The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-17

pected, that lt Is OF ecarc6iy less iluPor.
tsnce IN its morsl and political bearings
than the Belknap affair. Harrington,
who, it Is said, has fed te Europe, was
Assistant District Attorney at the time.
He is handsome young man, and pos
sessed OF a shallow but brilliant theatric
style of orstory. During his trial he
spoke in his own defence, concluding,
amid great applause, with the words: 81
am innocent so help me God"
It will be remembered that Harring-
ton, during his trial, received an invita-
ton to attend a reception at the White
House, and during the reception was in
loLg conversation with the President.
The improperly of the chief magistrate
of nation placing himself on q social
level with a man indicted for criminal
offense, did not fail to receive its com.
ment from the press throughout the
country.
And on the other hand the incident
was skilltully used by Hsrrington's law
yers, as an emphatic recognition by the
President OF a great nation of the moral
and social standing OF the accused. The
jury disagreed and the SUIT was dismissed
Mr.. Beck, OF Kentucky, made dogged
efforts week after week to have commit
tee OF the 43rd Republican Congress in.
vestiga.e the matter. but until MIR.
Knoot's committee took it up Mr.. Har-
rington and the more powerful men
behind him enjoyed immunity. They are
now called to their account, and the in
vestigation promises to be one of the
richest in startling results that the pre-
sent Congress has taken hold of. have
deemed this short resume of the much
talked and written of burglary not out of
place, since it is a matter that promises
to be of national and political Importance,
and il occurred 30 long since that many
of its features are not remembered.
The present Congress Is every day
earning a place in history for economy
nd honesty. Demagogues like Hill,
Blaine, Morton, and Boutwell,, make
spasmodlc efforts to start new issues or to
revive old ones-ever and anon they
galvanize, shock or thrill with malignant
reminiscence or gloomy augury. But
the constant determined tenor of the
present Congress is so pronounced for
the honest economical administration of
the National government, that it will be
so remembered long after the silly, fran
tic oratory of these gentlemen, mingled
with the lmprecstions OF thieves and
drones hurled from office is silent in the
land. There have been many objections
urged against the policy of investiga-
tions with closed doors, but it is quite
plain now that this Is the wisest policy.
In some instances, already the point of
investigation has been blunted or foiled
through the enterprise of newspapers in
Publishing ther secrets. Implicated par
ties anxiously following the investiga-
tions, have learned that they were
wanted two or three days before the issu
ance of the summons, and have thus been
enabled to get out of the way.
Secretary Delsno's son John was sum.
moned from New York, but he pleaded
sickness, and now one Reed, by whom it
was expected to prove that son John
pocketed ten dollars per mile Tor surveys
that cost only seventy cents per mile, has
been so unpatriotic rs TO sail for Europe
in this Centennial year. But these exiles
will be homesck before it will be safe for
them to return, for it is now believei
that the present Congress will remain IN
session, taking short recess for the Ex-
position at Philadelphia, and for the
conventions at Cincinnati and st. Louis,
unit. September. If these gentlemen who
have gone abroad are only half as avori-
cious OF silence money as the safe bur-
glar, it will deplete the Republican cam
paign fund no little to keep them from
testifyiog.
The week in Congress has been quite
dull. The Senate has been debating a
bill for the requirement. of Pennsylvania
avenue.
This avenue was paved by the Shepard
with Nicholson pavement
a few wears since, but it is now pitted
with decay, and the worst street in the
city "almost impossible, scarcely Jackass'
able" In the House there has been moth
ing more entertaining than debate: on
bills.
This is emancipation day and collosal
bronze statue of Lincoln has been un-
veiled with much empty form
in Lincoln park. The entire
seems to have been left
to the colored population, and the
cannot be characterized as
but nigsrdly. There was one
small platform, with seats occupied by
the President, q few members of Con-
gress, and members Of the diplomatic
corps, and a great many beats and bum
mers, no other accommodations for the
thousands who had been on their feet Tor
two or three hours, anxious to see the
which was wrapped and con.
cesled in American flags. The colored
societies in their gsudy uniforms were
there in force. Prof. Langston was
master of ceremonies, and asked the
President to pull the rope which removed
the covering, and the statue was un'
yeiled amid the boom of the cannon, ap:.
plsuse of the surrounding multitude, rnd
patriotic music from the marine band.
uha very impressive work Of art,
the ideal Mr.. Encoln IN
the act of liberating the ideal African.
The face of the liperator is full ei benlg-
pity, while his left nand is extended over
the head of u negro half rising, as ne
gropes for liberty, eniranchisement and
the Freedman's Bank, and political affili-
alton with Morton, Boutwell,, belknap
and Babcock. Y. 40.
lA