National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-25
MIR. CLUSs AND HIS TRAINER. -

MR. Gil USS AND HIS "TRALNER.
What remained of Mr.. Cluss on Friday
was demolished on Saturday. If anything
was needed to finish and embellish the dis
graceful record he has made, 1t was fur
nished in the further cross-examination by
counsel, and in the sharp calling to account
by members of the committee, who, ont
after the other, save Mr.. Wilson, took uI
his statements, and, insisting on direct an
swers, compelled him to retract his false
hoods of Wednesday until there was moth.
ing left but the bare skeleton OF his purpose,
with its motive clearly revealed. He
finally confessed that he did not mean tc
charge fraud upon his associates.
Mr.. Cluss was even more embarrassed
and more confused than on Friday, and his
condition was absolutely pitiful. What can
be sadder in the case Of any man supposed
to possess reason and common sense than to
be placed in position where he must beg
counsel not to put him TO the necessity OF
committing perjury by insisting on direct
answers Yet this is just what Mr.. Cluss
asked of the Governors counsel on Friday
afternoon. We have no desire to add to
the odium which this poor man must now
forever carry. We suppose 1t is largely
owing to mental weakness, an incontinent
purpose. and ''pedantic" vanity-to use
his own description of himself-.hat he has
been led into this mos. unfortunate posi-
ton. Possessed Of fair share of intelli-
gence and considerable experience, he is
capable of accomplishing quiet things In a
quiet way. But his Unbalanced temper
ament, and his incoherent methods, totally
disqualify him for large operations,
and the discovery of this fact after he was
appointed doubtless led to the frequent
consultation of his more accomplished
assistants, and he has been frank enough to
confess that this piqued his vanity. Hence,
in the hands of def manipulation, he
thought he saw an opportunity for his re-
venge. He seized 1t, and it has come home
to him like boomerang.
Perhaps the most significant spectacle in
the scenes of Friday and Saturday was the
utter desertion of the witness by Mr.. VIII
son, the man who led him into this lament
able position. But not an effort did he
make to help his victim out of the whirl-
pool of falsehood, shame and modification
in which he was engulfed. The abandon.
ment was as cruel as the inception of the
outrage was cold -blooded and malicious.
We have been asked what evidence ex-
lists going to show that Mr.. jeremiah NJ.
Wilson Grained" Mr.. Cluss, or that he
has disqualified himself from rendering a
verdict in this casei We answer. that the
evidence is abundant specific and notorious.
In this particular case 1t is as disgraceful as
can well be conceived. The whole Cluss
business was arranged" by Mr.. Wilson,
without the knowledge Of the committee.
For days before Cluss received any sub
pena, private consultations were had be-
.ween them. Cluss going to Wilson's room,
md Wilson. going to Cluss's house.
cluss's vanity was SO tickled by the assoc
station that he indiscreetly boosted of these
and the fact that they took
place Is undeniable. Cluss furnished che
lata upon which Wilson prepared List of