The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-31
Mr.. Potter's Secret Inquiry.


Mr.. Potter's secret Inquiry.
The resolution adopted by the Potter
committee to exclude the press and the
public and keep its proceedings secret is
in the same line of tactics which was pur-
sued in getting tho democratic members
Of the House to vote for the investigation.
The mass Of members were not trusted with
the inspection of documents or knowledge
of the proofs which were alleged to exist.
It was confidently asseverated by the cabal
which had the matter in charge that evil
dence of the most damning character had
been discovered and was in the hands Of the
cabal, and the votes of other democratic
members were demanded Oh blind faith in
those assertions. There is widely diffused
belief that the statements of the cabal were
reckless exaggerations for practising on the
credulity of democratic dupes and giving
color to the threats with which timorous
members desiring reelection were assailed.
They were piled with threats of ruin il they
refused to support the resolution, and told
that the evidence which had been accumu-
lated was so startling and irresistible
that after its disclosure no demo-
cratic member could stand up before
the voters of his district and justify him
self for opposing the measure. Nobody is
SO anxious and nervous us a member OF
Congress when the season approaches for
calling the party convention in his district.
Mr.. Potter quoted in his letter the piquant
saying that nothing is so timid as million
dollars except two million dollars While it
is true enough that capital is timid there is
something which is more pusillanimous than
either one or two millions, and that is the
mind Of an average member of Congress
who breads rivals and fears that he will be
supplanted in the nominating conven-
ton if he is found on the wrong
side of O new and exciting question.
Mr.. Tilden, with his usual craft, took adj
vantage of this weakness by bringing his
plot to head just at the point Of time
when the Congressman are anxious to go
home to manipulate their districts and
circumvent their rivals. Not trusted to in
spect the alleged evidence, and being COM
PEELED to act on sudden, the democratic
members succumbed to the exaggerated
statements of the Tilden cabal and to the
menaces conveyed to them through the
local press OF their districts by the procure
ment Of Mr.. Tilden's secret agents. The
success of this artfully contrived plot
in getting the Potter resolution through
the House leaves its victims sore and
dissatisfied, and the authors OF the plot dare
not let members see how egregiously they
have been practised upon by statements
which there were no facts to justify. In
deception and exaggeration would be too
quickly exposed. 1t is to be kept up in
order to control tho nominating conven-
tons, as it controlled the action of the
House in the hope of making Tilden's
claims tho dominant issue Of this years
canvass. If new House can be elected
with majority pledged to Mr.. Tildens po-
litical fortunes he will be at no loss to de-
wise further plan Of operations.
There is no valid reason why the Potter
investigation should be secret. 1t relates
to matter of general public interest Of
which the people at largo are the proper
Judges. 1t bears no resemblance to the in
quest of a grand jury, which is properly
secret, because if true bill is not found
inculpated parties ought not to suffer in
reputation. But it is not the purpose of
the Potter investigation to indict the perpc-
traitors of the alleged frauds. They are
offenders against State laws, and the federal
government has no jurisdiction to punish
them. The object of the Potter investi-
CATION is to procure evidence that
Mr.. Hayes was not elected. Such
an inquiry should be conducted in
the full light of publicity in order that the
people may judge of the evidence and SEQ
that no tricks are practiscd in cole ting it.
TO conceal the testimony while it is given
is too much like the srtifce practised on
the democratic members of Congress. Ii
the republicans on the Potter committee
have consented to secret investigation il
is because they are willing to give the demo-
cratic party oil the rope it needs to hang
itself.
splendid Display.
r. 10 ~ bn reoratted that the wenfhqr WIS.,