New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-12

mere demonstrations Oh hcpuDiicai h0"P"'i'J
or proofs of Republican betrayals of trusts, no
matter how clear and convincing they
may be. Lying back OF all the e4-
posures which on the tongue OF to-day
disgrace the Republican party, the Democrats
themselves have 4 record on which the People
time after time and year after year have re-
fused to trust them They have done and are
doing nothing in the way of making better.
The task they have set themselves to Is SIM
ply to make their opponent, OdiOus, without
in am way commencing themselves by any
positive policy to the place left vacant i'll the
confidence of the people. THE TRIBUNE has
repeatedly pointed out the mistake they make
in pursuing this course. 1t has done so not,
we confess, from any special soicitude for the
success of Democracy as political Organiza-
ton. but from sincere desire for the cOun-
trys good and for the pslidcation OF both par
ties with that end in view.
That the Democratic leaders have ignored
all counsel and disregarded all advice in the
matter is only too plain. They have been
blind to everything except the follles ana
crimes of their opponents; and OF these they
make so much that there is really danger OF
their fatally OVERRIDING it. Vast as has been
the system of corruption and intrigue which
has grown up under the present Administra-
ton. the American People will not believe, nor
is it the fact, that there is no purity left any
where in public life, no honesty IN any branch
of the public service. The Republican party has
suffered from the worst leadership that ever
cursed an organization it has adhered blindly
to it, and been led in spite of warning and
protest to defeat ard disaster but 1t Is not
possible to make the people believe that the
faint of dishonesty il SO universal that no one
in the party has escaped it. And yet the efforts
of the investigators hardly stop short OF this.
They aim to smutch every body and every
thing that bears the maine or the stamp of the
oppostion. Partisanship has made them so
credulous of charges against opponents that
they stop at nothing in the way OF
rumOr however vague, or OF accusation
however indefinite and unreasonable. This
policy is far from being wise. Think
ing men are not so crcdulous. The voters
whose aid they seek have not entirely lost
their confidence in free institutions or their
faith in man. Simply because there have been
80 many and such damaging disclosures, they
are not going to rush to the conclusion that
whatever is sad to the discredt of IN official
is necessarily true. There is danger OF carry
inc things so far and with so high hand rs
To produce q popular reaction and revolt
against system of Investigations, which IL so
clearly instigatcd by partisanship and when
spares no one and leaves nothing out OF the
wreck of the nations good name.
That investigations were demanded has been
clearly shown by the results already reached.
By no one has the demand been more empha-
sized and persisted in than THE TRIBUNE. 1t
has borne much abuse for it, but events have
shown that it had as good reason for its course
as they had for abusing it, who have been
found out in wrong doing. But the business
of investigation should be judicially con-
Quoted, and not handled merely as partisan
weapon. 1t is easy to create sympathy for a
person or n party falsely accused. For this
reason, aside from the abstract justice which
should be sought, the investigators should be
sure of every inch of their progress and OF every
step by which they reach the conclusion OF
guilt. There is danger that tho party OF IN
vestigatlons in Congress, by their rcckleSsness
in pursuing innocent persons and their eager
ness to make long indictments and Overwhelm-
ing charges against those who are actually
guilty of punishable Oifenses. may 90 just TAR
enough to turn the current of popular indig-
nation away from those whom they prosecute
and against themselves There is a quaint old
story told of a savage who, having been IN
duced by Christian missionary to accept the
story of Jonah in the whales belly, was led
along into belief in various other scriptuini
miracles until he came to the feeding OF the
multitude, when he said, ''Thcre, | don't be-
"levc it, and now don't believe your fish
"story, either" There was something OF
human nature in the savage. We commend
the story to the thoughtful consideration OF
Congress.