The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-07-12
WHOLE NO. 1916.
Correspondence Of the True Nor.herner.


WASHINGTON, D. c., June 29th, 1878.
During her testimony before the Potter
committee, Mrs. Agnes jerks has shown sub
lime heights OF elf-complscency, impudence
and WIT. She has kept General Butler waltz
ing three days out OF possible four, and she
has conducted herself like a sbrewd and
brilliant lawyer and he like clumsy and en-
barrsssed witness. She snstched MS questions
out OF his mouth before they were fairly utter
ed, and returned them to him like so many
boomerangs. always bringing peal OF laughter
as she boxed the red ears OF the August Com
mittee." This country has never before wit
messed Just such spectacle. Mrs. jerks told
just exactly what she pleased, and no more
that she dictated" the John Sherman" letter
that it pacifed Anderson; that Anderson,
whom Saturday she described as "a msgnifi--
cient and sublime scoundrel" was "good
enough-don't you say anything against hlm "
that she would not tel who wrote what she
dictated" she would lose her hand A-st She
has exhibited a nonchalance and readiness very
seldom exhibited on the witness stand, and sue
ceeced in bluhing and bantering Batlei I'll has
head swan. And II is odd that this female
type of the American politician Of The worst
sort, so agile, so lmpudent, so cross, 70 un-
scrupulous, SO alert and expert, 20 canning in
evasion and severe N repartee. quick a
streak Of lightning and with unlimited cheek
and lip is not an American at all, but an
Englishwoman, born in Glasgow about good
many years ago.
IL may be said Of al the oral evidence taken
as yet in the Louisiana investigation that II IL
untrustwortby. Anderson was not credible on
oath neither is Captain" jerks nor bis IL
teresting wife, Mrs. Agnes D. Jenks. Neither
will the estimsble Kellogg be when he comes to
be examined, nor Packard nor Pinchback, nor
any Of them. Nobody Of any party seriously
believes or has believed or would believe
word they say. Wien jerks con:rsdcts Ander-
SOD, but admits that he has long been his
intimate friend, it makes one laugh And 60
when Mr. jerks says she wrote :he so-called
Sherman letter, there is still as much doubt as
ever whether any such letter is or was ever IN
existence. No rational person spends minute
trying 10 reconcile their stories. II they had
produced no documents, the time spent on
them would have been wholly wasted. What
the investigation is doing IS not fastening guilt
on any person not hitherto suspected or re
vealing any haw in the Presidents title. but
letting the world know wha: + nd or people
they were who lad charge OF the State govern
mept and worked the political machine from
1868 to last year. To say that their manners
other, read like chapter Of jail-ysrd gossip
and that every one Of them ought to TO in the
penitentiary, is putting the case mildly. Ii is
no exaggeration to say that il Was an awful
thing to have left the government Of evil
lied community in such hands SO long aud
lamentable and alarming that the scamps
should have been able to palm themselves off
so long on good people Of our country as suffer-
ing friends Of the black man.
A statement that General Butler ls to go
home IN about two weeks, " to look after bis
political interests has set some Of the north
ern papers to discussing what lis political in
terests are, in view of his recent performances
in Congress and in the Potter committee. 1t
may be safely asserted that they are the inter
ests Of Ben. Butler-frst last, and al the time.
1t is hoped that Presden: Hayes will not
permit another OCCASION OF publicly rewarding
the testifying Anderson One @. the duties
most grateful to the mind OF eur Chief
Magistrate should be the selection OF citizens
most promently known for civic virtues and
for high moral worth, for the purpose OF dgni-
flying them with suitable positions IN the
public service, and as proper s..mulent TO
Presidential aspirations in the minds or Young
Americs. Unlike the late lamented George,
the present distinguished occupant OF the
White House has not spent bis precious hours
in the ignoble persecution Of the cherry tree
bv means OF the keen and aggressive Ratchet,
but has devoted himself exclusively TO the
onerous duties OF bis lofty ofics. doubt not
therefore. that the need of simple justice will
not long be Withheld from the distinguished
gentleman referred to, and that as soon as Mr..
Anderson is released from the guilesul rule of
Potter, some fitting place Of honor may be
found, which he may be gently urged to till and
ornament. One place he could certainly fill
with honor, the position of commissioner TO
administer oatbs, for which he is emnently
qualified having sworn 60 much. so often and
so vsriously. that he - lovs how it is HIM
SELF"