Wilmington journal., 1876-06-23

The Republican leaders, when they
found that the Democratic House WAS
determined, and had the ability Of
carrying out the determination, to
bring to light some of tn most gIar-
ing acts OF political and personal cor
ruption in official circles, quickly agreed
upon the only defence that it was pos
sib!e for them to make. They knew
that such Investigations would cause
most of the shining lights of their
party to be brought TO the deepest
depths of infamy and disgrace. 1u
order to break the force of rbe fall of
their own great champions they at
once set themselves to the work of
Investigating the past record and
present status of every prominent
Democrat. A picadllo here or
venial error there WAS seized upon
with avidity ant trumpeted from
Maine to Florida and from the Attain
tic to the Pacific. If their great leaders
must fall they would enjoy the extreme
satisfaction of having few Democrats
as bed fellows in their beds of infary.
And when the Democrats shonld call
the attention of the country TO the
fallen great of the Republican party,
the Republicans would answer back
that there were. a few Democrats in
the same cess-pool of corruption.
But so far this line of defence has
signally faileG. No damage has yet
been done to the Democratic phalanx
by any such efforts Of the Republicans.
Upon the contrury the policy of the
Radical leaders i'll this particular has
had the effect of adding to the Demo
cratic strength. That this is SO is
noticeable i'll the instance of Mr.
Speaker Kerr. The character of this
distinguished man shines before the
admiriDg gaze of the world with
brilliancy UNNECESSARILY greater than
it was before the attempt was made to
blacken it.
When the committee on expendi-
lures in the War department reported
unanimously that the charges against
Mr.. Kerr were false, and that the
Speaker stood unblemished in per-
sOnal honor and official integrity, the.
House did just thing III a graceful
way. The report was adopted by the
House at the suggestion of Mr.. Gar
field, by Il standing vote, and every
one of the two hundred and ten mem
bers present rose. Commenting on
this eloquent scene the New York
World says:
Leading republicans avalled them
selvs of the opportunity to speak of
the slandered Speaker as his noble
personal qualities deserve. In doing
this they took occnsion, perhaps not
unnaturaIly, to deprecate the system
of Investigation which has been carried
on this winter. 1t would hardly have
been in political human nature per-
haps, to miss this obvious opportunity
and we are not disposed to bear too Sc
verely on our opponents for making all
that they could out of it. But the
country will remember that, while it is
better ten guilty men should escape
than that one innocent man should be
punished. it is not at all necessary or
advisable that the escape of one inno-
cent man shoilld be made an excnse
for screening ten guilty ones. The
uncovering of the conspiracy against
Mr.. Kerr should in the nature of
things make Investigators more dis
eliminating in prosecuting the Graad
Inquest of the nation, but it is essen
tial to the character of hecountry, too.
that the crime which Harvey has COM
mitted should be SO punished as to
make his fate and that of his abettors |
terrible warning to all persons who |
may be tempted to follow his example.
Upon the exoneration of Mr..
Kerr no account need be made. |!
It was a foregone conclusion. The
story told by Harvey was intrinsically
and in the highest degree improbable,
and Harvey, impeached as a liar by
'wo ex.Congressmen, was proved to
be man of scandalous life and low
character. His oath could not stand
'or s moment against that of the
speaker. whose simple word has
always been considered sacred by
avery man of honor who has ever
lnown him.