Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-06-09
mIk kERK.S CASE,

JAS. CHADBOUKN.
NIk kEseIk.S CASE.
The following editorial from the
Baltimore Gazette accords so entirely
with our views we rcpublish it:
The charges brought against MIR.
Kerr lack nothing Ill defniteness or
directness. The evidence Is clear and
specific. The only question Is, is it
true? To this point must he directed
with all speed the work of investiga-
ton. Does the story of the sale of an
appointment to Green through Har-
ney receive any confirmation from
collateral sources If not, the ques-
ton is reduced to one simply of the
Mr.. Harvey ii thing that may be left
to the judgment of public opinion.
| Nevertheless, the isjgh character of
MIR. Kerr cannot wholly protect him;
and If it be found upon examination
| that he has been false to his trust, let
him be treated with unsparing severity
even though his fragile life be tremb-
ling on the verge of the grave.
The GGzCttG has never defended the
| bad men of the Democratic party. 1t
promptly denounced George II. Pen
dletOn when he wis shown to be u cor
rupt mau, and it threw overheard at
once Hambleton and Fitzhugh, al
though these were accused Of folhes
| only, anu not OF crimes. The Demo
cratic party must come before the
| country in the coming campaign i'll
| clean garments, and must not suffer &.
| shadow Of reproach upon its leaders.
| They must be byond suspicion
And yet this charge against Mr..
Kerr has, TO our mind, the look of the
most infamous conspiracy that has
been formed SINCE the safe burglary.
It has many strong points OF resem~
| blance to that iniqnitous thing. 1t
| seems to be gotten up, as the safe
| burglary was, to break The force OF
another investigation by casting odium
and reproach upon the investigators.
MIR. Blaine, the eN Speaker, is now
wincing under the scrutiny of invests
| eating committees, who inquire into
his relations with lobbyists III every
direction. That willy man is fighting
desperately and ingeniOusly for delay.
a counter attack upon the present
| Speaker is shelter To him for the
moment. We do not cay that Mr..
| Blaine instisated tins seeming con-
spiracy, nor that 1t was done solely IN
his interests. The whole Republican
party would be the gamer by striking
| down one of the purest aid most
| elevated men III the Democratic party.
| 1t Will be remembered that the safe
| burglary, which was gotten up to
cover with disgrace those who were
investigating the District ring frauds,
was Matched and planned IL the White
House and its vicinity; that the Presi-
| dents ultimate friends, Private Sec
rotary and confid Initial agents were the
criminals. This shows how far cor
rupt men will go when rendered des-
perate by the approaching discovery
of their crimes. The counter attack
upon Mr.. Kerr, or some other spotless
| reputation, might have been predicted.
Now 1t has come.
Mr.. Kerr's high reputation should
not shelter him from scrutiny, but
surely it raises q presumption III his
favor. His temperament, habits, man
ners and associates, all contradict the
story of bribery. He is known as 4
man cold. reserved. of naughty Integ-
rity, q scorner OF the venal and paltry
doorkceper, Halney, should walk up
to him and plump him an offer of
$3.50 for an appointment. 1t Is incon-
ceivaole that Mr.. Kerr should chatter
with him, or sell out so very cheap,
and place himself ct the mercy of low
fellow in such an open and audacioue
bargain. 1t is far easier to believe
that both Green and Harvey are con
spirators, liars and pe1jurers, than TO
believe this.
ha TO tl,N S,Ar,
mony of one man, Harvey, Who says
he paid Mr.. Kerr $3.50 for the appoint
ment of Green. Harvey was all ex-
wards in the custom house; he has
been dismissed from both places and
is now out of employment. He has,
therefore, a direct interest i'll making
friends with the republicans. His his
tory must be received with the same
sort of distrust us that of the letter
carrier who came to Babcock's rescue
in the whiskey trial 1t may be given,
if not for cash, at least for thu hope of
reward. Green's evidence is open to
the same objections. He is man CASH
tered and dismissed in disgrace from
the army. He has nothing to lose. He
says he gave money to Harvey to pay
for his place. Harvey says he paid It
to Mr.. Kerr.
Now let this thing be probed to the
bottom. The Democracy must go res
olutely into it, for two reasons. They
must cleanse themselves of Mr.. Kerr
if he is guilty; they must cover the
authors of this conspiracy with new
infamy. if he be innocent. The prob
ability is that Greer and :Iarnoy are
only tho p1Ihpats mt forward and
that the workers are behind The
names of the true workers must be
known. Let all the facts come out
The whole country believes that the
reputation of Mr.. Kerr will stand tho
clearer for the scrutiny; and if his in
nOcence be established the administra-
tion party will have added one more
to the scOrching sum of shames and
crimes that make it odious to..this gem
Grafton, and will make its story q blot |
on our history.
Moreover, the bearing OF the witness |
is worthy of consideration. The re-
publicans themselves were disquieted |
by the bearing of Harvey on the |
stand; and they were disappointed by |
the calm and noble mien of Mr.. Kerr,
And the few quiet words of utter de-
NAL that he spoke, standing, as he did,
with the sufferings of long
illness, with almost the faintness Of
death upon him, carry with them the
thrill of conviction that goes straight
home even to the breasts of his accus-
0rs; and they outweigh whole wilder
ness of dismissed doorkeepers and
,ashiered captains.
IL IS I,a