The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-17
Investigating the Fraud.

The work of investigating the criminal
processes by which the people of the Unite d
States were delrauded of their choice of a
President has at last begun in earnest in
Congress, and it should not be abandoned
until all who who were engaged in the COM
mission of the crime whether as principals
or accessories shall be brought to punish
ment A substantial basis for the resolution
of Mr.. Potter of New York was found in the
solemn memorial of the State of Mary and
and in the affidavit of member of the Flor
ida returning board. As Speaker Randall
was bound to decide, this resolution involv-
ed question OF the highest privilege. But
instead of fairly meeting the issue the re-
publican minority in Congress resorted to FL
clustering in order to cover fraud. Many
of them have admitted over and over again
in private conversation that Hayes is in
fraudulent occupancy of the PRESIDENT al
Office. Yet when confronted with simpl e
resolution which contemplates the investi-
CATION of the fraud aud making an enduring
official record OF it that it may stand in his
tory as warning they shrink away from the
issue. They dread the inquiry proposed in
this resolution because they have already
anticipated the revelations that will be made.
But the investigation will 60 on in spite of
their resistance it shall be ascertained
that John Sherman in Louisiana was in
completely with J. Madison Wells, advising
the commission of the frauds by viii ch the
electoral vote of that state was stolen, and
that Edward +. Noyes bargained with M'Lin
and Others in Florida, promising official re-
wards in behalf of Mr., Hayes in return for
the theft of electoral votes, another and more
! important issue will arise. But first let the
facts be ascertained and put them upon en-
during record. To that end let the investi-
cation of the frauds in Louisiana and
Florida be searching and thorough.
The republican opponents of this investi-
cation profess to entertain great fear that it
will interrupt the business and interfere with
the prosperity of the country. Their alar m
is unduly exaggerated. This fear of distur.
bing the business of the country is beco ming
rather threadbare as partisan pretext. Is
| it proposed to reform notorious and fragrant
abuses in the revenue system of the co untrv,
| at once those who are interested in main
tanning these abuses cry out in chorus against
disturbing the business of the country. AT
ter they have derived all the profit that is
possible from the abuses they will perhaps
consent that another generation shall inau-
gurate the necessary reforms. Is resolu-
ton introduced in congress to take notice of
the most astounding frauds upon the suffrage
upon the confession of some of the men who
officially participated in them the cry is re
peated that the prosperity of the country
will be imperlled by the investigation and
the agitation attending it. IT the prosperity
of the country cannot sustain such shock
it must rest on an exceedingly insecure foun-
dation. But the quietists dread agitation
much more on their own account than that
of the country, for whose business interests
they profess so much concern. They shrink
with undisguised alarm from an investiga-
ton which threatens to reveal to the world
the proof that Mr.. Hayes by offering official
ed in making the canvass of the electoral
votes in Florida was an active participant
in the frauds by which he was elevated to
the Presidency of the United States against
the consent of a great majority of the peo-
pie. As partisans they dread the exposure
Of the character of the services for which
John Sherman was made secretary of the
treasury and Edward f. Noyes was sent as
minister to France, with the work that was
performed and the rewards that were OBJ
tanned by the minor conspiraton in this
great drama of political crime. But the is
sue etween the two political parties on this
question has been made up by the action of
the house on Monday. In behalf of a wrong
mand an investigation of the electoral
crime and the exposure of all who were con-
cerned in it that it may serve as a warning
to political conspirators and knaves for all
time. The republicans in congress, on the
other hand, throw every obstacle in the way
of investigation in fear OF the partisan con-
sequences, while making hypocrtical pre-
tense Of alarm concerning the business inter-
ests OF the country. No country can pros
per nor deserves to prosper whose represen-
tatives have not the courage to probe to the
bottom a crime against the elective franchise
which saps the very foundation of the Polit-
ical institutions upon which all its material
prosperity must depend. The people will
decide between the two parties on this issue.
l-PdtriOt.