Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1876-04-27
A National Disgrace.

THE HOUSE sLANDkR NiLL-LraIrINATE,
FAIR, AND HKAlTHFUL INVESTIGATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BLAoKMAiLERs.
DETECTIVES, soRE-aEADs, AND DIsAppoINr.
ND MEN Al WITNESSES.
Special Correspondents Of The Cincinnati Gazette
WASHINGTON, April "a
Fair and most searching investig atoms OF
publ<' officers should be encouraged, de-
Tended, and insisted upon. Thus far, no
Republican in Congress- has laid straw in
the way OF any resolutl OF inquiry. But
the methods pursued by the Democrats in
many OF the investig stions now in progress
are such ~ to bring disgrace upon the House
OF Representatives. They are Of cbara cter
that demand full exposure on the floor by
some courageous man. The fact that these
inquiries OF which complaint is made are in
secret, 10 by no means their worst feature.
| Dut When this is coupled with scsndalous
uhfairness and constant concsalment from
the Republican members Of the committees
OF what is In progress. each Of these bodies
becomes machine hitherto unknown to
Congressional procedure.
~ several OF the mostimportant matters
examined, affecting questions Of personal
honesty on the part Of the President and
CaDinet officers, testimony has been taken
with only Democrats aud ,short-h hand writer's
present. Aud testimony thus taken, with.
OUT cross examination, or notice to the &C.
cused, has been sent broadcast over the
land for political effect. Such dealing
ought to fall within the list of serions
crimes. Yet the present Democratic House
not only practices it, but Republicans sit
meekly by aud zee it 80 on day after day,
In several notable instances, the false tes-
eimohy WAS allowed togo out after its false
hood had been thoroughly exposed to the
the secret examiners. This was the case
IN the attempt OF CsuldfieId's committee to
hx the improper Use Of public funds In sun.
pressing election frauds upon President
drsnt, and also in the circulation Of the
BARLEY gossip regarding Secretary Bristow
and his alleged purchase for $4,000,
Employees discharged for cause, dissp-
pointed contractors, unsuccessful claim
agents, Indicted criminals, black msiers,
orlbe- takers, defaulters, disreputable de.
eectives, perjurors, and luuatIcs, have
sraced the stand In these Democrat Q COM
mittee-rooms, and had their Testimony IN
Republican inef1iciency recorded. And this
III not exAggerstion.
me crazy man who was allowed to testi-
" without restraint against Gen. Meig. be-
fore Clymer's committee will not be forgot,
ton. The fact that this inquiry was public
alone exposed the baselessness of tile te.-
tlmony. The regular report gave no init
NATION OF the mans condition. But for the
specials who saw and described it, nothing
would have promptly reached the country
70 ahcfedit II. Clusters hour after hour Of
mere hearnay 10 case in point,
The Naval Committee have examined An
army OF contractors and employees with a
grievance and volume after volume of
testimony from such men has been taken
without touching tho Secretary. One COM
mittee has taken Testimony from a man
VINO was defanlter in the army and =
blaekmAiler Of distlllers aftsrwart, hearing
him against q Cabinet officer. The judi.
ciary Committee has heard gang of detec
yves IN the sSfe-burslary matter, every one
OF whom has committed perjury. II their
testimony IL true, aud all they had to sav
hgainst Gen. Babcock WAS Of course given
to the press
without doubt, there has been much tes.
timony taken from reputable witne sses, but
very little Of this has established dishonesty
agsinst Republican officials. The bulk Of
these Democratic investigations, however,
nave dealt with the disreputable classes OF
witnesses to which sllu zion has been made,
witnesses with grievance may tell moth
ing but the truth. 1t is only just to those
they accuse to have their exact identity
and relations to those accused established
And entered in the record. This has not
been often done, and the consequences is
that much testimony, which the liking of
such identity would at once discredit, has
gone into tile record unqueStioned. Dur
ing the coming campaign Republicans will
zee and be obliged to face this for the first
time.
The extreme unfairness, the keen ipius-
tice. and the lasting disgrace OF these pro.
ceedings, can not be painted in too dark
oolors. Open and fair Investigation lie nee
essAry 10 the purity Of the public service.
Justice demands that the guilty should he
discovered and promptly punished. But
al this is very different thing from using
the machinery and the plenary power. Of
the House Of Representatives to manufact-
ure and disseminate SANDER,
A matters are now conducted, the Demo-
cratic House il national Islander mill; aud
Republicans on the floor should take the
opportunity to hold up its machinery and
products " universal scorn aud exeoratiop,
n "