Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-13
opposition for party capital rather than for

opposition for party capital rather than for
purposes of reform.
The investigations going on at Wash
ington bring out in bold light the spirit OF
both parties in regard to them. The re-
publicans have manifested in all the In
vestigations afoot, from that OF Bulknap
down, desire for the unwilling OF the
truth and such punishment OF the guiity
as Justice demands. Ga the democratic
side, however, the plain purpose has been,
not TO do that which candid investigation
intent only upon the public good should do,
but to make the most of the Investigations
as means TO the creation of party capital.
The Belknap case is fair sample OF the
rest. The republicans of Clymer's com
mittee knew nothing of the investigation
and had no opportunity to look into the
case until the report was ready to be
sprung upon the House in order to affect
the New Hampshire election. 1t was
purely partizan democratic move from
beginning to end. Marsh was allowed to
run away and the impeachment OF Belknap
would have failed had not the adminstra'
ton taken pains to secure his return from
Canada. Clvmer and his associates did
not desire to punish Belknap by impeach-
ment, being contented to use Marshs story
to blacken the republican party and
help the democratic vote in New Hamp-
shire.
NEARLY all of the Investigations says
the New York Times, have been carried
on in private. During the time when the
House committees were in the hands of
the republicans, the least indication of a
desire to keep any inquiry temporarily prl-
vate was met by cry of star chamber
investigation y from the opposition. The
unfairness with which the few open meet
ings of the democratic investigators have
been characterized, gives ample reason to
suspect the motive which prompts the 9TH
ers to secrecy. 1t is notorious that choice
bits of damaging evidence are OCCASION
allv permitted to drop out from the So
called secret sessions of Mr.. Whithorne's
com mittee. Why this is done and why
e1 parte statements, designed to injure
somebody, are telegraphed over the
country, without opportunity for rcfuta'
ton or explanation, may be readily inn
agined. 1t seems to be the policy of this,
as of other committees, to hear only one
side. The accused is put off with delu-
siye promise that he shall be heard by and
by. Meantime, an uncontradicted accu
sation flies abroad, takes root, and flour
ishes like falsehood uncontradicted. One
OF Mr.. Whiuhorne's witnesses, for exam
Pile. boldly said that certain mechanical
appliance, for the use of which the Navy
Department paid a royalty, was fraudu-
lent affair, useless, and never patented.
This was said one day IN secret session.
Next day 1t was telegraphed over the
country. The facts. never yet made pub
lie by this scandal-loying committee, show
that the witness in question either told
fasehood, or did not know what he was
talking about.
These Congressional investigations have
consumed almost the entire time of the
present session. After all the damaging
exposures, nobody has been punished, I'M
less it is the imprisoned and epicurcan
Kilbourn. and nobody is likely to be, un-
less it is Belknap. And his conviction will
mainly depend on the evidence which Mr..
Clymer's committee threw away when
they sped Marsh out of Washington. The
democratic members fear the interference
of the republicans, and they are jealous of
each other. They are gathering ammuni-
ton for political campaign, not purify
ing the public service. Whatever of cor
ruption there is in official life should be
exposed and cleansed away. The inves-
tigators content themselves with raising a
huge cloud of scandal, always taking care
that every guilty democrat escapes"
THIRD CT ASS POSTAGE.