National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-02-21
THE IMPEACHMENT OF MIR. coLrAx.

Our readers know that Mr.. ColfaN was not
our choice for the Vice Presidential nomlna-
tlon at Philadelphia last June. In common
with other Republicans and Republican jour
mails We did what we could toward effectlng
the nomination Of Mr.. Wilson for reasons
which It Is not now necessary to mention.
We are thus placed In q position Of perfect
Independence so far as he Is concerned.
II must be apparent to all who have watched
the course Of tho opposition In Congress and
In the newspaper press during the last two or
three weeks In regard to the credit mobIler
business that an effort Is being made to con-
vert IL into an engine Of the most merciless
persecution. The motive Is no longer to OBJ
tain the truth, to punish the guilty and to
acquit the innocent; guilty and innocent are
TO be alike condemned, and wild clamor IL
raised for their destruction. It is heard In
the columns Of the so-called independent
press, Of journals like the Tribune Of New
York and Chicago, whose sense Of justice
and fair play Is blinded by partisan malice
and personal malignlty. Mr.. Reid Is the
editor Of the Tribune II ls only few
months sinco his friends and the friends OF
Mr.. ColiaX were engaged In bitter contest
for the control Of that journal. Mr.. Samuel
Sinclair, Mr.. Grceleys trusted friend and
partner In the Tribune, oudeavorcd to
hold the paper firm In the Republican
ranks with Mr.. ColfaX as Its editor.
For time II looked rs II Mr.. ColfaH and Mr.
Sinclair would succeed, hut Mr.. Reid finally
triumphed, and from that day until the pres
ent time he has pursued Mr.. Colfax In the
most fierce and cruel manner. The motives
which animate Mr.. Horace White, OF the
Chicago Tribune, and Mr.. Bowles, Of the |
Springfield Republican, In attacking Mr.. Col |
fax have their foundation In causes almost rs
small and contemplate as those Of Mr.. Reid.
These gentlemen, with Mr.. Murat Halstead,
Of the Cincinnati Commercial. aud Henry
Watterson, Of the Louisville COurier-Journdi,
have formed an editorial alliance to govern
the country, elect our Presidents dictate our
foreign and domestic policy, and order men
into public or private life at their supreme
will and pleasure. The country press, as Il Is
called, Is accustomed TO follow to greater or
less extent the lead Of the New York journals
In the expression Of editorial opinion upon
the leading topics Of the day. One section
follows the leadership Of the Tribune, an
other OF the Times, another Of the World,
another OF the Herald. The aggregate judg-
ment goes to make up what Is called public
opinion. The practice arsse years ago when
the New York press was controlled by ac-
knowledged leaders-by Bennett and Greeley
and Raymond-whose opinions were entitled
to some weight, and whose integrity was
above suspicion. That the gentlemen who
are at present at the head Of these journals
are mere plgmics when compared with the
giants who founded them, not even they
themselves will attempt to deny. When,
therefore, the opinion OF the Tribune or the
Times on any subject Is now pointed to, we
must recollcCt that 1t Is not the opinion Of
the old Tribune aud Of tho old Times, and Of
the great mcu who conducted them, but the
opinion Of new men who have not yet shown
that they are either wise, safe, or honest
leaders and critics.
1t Il from these gentlemen aud the papers
that from mere tradition and usage follow
them that the cry comes up for summary
vengeance upon, among others, Mr.. Colfax.
Mr. Fernando Wood ro-echosd It In the
House yesterday when he presented rcso-
luton directing committee Of that body to
ascertain II there was not justihable ground
for his impeachment by the House Of Repre-
scntativcs. The resolution was q harsh aud
brutal one, and II Is TO be regretted that the
House did not vote II down by an emphatic
majority. Mr.. Wood has, however, sue
ceeded in accomplishing what was undoubt-
edly his main purpose in introducing II, and
In few days we shall hear the name Of the
former model mayor Of New York ringing
through the country as the fearless foe of
corruption aud the champion Of legislative
purity. The independent press win trumpet
his praises from one end Of the land TO the
other. lie will bs commended by the two
1ribunes, and painted by BOwles as very
saint. What q farce the entire thing Ia from
beginning to end IA we said In the begin
ming, we have no special admiration for Mr..
Colfax; We were glad when he was defeated
at Philadelphia, and Henry Wilson selected In
his place US the second on the national ticket;
but common justice demands that he shall be
treated fairly, and not bc made the victim Of
relentless persecution at the hands Of men
who are simply seeking to crush him.
The country, we are certain, will not sustain
so outrageous proceeding, There Is, Il Is
true q strong chain Of circumstautial EVIL
dence against Mr.. ColfaX, but II Is only cir
cumstantial From the very beginning he
has mismanaged his case, and involved him
self In coptradictiOus which arc seemingly
irrceoncilable. But that no has anything TO
Justify the resolution Of Mr. Fernando Wood
is out Of the question.
IUnnR GuRnMAN M auVn