The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-26
Let us have the Truth.

The New York World, which, by the
way, is always eminently conservative in
its treatment of political topics, has habit
ually retralned from agitating the question |
Of inquiry into the title by which Mr.. |
Hayes holds the presidency. 1t was
among. the few who strongly objected TO
the constitution Of the Electoral Commits
sion by which his title to the Presidency
was conferred upon him, but it has always
claimed that after the Commission had
been once constituted and the matter
entrusted to its decision the right to ques-
ZION the title ceased. Since the publica-
ton in its columns of the reported inter
views between Senator Conkling and his
Utica interviewer it has. however, mani
Tested strong desire to have the subject
duly investigated by the House of Repre-
sentatIves, and the truth of the Senator
allegations of fraud By the Louisiana Re-
turning Board, and the completely of Hayes,
or his personal friends acting for him,
brought to light. 1t now insists upon the
House making an end one way or another,
at the earliest moment and in broad day
light, of the anxiety and alarm created in
the public mind by the publication of the
Senator'S utterances. It's remarks in this
connection are as follows:
The tenor of these confessions is too
serious to be sighted by any man who un-
derstands the Importance to the stability
Of our institutions of decent respect on
the part Of the people at large for the orr
gin of the authority which they are called
upon to obey.
Senator Conkling has confessed that he
knows the whole truth as to what passed
in Louisiana between the returning board
of that state and the visiting statesmen"
who represented the actual incumbent OF
the presidency in that state, and he says
that when this whole truth is known, il
will sink the ADMINISTRATION president
and all-in the lowest depths of infamy. y
This language surely cannot have been
used by senator of the United States
lightly, or iG reference to any of the acts
ct the administration of which the public
as yet has cOgnizance. The feeling it ex.
presses is one of loathing and contempt
not merely of disapproval or condemnation.
1t is a feeling which embodies itself in
Senator ConkliDg's references to the presi.
dent, as that man Hayes"-a phrase not
likely to be applied to an American presi
dent by an American senator unless he be.
lieved the conduct of the man to have de
prived the magistrate Of all claims ever
upon his official respect. We have the
testimony of Colonel Conkling TO the fact
that this way Of abiding to the president
Is habltual with his brother; and it is
simply just, therefore, to Senator Conkling
to assume that what he knows" about
the administration and the Louisiana mat
ter must be In the nature of positive evil
dence, establishing positively criminal
conduct on the part either of the president
directly, or of persons authoritatively rem
resentlng him In connection with tho
Louisiana matter. If the whole truth
on this subject is of nature when known,
as Senator Conkling assures us it is. to
SINK the northumberland and
al-into the lowest depths of infamv." il
is OF vital Importance to every man, woman
ana child III the country that this ''whcle
truth should be known at the earliest
possible moment. 1t matters NOTHING
whom this whole truth" will personally
benefit, or whom it will personally ruin
There can be nothing 80 mischievoul
10 the lasting interests of the coun
try as acquiescence iu the existence of al
administration of which leading senate
OF the party which called that administra
tion INTO being knows" things of such
nature that whenever what he knows !
gwen to the public it will sink that az
president and all-into tn
lowest depths Of infRmy." As a bod