New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-04
WHA7WE DO OWE THE POTTER COMMITTEE

WHAT WE DO OWE THE POTTER COMMITTEE
Let us not be unjust to the Potter Com
mittee. 1t has really done a great thing for
the country in setting us right in the eyes OF
the world. We have not had heretofore the
credit that actually belongs. to us as
versatile and inventive people. The
nations of the Old World have known us
chiefly by the reputation of the Father of his
Country and the limitations under which he
labored 1t was bruited abroad at a very
early period in our history that our great
Revolutionary leader could not tell lie.
Though he stood well in pious circles on ac-
count of this phenomenal quality, it is quite
certain that among dlplOmatists and
cOurtiers he was rather at a discount.
We have, however, got along very cOmforta-
bly, as a Nation, notwithstanding this draw
back; and in various ways, not essential now
10 recite, managed to turn an honest penny
through the reputation which the great Wash
ingtOn was the means OF giving Us. The Old
World knows us principally as a people who
cannot tell q lie. There has been an earnest
endeavOr on the part of many enterpris-
ing and philosophical citizens to do away
with this not wholly warranted impression.
some nave ROnC dDlOdu anu uNNbbtu thtm-
selves to the duty of enlightenng public opin-
ion in Europe upon the subject, 10y demon
strating in their own persons something of the
capacity of American citizens to do what the
Pater Patria confessed, as he flung bis Ratchet
at casual cat, that he could not do.
Others have contributed TO newspapers
and current literature the strongest possible
proofs in the same direction, while railroad
companies, townships, counties and even State
governments have gone so far as to have
proofs of it engraved and sent abroad with
coupons attached, and every precaution taken
to convince the incredulous semi-annualy.
Still, they are so slow getting at things on
the other side of the water that the delusiOn
has prevailed very generally that we could
not if we tried ever so hard, tell lie. This
has been going on now for more than CEN
tury, and, if we would take our place among
the nations of the earth, ought to be stopped.
1t is a reflection upon our intellectual re-
sources and a libel on our ingenuity. The
Potter Committee has at least put an
end to that delusiOn. 1t has not discovered
anything in particular that it went after, but
that is of small consequence compared with
the great public service it has rendered in set
JlnH us IlSHJ WHICH
that Committee struck into Louisiana
politics and began to turn up the
red-headed liars of the period, it just
showed to the world that, notwithstand-
ing the heavy handicapping we have had in
the reputation saddled upon us in a moment
of inadvertence by one of Washington's biog-
raphers we are not unequal to class of ly-
ing and a continuity of it which would reflect
credit upon the very highest circles of diplO-
macy. 1t has been said that we have
no school of diplomacy, and consequently
no dlplOmatists. Let any one read
the testimony of the Red Headed
Avenger, or the Night Editor at Bay, and OBJ
serve through what course of instruction he
educated himself for a consulship in a warm
climate; then say, if he can, that we have
no school of diplomacy. Then let him pass
slowly in review the testimony of the Jenkses
and Weber and the Pinkston woman-in
short the whole array that comes up from both
louisiana and Florida-and say whether upon
the whole we cannot as a people produce
some of the biggest liars in the universe, and
in the greatest abundance.
So much then is settled. The past at least
is secure. The President has not been I'M
seated. Secretary Sherman and Minister Noyes
have not been impeached. No fraud has been
discovered except in the mouths of monu-
mental liars, and even Mr.. Butler has failed
to besmirch the persons whom he started out
to throw mud at. But what though all
these enterprises have failed-we have
developed a capacity for lying and O
nest of liars which, through all the second