The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-16

INVESTIGATING A MARES NEST.-Of
course it is not f,rgotten that much dis
cussion was had upon the subject of the
payment of the United States bonds in
gold, or in greenbacks. In order to
raise the requisite amount of money, it
became necessary to place our Govern
ment bonds on the markets OF Europe;
and i'll order to make them available
there, it was necessary to make them
payable in gold.
And now comes "Mr. Poppleton of
Ohio" SO reads the record, and moves a
resolution in the House OF Representa-
tives to investigate the ways and means
whereby this legislation OF Congress was
brought about. Mr.. Poppleton's resolu-
lion has u prolonged recitative by way
OF preamble, that 'swhereas," &C., &c.
The amount of this preamble is that the
American Congress which passed the
Act Of March 1S. 1869, declaring the
United States bonds TO be payable in
gold, was corrupted and bought over to
the passage of said Act by means of
money subscribed for that purpose sin
the money centers of Europe."
Mr.. Poppleton's preamble recites,
moreover, that the amount of money
subscribed 'in the money centers OF
Europe" and used as corruption fund
for the purpose aforesaid, was said to be
ten millions Of dollars. And SO, MIR. Pop
pieton "resolves" that this ought to be
Investigated. And, in order that this
Investigation may be searching and thor
Committee be empowered to make it,
and that they be authorized to send for
persons and papers to an unlimited ex-
tent.
IL will be interesting to know just how
Mr.. Poppleton proposes the Judiciary
Committee shall proceed in making this
Investigation. II this vast amount Of
money was subscribed in the money
centers OF Europe" it will become in
dispensable, OF course, for the Committee
to visit those money centers, and there
examine into the case; and, OF course
also, they must needs be authorized "to
send for persons and papers" in London,
in Paris, in Berlin, in Amsterdam, pos
sibly In Vienna and st. Petersburgh.
They will have needs to see subscrip-
tion books and bank checks in all those
European cities and elsewhere. Prob
ably it did not occur to f'Mr. PoppIe-
ton of Ohio' that there would be any
particular difficulty about all this, for
lol are not these committeeman clothed
with power ''to send for persons and
papersw
The whole matter appurtaiping to this
resolution is simply absurd. 1t is even
ridiculous. In the first place, the theory
upon which it starts out is absurd upon
it's own showing. The idea that such a.
sum, or that any sum, was so subscribed
in Europe for such purpose, is sheer
lunacy. The further idea that the
American Congress could be bought
over to such a measure by money CON-
tributed from such source is equally
insane. Possibly Mr.. Poppleton may
have been sincere and duly sober when
he offered his resolution; butiif he WAS
so, then he is merely simpleton as we'll
as Poppleton.
Plainly, the whole aim and object of
the thing was to manufacture out of 1T
some very small cartridges for campaign
"A mmunit inn, and that 10 ahout ha n,aon
est business any Congressman can be
engaged in. 1t is silly attempt to use
the machinery of Congress- for paltry
party purpose. 1t is belittlipg the lunc-
tions OF Congress and bemeaning the
office of congressman. We are not par
grieved thut 'Poppleton is Pop
pieton, but we are sorry that Poppleton
is "of Ohio"