The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-03

The vague. halting and eve regret 70 DO
com PEELED 10 use so strong a word) shutting
testimony of Secretary sherman before tho
Potter Committee ON Saturday produces
painful impression. 1t Is not 80 much the
contents Of tho alleged letter that excites
this feeling OF doubt and distrust as the
previous defiant declarations 81 Mr. Shsr-
man. He stated, not long since. 70 the
special correspondent Of the HrEALD In
Washington in language as positise end
emphatic as it was possible for cut
ragged innocence 10 employ. that ~
such o letter az he was accused 81
writing existed Mt all IL Is a forgery and
fraud He based this emphatic and dci-
ant disclaimer on his clear and positive rec
objection that he had never written any let
ter at all to persons connected with the Lou
isiana returns. Now, IL that statement
made to our special correspondent at wash
ington was true il is amazing that Mr.. Shcr-
man did not repeat it with the Same strong
emphasis in his testimony before the coia-
mittec. Why did he halt and shuttle In
matter wherein his unsworn statements had
We will not now discuss the question
whether the alleged letter, IL genuine. j.
consistent with Mr. Sherman = innocence IL
his wholesale denial 20 our correspondent
were not SO recent and so pointed the DRIFT
and bearing Of the alleged letter would
afford occasion for candid construction; but
his sweeping denial that he ever wrote any
letter at MI astounds and perploxos us. We
are justified in complaining that Mr.. sher-
man has not been square with the HrIALn.
Regarding him as man OF honor, We ac-
cepted his denial with iull belief, and on
the strength of it we asserted, without hoSi-
tation, our impression that the democrats
would be disappointed when they came 10
close quarters with their witnesses. Be-
lievipg ON Mr.. Shermans strong asseyora-
tions that the alleged letter was down
right forgery, and knowing that this was one
Of the main points toward which the in
quiry was to be directed, we inclined TO
Judge the cargo by this sample. Our faith
is shaken by tho failure Of Mr.. Sherman 10
repeat before the committee what he had
said with such sweeping breadth of state
ment to our correspondent. If it be true
that he never wrote any letter at all and
that the pretended letter is a malignant
forgery, why did he not swear it before the
committee with the same emphasis that he
asserted it to our correspondent? Was he
afraid that he might be confronted and
confounded with the original? As If
laying the foundation for. different
line Of defence, Mr.. Sherman swears
that there are things in the alleged letter
which he would have been warranted in
writing. If the letter is a forgery, if he
never wrote any letter at oil, what interest
has he in defending or justifying its con-
tents?
In spite of this ugly look we sincerely
hope that Mr.. Sherman will be able make
complete vindication. In view of his ex-
cellent management of the national finances
within the last six months we should re-
gard it as public misfortune for him to be
struck down on such charge rs is now
made against him. 1t is not so much the
contents of the letter as the painful
contrast between his previous statements
and his testimony that excites our doubts
and apprehensions. 1t looks too much
as if he had attempted game Of bluff 1t
is difficult to reconcile his recent tone of de-
fiance and his absolute denials with the
s'bated breath" with which he delivered his
testimony, and his attempts to justify the
contents of a letter which he had so strongly
denounced rs an absolute forgery. Sus-
picious rs these appearances are we never
tholcss hope that the progress of the inves-
tigation will fully vindicate Mr.. Sherman.
But whether Mr.. Sherman survives or
pcrishes wo do not see that President
Hayes has anything to fear. His title rests
upon the authoritative decision Of the
Forty-fourth Congress-, which no subse-
quent Congress has any power to review.
The constitution makes the Congress which
is in existence at the time Of Presidential
count the deciding power as 10 an election,
and confers upon no subsequent Congress
authority to review its decision. Ii frauds
we're committed the perpetrators and ac-
completes are liable to punishment and dis
grace, but there is no more power TO reverse
the decision than there is to put man on
trial n second time after an acquittal on
proof that the jury had been tempered with
Was IL Suicides
1t is to be regretted that there has been