National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-23
censuIt instead of praise for discharging a
sworn duty.
BREAKING A BUTTERFLY on A WHEEL.

Pope's prophetic eye must have looked
on Congressman Beck when he wrote his
"Epistle to DR.. Arbuthnot." The recent
exhibition in the case of the California cor
respondent, Wetmore, was one to be re-
membered by those remaining patriots who
have at heart the national honor and dig
nifty. The investigating committee were
dealt heavy blows by leading journalists
and only WINGED, with an occasional howl,
without even protesting snarl. But when
the man Wetmore, without friends or infu-
ence, came before them they plucked up
courage and determined to make him ter
rible example. Like herd Of buffaloes
they went at him, horns down and tails up,
headed by Bison Beck, and swept the poor,
frightened wretch up to the bar of the
House, where, panic-striken, he half palli-
ated their action in the eyes of the House
by delivering defying Congress
in the name of the people, forgetting or not
remembering that Congress is the essence
of the people. But the committee per-
mitted Whitelaw Reid to plaster them with
slime, instigated by mere rumor as he adj
mitted, and when he was brought before
them for examination lodged briskly
around the table to avoid his task. While
Wetmore, who had done nothing more
than to repeat a story derived from Irwin
himself, was locked in cell, Prince White
law Reid, secure in his position as manag
ing editor of the third great journal of the
country, was dining in the full serenity of
q dress coat with the Hon. Walter Phelps
we beg his pardon, the Hon. W. Walter
Phelps. Now, let US have an end of this!
Never mind the sand snipe and mud-hens.
Go for big game. Summon Mr.. George
Wiley again, and ask him questions which
will lead to some result. In his recent exam
ination he only testified that Mr.. Beckvoted
against the subsidy. We knew that before,
without Mr. Wiley, Democrat, by-the-by,
coming all the way from New York or his
native State, Missouri, to tell us. He fur
ther states that he wholly failed to argue
Mr.. Beck into supporting the measure.
Did he argue him into giving it an active
opposition? Ask Mr.. Wiley how much
money he got to use for Pacific Mail inter-
ests, and what he did with it? Call Har-
ney and Searle again, and examine their
books. Call Stockwell, and probe his
books. Let it be done by an accountant.
Summon Sam Hatch, another Missouri
Democrat, and ask him to whom he gave
the twenty thousand dollars which Irwin
affirms he placed in his charge. Managing
Director Hatch is evidently not willing
that the company's interests should suffer
longer under the odium of the Stockwen
COpperhead clique, and the directory, by
his advice, as we understand, has removed
all restraint from the company's agents
and attorneys, past or present. The seal
of confidence no longer binds them. 1t
would be polite, too, as well as just, if the
committee would PROFOUND the questions
submitted by Clark Bell, the company's
attorney. There is an uneasy suspicion
gaining ground throughout the country
that the committee are treating this matter
as certain hospitals in England do extreme
cases of ante mortem corruption. They
quickly smother the patient at night, in
the interest of humanity. This investiga-
ton seems to be smothered in the interest
of the Democratic party.