The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-28
..TEEE POTTER pOST-MORTENH.', -,


The proceedings attending the presenta-
ton, adoption, and operations under the
Potter resolution in Congress, directing
investigation of alleged frauds in the
electoral votes Of Florida and Louisiana,
have been, throughout, Of such a nature
as to be forcibly suggestive of a "Coro-
ner's inquest" When human being
comes to his death in some sudden, I'M
usual, or mysterious manner, an inyesti-
CATION may be ordered to determine the
cause of death, whether by suicide, homi-
eide, or "by the visitation of God" Such
seems to be about the purport of the Pot
ter investigation just now 50 much talked,
written and scolded about.
That the examination is to be in the
nature of post-m0rtem is avowed by its
most Jealous friends and promoters; for
they pointedly and publicly proclaim
that the investigation is not intended to
resuscitate the dead issue of the Presi-
Dental title, but is merely to be an in
quest held over its remains in order to
know, you know, how the political catas-
trophe in those two States came to pass
whether by suicide, homicide, or by the
visitation Of" statesmen" The con-
spicuity given to Noyes and Sherman by
the terms and tenor of the resolution
indicates living faith in the Potter
mind that those visiting statesmen" will
be found to have constituted the special
Providence whose visitation" produced
the electoral disaster over which an in
quest is soon to be held, and that Hayes
now enjoys the ''usufruct" of that vista.
ton.
Prosecuted for such innocent purpose
as now avowed, this post-mortem exam
ination may, we presume, be made highly
instructive to Congressional students Of
political pathology, and may teach then
how to treat such abnormal cases he?eaf
ter, but without affording any possible re
lief to the present case of a contested
Presidency. Under this presentation ot
the proceeding, it is clear that the whole
is intended to be prosecuted merely II
the cause of abstract science, and for the
satisfaction Of those curious in questions
relating to political legerdemain.
In order to promote this scientific pur
pose and make its developments com
plete, certain members of Congress Pro
posed, by an amendment to the Potte
resolution, to extend this post t-mortem tx
animation 50 as to include the whole body
of electoral fraud, and not limit the in
quiry to only two organs of that moribunt
system. To this the Potter-ing school de
cidedly objected. They would examine
only the liver and kidneys, i, e., thu
Operative portions as they called them
of this body of fraud. Consequently the
important organs Of nutrition, circula
tion, respiration, and volition, the stom
ach, the heart, the lungs, the brain o
this abnormal monstrosity are not to bt
included in this post-mortem inquest
This omission is much to be regretted a
causing material loss to the science o
political pathology, in behalf of whicl
this forthcoming exhumati0n and inques
are instituted and ordered.
BY many very prudent persons Oh
either side of politics this whole proceed
ing is severely condemned as being likcl.
to stirup stencil needlessIy and unproft
ably. We think this objection well taken
But then post-mortem examinations, es
pecially after long delay and in tn
climates of Florida and Louisiana, and il
dog-days too, are apt to be productiv
of indicate odors. We can not pre-
sumo that this present inquest will b
found an exception in that regard. Bu
then it is the special and peculiar bus