The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-28
THE FRAUD TNVEs TON
why and How Certain Democrat. Oppose

the country ought 10 be made aware Of the in
fluences that have boon brought to bear here by
certain prominent members OF thoir party TO
prevent a thorough investigation OF tho great
Fraud Even now. though tho House has APP
pointed the Potter Committee, some Of these
Democratic magnates are ready to employ all art
full devices and powerful appliances to ombar-
rass tho investigation while il is going forward.
and to call halt ere II reaches logical conclu-
sion. In truth, except for the bold course Of THE
Sun and a few other journals. and the unap-
peasabe determination OF some ten or n dozen
earnest members of Congress on the appearance
of the McLin confession, the Potter resolution
would not have been introduced or passed
These prominent Democrats oppose the in
vestigation from varlous standpoints. All the
candidates for the Presidency who are in the
Senate and House. or are represented there by
their next friends have tried to prevent the
investigation because they think the agitation
may result in tho denomination OF Tildon In
1891 There are dozen OF these and until a
keen observer has closely watched thom. he is
not aware how much they have done to debauch
opinion on this question especially in the Dem
ocratic party These aspirants. whether speak
ing in person or by proxy arc sly. but none the
less sure in their outgivings. or those in the
Senate. Thurman is the most plausible. Bayard
the most secretive while Mcdonald. who is the
attorney in fact Of Hendricks. IL the most frank
Neither of these Senators will enhance Tiden's
chances. or disturb Hayos's title. IL he can avoid
IT, Then there is Speaker Randall-no one
seems able TO tell whether he is a candidate for
President or not. nor what will be his ultimate
course concerning the Potter inquiry since the
adoption OF the treacherous resolution OF the
Pennsylvania Convention. That resolution was
mined in part at him. and he IL stunned by the
blow. He is flexible and may bow to 1t as tho
mandate Of the Keystone Democracy. and per-
haps. like tho resolution ITSELF try to split the
difference between God and the devil by seek
ing the second place on "a Presidential ticket
with Western head.
Outside Of the Capitol stand the conspicuous
figures OF Mcclellan and Hancock. Like Hen
bricks. each has his attorneys in tho Senate and
House. all Of whom shake their heads at tho
pending investigation. and will try 10 turn aside
its current from dashing angrily against the
Executive Mansion and the Treasury Depart
ment.
The selfish motives that inspire these eandi-
dates for the Prcsidencyare akin to those which
impe many others to seek the Vice Presidency
There is formidable squad OF this class in
Congress. They call loudly for now ticket in
1880. and seem to apprehend that n complete
investigation may break up their programme.
In certain contingencies. Herman OF New York.
Randolph Of New Jersey. Mcdonald OF Indiana
and Wallace Of Pennsylvania. among the North
ern and Western Senators. and Lamar and
Ransom. among the Southern. may be found in
the field two years hence. searching for tho
second place on a ticket which is not headed By
Samuel J. Tilden. Tue House furnishes its full
quota of politicians who fancy they would adorn
the seat once filled by jefferson Clinton and
Calhoun. We cannot help smiling at the airs
they put on. As Micawber believed the wool
sack would some day turn up as his resting
place, so they expect in the Sweet Bye and
Bye. TO drop into the chair that Wheeler stole
from Hendricks Besides those ON the floor OF
the two Houses. there are not n few Democrats
outside OF Congress who have fixed an eager
eye on the Vice Presidency. and make their in
fiucncc felt in Washington through agents on
the ground. Wade Hampton is a choice speci-
men oi this peculiar brand Of politicians. His
name frequently crops out ~ the minor factor
in a combination ticketthat we are conndcntially
told will be wonderfully potent
Some Of these gentlemen may deny that they
are hostile 10 full investigation OF the frauds.
They may mildly assert their readiness to fol-
low the facts to their logical consequences. But
when an earnest Democrat is in their presence.
the atmo- phere they shed freezes him to the
bono. The major part OF them take the ground
of tlN Penn. ylVuuil rf-Ifllfftu and ,CtuII
content with exposing the minor thieves who
stole the goods. but resist all efforts 10 disturb
the title 90 the property Of the great rascals.
who. with open eyes. received the plumber. and
are now rioting upon it.
These asprants 10 the Democratic nominal
tious for tho Presidency AMI Vice-Presldcncy
IN $3.50 are formidable obstacles in the path Of
the Potter Committee They must o.. got out Of
the way The effective method for clearing the
track is 10 show the Democratic masses where
these gentlemen are standing. Let the people
speak TO them
Others who call themselves Demo,r take
holder ground in favor Of the usurpcr in the
White House than these slaves OF ambition.
refer to the men who made the bargains at
New Orleans at Tallahassee. at Columbia. and
at Washington. whereby the conspiracy for
cheating Tilden out OF the Presidency
summated. Tho head Of thcuo apos-
tntes to principle is Alexander II. Ste
phons. He is the 1T leader OF such Democrats
as Gordon and Gibson in Congress. and Hamp-
ton and Nichols beyond its walls. All OF this
class wish to sit, like nightmare. upon tho
investigation Some OF them. who voted for
the Potter resolution, openly declare that they
cast their votes with extreme reluctance, and
only as a temporary makeshit. 1t is not quito
clear whether these slippery and unstable
Democrats belong to Hayes, or Hayes belongs
10 them. There seems to be no nationality in
their politics. They measure the nature of
everything 10y nm exclusively Southern stand
ard. Mr.. stephens. their mouthpieae recently
said that the South had got Just IA much out of
Hayes as they would have got ont Of rildcn. and
| therefore his people were content with Hayes.
and opposed TO disputng his title or disturbing
| his equanimity, 1t docs not occur TO him that
there is North as we'll rs South. that
| we live under Constitutional Government or
that man who WAS legally elected TO the Presi-
| dcney has any better title to tho office than a
man who was not provided the usurper dis