New-York tribune., 1878-07-06
4 FEW PLHIN POINTS.

Has the spirit of justice and fair play died
out in thjs country Surely candid mea VIII
feel that the question is of the highest impor-
tancc For after all that can be SAID OF the
excellence of various systems Of government,
Anglo-Saxon freedom rests in the end mainly
upon the public spirit Of Justice which makes
il impossible to govern country by Mexican,
or Spanish. or Turkish, or Russian methods.
Whenever it comes to pass that the appeal to
the public sense of justice no longer has
effect, we may well begin to doubt whether
Doru)ar forms or free institutions will long
suffice to preserve real freedom. But what
arc we to say in view Of the nature OF The
Investigation ordered by Congress, and the
manner in which that investigation has been
conducteG7 There has net been in tie whole
history of the country performance moro
indecent. more shameless, more TcpulsIYe to
the sense Of far play. What body OF citizens
can be expected 10 maintain anything worth
the name of self-governmcnt, who lock with
indifference upon the main features OF tins
astonishing performance? For let 1t be re-
mcmbC!Cd:
|. Common deccncy demanded that if any
Investigation Of the Presidential contest was
ordered, IL sloud be an impartial aud just
investigation of charges Of fraud on both
sides. But Congress disgraccd itself, and
branded its investigation at the outset as par
tisan and fraudulent, by refusing to order in
ouiry as to other charges of fraud than those
made by one party. This was confession
that the object was, not TO get at truth or to
serve justice, but to gather partial evidence
damaging to one political party.
II. Common decency required that such an
iDouiry, by the legislative body of a great ma
tioD. should not be based upon a lying and
! fraudulent statement of the end to be reached.
Bu, some men were induced to vote for this
nouirv by the assurance that it must cause
the removal of the President, while Others
were induced to vote for it 10y the assurance
that it would not be used to attack his title to
office. One or the other Of these assurances
was fraudulent. The inquiry is being used,
each day. to attack his title, and the
proof accumulates every day that the
inquiry was deliberately planned to lay
the foundation for revolutionary proceedings
and unconstitutional cnactmcnts, after the
coming Congressional elections Formal de-
mails of such a purpose are of no avail, be-
cause the inquiry is left each day more openly
avowed their determination to oust the Prcsi-
dent.
III. Common decency required that in such
An inquiry, at least an equal showing should
be given to those who had believed that the
election was not carried by fraud. and that
the Presidents title was good. But only four
members of the committee were selected nom
inaly from the Republican party and Of those
the most skilled in such matters is General
Butler, whose personal spite against men con-
nected with the Administration was expected
TO lead him, and actually does lead hlm to
take the part of chief manager for tie Demo
Gratis.
". Common decenCy required that, when a
Secretary had been formally accused of par
ticipation in fraud by resolution of the House,
full opportunity should be given him to meet
the charge and dispIOve it by evidence. That
opportunity he Immediately demanded. But
in dcfiauce OF the principles which are recog-
nized in every little court OF great court
in anv civilized land, his accusers bring
in all the evidence they can hire or nanufac-
ture against him, while he is refused an OppOr-
tunity TO produce proof that no fraud was per
petrated and that he had part i'll none. There
is not a justice of any court in Chnstendom
who would not be held to have disgraced him
self by such partiality, but it Is thought that
the American people Will not deem 1t disgrace
ful in a Congressional investigation aimed at
one of the highest officers OF the Nation.
V. Finally. witness is allowed, instead OF
answers 10 questions as to his personal know
ledge, to produce and read carefully cooked
document, and to refuse to answer questions