The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-06-17
MIR. DANFORD'S SPEECH-MR. KERR'S
MEDICATION.

The House of Representatives has vindi-
Gated the character of its Speaker, by its
unanimous adoption of the report of the
Climer committee, fully generating Mr..
Kerr from the charges preferred against
him. While the fact should be matter of
reasonable congratulation with all fair men,
irrespective of party association and feel
ing, yet liberal and conservative Demo-
Gratis may learn very useful political les
son in considering carefully the spirit of
fairness and magnanimity displayed by the
Republican members of the Lower House,
when contrasted with the petty policy ex-
hibited by the majority in similar cases af-
fecting personal reputation To strengthen
the contrast let them read carefully and
weigh well the meaning of the pertinent
remarks made by Mr.. Danford, which even
partisan Democratic journals pronounce
cone of the most telling and effective
speeches that has ever been delivered on
the floor of the House, We are not dis
posed to regard the eulogiums delivered
upon Mr.. Kerr, by Republican members,
as mere "gush upon the part of his
political adversaries, but rather as the hon
est expression of the manly sentiment,
rendered more enjoyable by the infre-
quency of it's display by the representa-
tives of the party, which claims the re-
Elected glory of Mr.. Kerr's personal purity.
After expressing his belief that the vote of
exoneration was an act of simple justice to
Mr.. Kerr, Mr.. Danford said that
"The, testimony of Harvey was but the
natural outgrowth of these Investigations.
Committees of the House had been seen,
this session, housing around, and drag
ging the public life and private correspond
ence of citizens into publicity, publishing
even the bank accounts of officials, with
out charges and without specifications
He had thought at times that there was in
some quarters Il qualification when pub
lie official could be smirched. He remem-
bered the head lines of a newspaper some
two months ago, in which it was announced
that Grant is caught at last, and a dis
patch actually rejoicing in the prospect
that the President of the United States
had been found in a questionable transac-
diture of money i'll regard to the New York
election frauds.) The President was one
whom all men should honor and respect
for the position which he occupied. He
was man who had been the leader of the
American army from Donaldson to Apo
mattoX, and who was now in the last year
of his second term as President. He was
the successor of Washington and Jeffier-
son, and Lincoln, and it was sad sight
when any committee of the House of Rep
resentatives, or when any citizen of the
United States could express gratitude at
catching the President in questionable
transaction. He also remembered another
transaction of another committee, in which
:. witness brought to testify against
the President in regard to the breaking up
of the marital relations of the witness.
That witness had come without a single
corroborating circumstance; without sim
gle fact to support his testimony, and yet
though the Presidents public character
might be blasted, his reputation smrched
forever, and his family relations broken up
(if that might be-, that committee felt
called upon to examine that witness until
it was learned that he was a lunatic. lie
had also in las mind a committee Of the House
ecAich, by tile process Of an officer Of the
House, lad gone TO tile office Of one Of the
telegraph companies Of the country, and had
seized sereral hundred pounds Of telegraph
messages unfortunately from citizens Of all
classes IN regard to prieate and public affairs
atike. 10 be D1oused Mrough By committee Of
tie House,
Suppose Mr.. Danford himself, with his
Republican colleague, Mr.. Bass, or Mr..
Clymer's committee had condescended to
the use of the means SO frequently resorted
to by the opposition for the purpose of per.
sonal defamation looking to political and
party results, is there a man who believes
that the mere force of Mr.. Kerrs previous
good character would have so readily awaited
him? Has previous good character awaited
prominent Republicans, who to-day stand
condemned in Democratic Estimation upon
less damaging testimony than failed to con
vict Mr.. Kerr? Why has Mr.. Kerr's un-
supported statement alone sustained his
reputation against suspicious, that in strict
ly analogous cases, have been accorded all
the weight of positive testimony? Simply
because the policy of the Democratic lead
ers has been to establish for themselves a
negative character for virtue, by parading
before the American people indioidual in
stances of corruption in the opposition
Conscious of its innate weakness as an
organization upon all issues involving a
principle or a policy, its only hope of sue
cess in the present Presidential campaign
lay in the result of such political investiga-
tions and disclosures as have weakened
rather than strengthened the party they
were hoped to benefit.
y CARD TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC