, 1874-09-26
haps. eorneuhat oyerflravp parallel and wo will

hAps, = Bomsuhat oyerflrawn parallel, and wo will
aubnitnte ono which tallioa perfectly IN All its
last oxtro'nity by the publication Of the Accusing
agnros from tho Comptroller d books. II hlt up
on Tho samo cxcuipRtory o1podlent Which haB
since boon adopted by Mr. Doocher,-that fs TO
eay, the selection @ OF Committee Of tue hlghoat
resnoctablity to investigate the truth Of tho nc
cuaationn. Wo Mill not recite tho namos .of that
famous Committee. for they have no teaeon to
DO proud OF thor exploit. T'hoy Woro gentlo.
mon of tho moBe eminent financial and aoclal
standing that could 10 selected from tho old
residcnts and highest buBincss.circleH Of Now
York. whose Integrity MIS- above nuapiclon,
snd whose penetration WAS roputol to be If the
higl'obs ordof. They apont several days In thoir
examination. AL tic books and accounts OF
tho Finance Department wcro mt frooly at
their disposal, With the assistance Of tho
Comptroller and hla gnhordlnatos TO furnish, o1~
plantations. Tho rosult waa az rosy and ratfsfac-
tory Ut t1e verdict Of tho Brooklyn Comnllttoo.
ihoao hsghly-rcspectable goutlenlou. 80 export
eneed N nlattors Of llnancc. signed and published
. report OF ccrtifcato utatiug that tho Comptrol-
iors acconnts "cre loneatly kopt md III por-
fecsly satisfactory ntalo. We locall this curious
pieco OF municipal history to show how utterly
ueiaaive M investigation nay bo when conducted
BY a Committee selected by nceuuod parties, and
to whom non.oiy elso has tseo accoBo during tho
pToEross q o. tnelr INJURY. Tho per,onnl respcota-
bliity OF the gnntlomen 30 appointed cannot for
any !ongtli Of tlnso shield guilt from exposure or
atiny public suspicion. Tho p,lrault OF tho Ta1-
many Ring went on iii spite Of TINT certificate OF
Innocence, resnlt,nE soon after In q ruiuous OK
rloBion, which brought out all tho iautY. Alr.
Reccher followed Nh orninous precedent, but ,se
should bo gfaa to SEQ grounds for believing that
le is not dcstinea to bo ovortaken by similar
ruin.
nifty and prudence III delaying cectesInski cal &C
tion until Tho current tide Of scandal nhat havo
run past. 1t is possible that thu cuurta OF iua-
tice may rohese them Of the most dtaicuit and
repulsive part Of their labor. sud tue prospect OF
loyal trial IL good reason why tho donomina-
t,on should wait until tho facLa lavo boon
| slicitcl But eTon if 4 court of Justice should
| satisfy the public OF Mr.. Doochars innocence.
| there viii ntill romain necessity tor revising
| the discip!ine Of tho Congregational denon!t,a-
! terian form OF church-Hovern1oent would be nd
yigabte for the Cougregattuualists, Is, Of course,
a question for themselves to decide. The weak
uess of their discipline was stgnaly illustrated
laht winter, when Council was called for inqutr-
ing into tho lux practcca Of Plymouth Church
iu permitting an nccusod momber to Withdraw
without trial or consuro. Tho ostons!blc object
Of TINT Council was to investigate tho
case Of Mr, Tilton. accuaaa of siam
under cover Of the Bander-caso, the conduct Of
! Atr. Heecher which hat long bsrn assaulted BY
damaging f,'naorY. But the Connc'! WAS baae. Al
mott III 80 many words to minu itH oWu btlHnces:
aud thnt body OF eminent ministers, assembled
from III parts Of tho United States, was not
strung enough to punish such contumaey. Their
laborn Terminated IN mild md feoble cenauro,
and they separated, retaining In full fellowship
| church wlioso paator Was covered with asper-
Hions into whose truth they wero not permitted
to Inquire in their organized ecclesiastical CO.
pacity, although that WAS the real business for
! wbich they mad come together. The Congrega-
tional ministry cannot avoid assembling again in
| relation to this dreadful case, aud, if thoy find
| their powers insufficient to aeal with 1t al tho
credit Of tho denomination aud the purity OF
ChriBtinn morals require. they ought to bcSia O
movement for strengthening ecclesiaaical 81.
thority in their important communion.