The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-19
THE GREAT PRAUD CONsUMMA TED.

| written. for nothing remains to complete 1t but
mere forms. A commission believed to bc COM
posed Of the best elements Of both parties
Morton and Garfield OF course. cxccpted-with
five Judges of the Supreme Court. have shocked
public confidence and respect. by partisan
judgment. which makes the corruption and ras-
| cality Of Wcls's Returning Board respectable
| by contrast.
Nothing honest was expected from the buck
| storing knaves who offered to sell their
| trust to the highest bidder. But when this
| commission was organized. under peculiar
circumstances, as great moral arbitration 10
determine the merits Of tho questions in dis
pute fairly and honorably. II was supposed at
least that the whole controversy would be siftcd
to the bottom, and decision bc rendered that
would satisfy the country. restore quiet. and re-
ieve business from the strain TO which IL has
cen subjected. Tho very idea Of arbitration
carried with it all the disputed elements. and
the law ITSELF which has been perverted into a
base deception. was framed with that UNDER
standing and with that Interpretation. as will be
seen when the record Of the proceedings shall
be published.
That there was trlckcry OF the meancst kind
In the conception OF this scheme. as there has
been worse than trickery in IFS contamination. IL
now apparent. As the result shows. Owns only
another mode OF reaching tho Same end, by
which one faction would triumph over its rival.
or. in other words. by which Edmunds and his
followers would stop into the shoes Of Morton
and his set If the original plan OF counting
Hayes In by the President OF the Senate. backed
up by Grant and the army. had succeeded. Of
course the Morton faction would have controlled
Hayes and his policy. 1t was to defeat this in
terest thatt other scheme was devised. and not
with any purpose of really having fair count
Morton well understood tho game OF his chief
antagonist. Edmunds. who. under the external
pretcnccs OF fairness. WINS only playing sharp
practice. Therefore. when the pinch came for
making up the commission, he rallied his forces
and succeeded in getting scat. TO divide the
profits of victory. Of which he felt assured in
advance.
1t was in the power Of three OF the five Judges
to have blocked this personal game. and To
have fulfilled tho public hope OF an upright.
thorough. and conclusive verdict on every point.
And here is whore tho saldcst feature OF this
business is most distinctly visible. From the
very outset Judge Miller was conspicuous as
the champion Of tho Republican side. His sug-
gestiOns. his questions. and his motions wore
all stamped with prejudgment Judge Strong
has disappointed the trust of those who held
him in cstccm and justified the dstrust
Of others. who regard his professions OF
religion II cloak 10 cover less sanctimonious
ends. He took active part until near the
close of the Louisiana case. when his sudden
zeal for rushing to a conclusion. even while one
of the leading Democratic counsel pleaded ill
| ness. attracted notice and provoked comment.
Judge Bradley has never been considered
| free from reproach since he was appointed b.
| the bench blythe influence Of the Railroad Rings
| OF Pennsylvania and New Jersey to subserve
their peculiar interests. But his general conduct
| on the southern circuit had won for him n
grateful fccling among that oppressed people,
AMI his own declarations before being ap-
pointed a Commissioner authorized tho cx-
| pectation that he would try this national cause
| like any other. without fear or favor. He has
| earned an exceptional discredit by voting for
| investigating the eligibility Of an elector in
| Florida and against 1t in Louisiana. so as 70
| apply 10 the case of Oregon, and thus elect
| Hayes.
In closing the doors against all evidence by
| which the frauds. forgeries. bribery. and other
| crimes in Florida and Louisiana might he
| brought TO light. the Republican Commission
crs have virtually admitted their existence AMI
! their fear 10 confront an exposure which would
| have demonstrated that all this iniduity was
concoctcd by Chandler and his confcdornt s..
! after the 9TH OF November. Their carpet ba,
Instruments in Florida. South Carolina. and
louisiana had Professionally prepared for such
d'phtlu-enry, ana Wncn lns siSnal WAS gwen
from New York. that If each OF the States would
do their duty was expeted. Hayes would
| have 1856 votes and be elected. 1t was perfectly
| understood and the manipulation commenced
| forthwith.
While the Louisiana case was under discus
sion. chiefs Of the Railroad Rings. who have vast
| interests now pending in both Houses of Con-
| grcss. were in Washington, and are said T.
have offered 10 give Tilden tho advantage. by
throwing that vote out If his friends would
| support their schemes. They claim to own
| three members of the commission. one of whom
| was sufficient to turn the scale. The bride was
spurned. and then this power was concentrated
on those who had felt It's influence before, and.
like slaves. are held in degrading subsection to
a will that eNacts the pound OF flesh wherever
its interests are at stake.
In striking down. without u show OF justice,
the rights Of Tildcn. these thrcc Judges of the
Supreme Court who votod all the time against
| bringing out the fats. or trying the case upon
| whichrhey are members from which II cannot
| recover while they occupy seats on the bench
Tho Supreme Court is dishonored and branded