New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-16

unjust, but unwise in the last degree. No race
can persist in the effort to clyiize themselves
against such hopeless Encouragement.
--
There is a conspicuous lack of business capacity
among the Democrats in the House. They can talk,
after their fashion. forever and day, but when it
to the practical work of putting bills in shape
and getting them promptly passed, their deficiency
IN parliamentary skill is deplOrabe. In fact, their
whole manner of handling legislative business Is
characterized by n want Of industry. method and
knowledge 4 case in point is the appropriation for
the Paris Exhibition, which ought to have been
made month ago. but viii only be reported from the
committee to-day. Here Is ameasure which requires
no elaborate considerations The proposition is a sim
pie one and the for its adoption will occur to
any man of average intelligence after ten minutes re-
lection. The sentiment of Congress Is manifestly
Overwhelmingly in ITS favor. Except Mr. Cox,
whose disappointment about the Speakership makes
him contrary, no member has announced a DISPOSE
ton to oppose the measure. So little time remains
before the opening of the Exhibition that every day
is precious The loss Of fortnight cannot be made
up by the industry of the commission, but must
inevitably be detrimental to the excellence Of our
exhibit. Mr.. Eyarts has explained this clearly to
the House Committee Foreign Affairs, but still
i
same dilatoriness and spirit of IGisses aer which
characterizes all the dongs of the majority in the
House save on occasions when there is q chance TO
make a thrust at the currency or the public credit.
Then the Democrats become exceedingly lively.
The spectacle OF an ex-Congressman on trial for
forgery is 50 disgraceiul that were disposed to
hope that Mr.. l.. Cass Carpenter might be shown to
be a victim of political prejudice. and that the eyi
dence against HIM would be- capable of explanation.
The proof Of his guilt has turned out however to be
so conclusive as TO convince the six black Republic
car Jurors who sat upon the trial, as well as the six
white Democrats. Mr. Carpenter published the
party organ at Columbia, and was also concerned in
what was known, during the palmy days
of carpet-bag rule in South Carolina, as
the Republican Printing Company, which did
all the state printing at about five times the ordi-
nary trade rates. The newspaper and the printing
company drew enormous sums from the State trea-
sury Mr. Carpenter, it seems. not content
with his legitimate share OF the ilegtimate profits
of the two concerns, but in the habit of raising
his orders on the treasury forgers raise bank
checks After bill had been approved he altered
the figures The bill offered i'll evidence a orig
inally made out for 1920. and Carpenter~added
thousand dollars to the amount by skilfully pre-
fixing n figure one, so as to make 1t Sl,72O. Mr..
Carpenter is a carpet-bagger from New-Jersey. lie
served few months in Congress to fiji out the unex
pired term of Mr. Elliott. who resigned to accept
more lucrative State office.
Political tricks repeat themselves. and not seldom
i'm the same party. The same Democracy which
wanted to count out General Matt" Head in New
Hampshire, two years ago, because his name
Nathaniel and on various ballots ii
given rs "Natt.," now proposes, 1t is said,
to count out Judge Robertson in the IAth
Senatorial District on even a more flimsy
preteXt. Judge Robertson reversed a majority for
Tilden last year, of more than 5000 votes, and
fairly elected by a majority of over 200 votes But
because a few of the ballots contained
only his first initials. and not his first
name III full and because others lacked the
formal number on the back, enough to be
thrown out SO it is believed, to elect Mr. Lathers.
No more outrageous peryersiOn of vote was ever
attempted. Fortunately, there is Republi-
can majority in the Senate sufficient TO
verse this fraud, if it shall be consum-
mated and seat Judge Robertson This miserable
trick may occasion Judge Robertson some inconve-
nience and annoyance but it will do Mr.. Lathers
good. And we may be- permitted to doubt whether
the attempt to steal seat to which he was not
elected will commend the latter gentleman to the
honest public opinion Of the IXth Senatorial District
When the regular troops that had been employed
in defending property aud restoring peace in Penn