New-York tribune., 1878-07-24
CERTAIN ELECTION EDITORIALS.
RULERS CURIOSITY To KNOW WHO WROTE THEM
SENATOR MATTHEWS NOT THEIR AUTHOR.

ptftIRn's CURIOSITY To KNOW WHO WROTE THEM
SENATOR MATTHEWS NOT THEIR AUTHOR.
mr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-In a Washington dis
match published in The TRIBUNE yesterday morn
ing allusion was made to General Buffers inten-
tion TO subpoena the Editor of The National Rcpab-
Jicou of this city for the purpose of learning the
authorship of a series of editorial articles
pubished in that paper durrg the progress of the
electoral count aud continuing for weeks after
the Inauguration of President Hayes These
editorials wero ably written, and were apparently
the work of some person of legal attanments. They
combated the opinion, then generally prevalent,
that IL was impossible to cOncede the election OF
the Democratic candidates TO State Offices IN South
Carolina and Louisiana without also coneeding the
election of the Democratic National ticket; and
they took the ground that both Hampton and
Nichols were elected, while at the same time the
electoral votes of tho two States rghtfully be-
louged 20 Hayes aud Wheeler.
The principal article of the series was published
ON the morning of the day ON which it became ap-
parent that the projects of the hhbusters were
destined TO fail; and 1t has been asserted that the
a,ticle in question contributed to some extent in
producing that failure. BY its tone OF semi
authority, 1t gave rise to supposition in some
quarters that il was inspired by Governor Hayes or
by some one who represented him and those who
beeyed this held ii to be virtual promise that If he
wos inaugurated Ire would recognize both Hampton
and Nichols as the rightfuly elected Governors OF
their respective States. In subsequent articles
from the same pen notably one published on March
10. entitled "The Dual Governments" the policy
which has since been pursued By the President with
regard TO Southern affairs was foreshadowed quite
closely.
These articles were perhaps no more remarkable
than were the leading editorials on the same sub
ieets of many other journals at that time but the
paper in which they appeared was supposed by
many TO be the personal organ Of the Administra-
tion. and rumor had for some time connected the
name of Stanley Matthews quito prominently
with its editOrial management. hr. j. W. swords,
late business manager Of The Republican, asserts that
al Of the articles ia question were from the pen Of
Mr.. John S. Benson, gentleman who tor many
wears has been engaged in reporting for the
press and for the legal profession the
proeeedings Of the United States Supreme
Court Mr. Matthew's connection with the
articles was limited 10 a single interview
with the Editor of The Republican on the
evening before the publication of the article which
TO have contributed to the failure the
proiects of the lbnsters On that evening, IN COM
many with Governor DcnRisoB, of Ohio,
Mr.. Ma tthews called at the Office of The
R,pablieaR and made some suggestions, which were
snhsemently repeated to Mr.. Benson, and by him
were made the basis OF an editorial which appeared
| the next day. Mr.. swords asserts that during DIS
| Connection with the paper Mr. Matthews did not
contribute single hne TO Its columns, and, Win the