Daily Kennebec journal., 1876-06-05
From the Newburyport Herald
SPEAKER KERR.

Sad and comic, serious and iunny, Is
the spectacle of Mr.. Kerr, speaker of the
House of Representatives, the main busi-
ness of which since his party came into
power is investigation, being himself in
vestigated 1t is sad to see a great man
even accused of disreputable deeds, but
on the other hand it is comic to see the
fowler caught in his own snare. 1t is
serious matter tLat investigations should
be possible as the principal business of so
high legislative body; but it is funny
that the most serious charge is against the
foremost in position of the party which
adopted this as its chief weapon against
it's opponents. The democrats gained a
majority which gave them full power in
the lower House of Congress in the last
election, and they had an opportunity to
initiate such measures as they pleased.
They had charged the republican party
with incompetency, with extravaganza,
and with having brought about the pres
ent depressed condition OF business.
They had the opportunity to show their
superior wisdom, and to propose meas
ures of improvement and reform, and
leave with the Senate the responsibility of
their rejection. If the party had policy
on which it could rest its claims for favor,
such would have been its tactics. But
the democrats of the House did no such
thing. They had nothing to propose.
They could only continue the methods
they had used when out Of power. They
could criticse and find fault if they could
not originate. So the plan was to inves-
tigate everything and everybody belong
ing to the republican party. 1t is pleas
ant to be the boys who stone the frogs.
not SO pleasant for the frogs to be stoned.
How then has it changed the relations
when the biggest toad IN the democratic
puddle received such stone as that cast
by Harney and Greene; positive, direct,
sworn testimony. No such insinuations
as were brought against the republican
magnates, but right up and down accusa-
tions which could only be false or ruinous.
Harvey swears positively that he paid
Speaker Kerr, then member of Congress
in the time when Andrew johnson was
President, the sum of $3.50, for his in
fluence in procuring a commission in the
army for Augustus P. Green.
1t is curious to note the different tone
in which the democratic newspapers speak
of this matter from that which they as
sumed in regard to the accusations against
Mr.. Blaine, formerly Speaker of the House
of Representatives. and gentleman of
good repute hitherto among men of all
parties. The charges against Mr.. Blaine
were received with wise shaking of the
head, as if there were something very se-
rious underneath-a cat in the meal, a
nigger in the woodpile, rottenness under
the white surface of the eggshell. On the
other hand the positive testimony against
Speaker Kerr was denounced without
hearing or hesitation. as atrocious lying,
SANDER, perjury and libellous. The pol
icy OF investigation was not invented to
damage democratic regulations or the
democratic party, it was especially de-
signed for the republicans. To use it
against Speaker Kerr, was as if the pris.
oner at the bar should take the bench and
hear testimony against the Judge and sit
upon his trial. 1t is getting to be really
alarming. The investigation policy was
Intended for no such purpose. 1t was not
to damage democratic but republican rep
utations, and here are ones own guns
turned against their owners and makers.
The bitter is bitten, the hunter is made
game. the pursuer is pursued There is
one thing which the democrats of Con-
gress can do which will settle the case of
Speaker Kerr effectually, and will be of
great public advantage to all parties. The
character of Mr. Kerr is such that his de.
NAL upon oath ought to outweigh the tes-
timony of an unknown person like Har-
ney, and such will be the public estimate.
Now let the matter be sifted to the bottom.
and If Harvey has sworn falsely, let him
suffer for his perjury the severest penal
ties the law inflicts Let it be known that
a reputation cannot be sworn away falsely
with impunity, and there will be less ma
terial for investigation. Speaker Kerr is
probably innocent of the msdemeanor
laid to his charge; let the person who
falsely accuses him be convicted of per-
jury. if he has perjured himself, and let
him be punished. There will be fewer
persons ready to come forward and testify
against public men of either party. AS it
has been, slander and insinuation have
fourished vigorously, and the best estab-
lished and brightest regulations have been
d mined by their foul exhalations. Mr..
Blaine would benefit by such a clearing
up Of Mr.. Kerr, and the public would be
less prompt to suspect that every accusa-
ton against public men had something of
truth in it. 1t is not always true that there
is some fire where there is some smoke.
l,,o. L.: ~ 4