney OF schuyler Col
fax. II is one Of the most singular coincidence
that he has certain show Of Justice on his side
stand I M as a crime against Schuyler Cola
while Fernando Wood, OF all men In thrworld
Is the model and adyocate Of public virtue.
| We prefer not to trust our cause TO such hands
We look hack to hitter past when Fernando
Wool had no right 10 accuse any man, whef
even the boys In the street knew him as a traitor
na,Ion y" whose shame % was Nj" Sis SHADOW and tr.Is'
| along behind his footsteps. lie must not he
come, just now, the angel OF justice, the accuse
Of men whose lives have heep far cleaner thar
his own. lie IL not TO he believed as a wltnes
nor eau he he trusted ns prosecutor. tn
House, In its action making the investigation
general, did perhaps the best that could be done
but Il was sorry business at last. But don't pu
honorable men on the committee. Blll Twee'
and Fernando Wood are the men for the place
They know all the avenues Of public wrong
have threaded them again AMI again, and wher
ever they nnd 4 probable reason for mean &C
they will he prompt and shrewd In Its recogni
tion.