The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-13

Mr.. Sherman's reputation for shrewdness, |
his course is inexplicable. His first defiant |
letter was well enough. It sounded like |
the outburst of an honest man, who. having |
been uDjustly aspersed, demanded an i'm |
mediate opportunity of vindicating him.
SELF His talk with newspaper correspon-
dents who called upon him for information
was of the same character. Very different,
however, has been his conduct since the
committee opened the proceedings. Al
damaging letter, bearing his signature,
was produced. The contents were fairly
susceptible of a construction which an
honorable man would not like to have
placed upon his action. Mr.. Sherman's
vindication depends upon his ability to
explain away the suspicious epistle or to
rid himself of it as forgery. Before the
committee he did neither. Instead of
denying the authorship, he met the ques-
ton with equivocations which may not be
incompatible with Innocence, but are more
naturally suggestive of embarrassed guilt.
The matter stands now as he left it then.
He has, indeed, communicated second
time with the committee, but for what
purpose2 To convey the names of wit
nesses who" he says, will prove that
outrages and intimidation were perpetrated
upon white and black republican voters 10
Louisiana" and requesting that these
witnesses be called. We have no doubt
that plenty of witnesses can be obtained
to testify upon this point, and the commit
tee will convict itself of gross partisanshlp
if, before its labors end, facilities be DOT
afforded republicans for establishing their
version of the Louisiana election. But, in
the mean time, what most concerns Mr.,
Sherman is the justification, explanation,
or denial of the Gletter which stands upon
the records of the committee and is ac
cepted by the greater part of the com
munity as incompatible with the political
integrity of the visiting statesmen" and
his own purity Until this task be per-
| formed-until he clear himself of the bad
odor which the letter emits-he cannot
with propriety figure in the case.
AS Mr.. Stanley Matthews has been
doing foolish things ever since the friend
ship of Mr.. Hayes invested him with
political prominence, his letter to the
Potter committee will excite little surprise.
A public man who is incapable of CON-
pretending the extent to which his charac-
ter is shattered is not likely to be in q
| " IcSpOuO W q COuLlCUuS IC4uOSt
for explanations. Had the invitation
prescribed period or conditions at vari
ance with his senatorial duties he might
for the time, have declined compliance
This plea is unavailable. The committee
left him to consult his convenience. And
he informs the committee that he does moi
intend to appear at all! The manner IL
which he conveys the intimation is SO dis
ingenious, not to say false, and the reason
he assigns is so untenable, that the only
conclusion possible is that he shriHks from
an investigation not shaped to suit his owl
ends The senate. he says, has taker
Jurisdiction and entered upon the investi
cation requested" by himself and for tha
committee he reserves his explanation. |
every accused person could thus avade thu
tribunal having legitimate possession of {
case, the administration of justice would b
mockery. Tammany and Erie carried
that state of things to perfection wheI
they owned judges, aud contrived to havt
everything tried before them. Mr.
Matthews would fam follow the example
The senate committee bears no resemb
lance to the Tamman7 judiciary, but MIR
Matthews's attempt to make it the sol
custodian of matters that were previousl
in the hands of the house committee is a
impudent as anything done by Fisk an
Gould when the Erie frauds were at thei
height. Of course, Mr.. Matthews canno
escape thus easily. The subpea ordere,
on Saturday raises an issue which, in tn
interest of justice, admits of but on
solution. If he still have any discretion
he will obey the subpoena, and NEE
, however reluctantly, the investigation
which the documents bearing his signatur
render inevitable. If his fears get the bette
of his judgment, and impel him to plea
privilege" he will virtually confess b
f inability to endure the scrutiny of CON
/ mittee politically adverse, and the wor
q impression produced by his letters, and b
acknowledged relations with Anderson, wi
0 be confirmed