New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-27
UHO SAYS "CIPHERS"i

| There nav be those who still expect to see
some Democrat rise up in Congress and move
an investigation of the cipher dispatches.
| We remember to have seen it intimated some
time ago, in various quarters where 1t might
! br deemed somewhat authoritative, that at the
opening of the session one or more members
of the majority in the House would, with
| out a moments delay, introduce reSo-
luton ordering such an inquiry. 1t
was at one time a question whether the mat
| ter would not have to BIZ arranged beforehand
with Speaker Randall to reco nize some
| Democrat to whom this duty should be as
signed, before any misunderstanding Republi-
can could get in ahead with resolution OF
similar import. For it was said that, under
the circumstances, it would not do for
| the Democratic party to wait for the
! opposition to set on foot such an IN
| vestigation, or for the friends OF Mr.
| Tllden to give the slightest ground
| for suspicion that they did not welcome the
| fullest investigation and the "keen bright
"sunlight OF publicity" But up to this time
there has been no competition for the floor
and the Speakers recognition for this pur-
| pose. The Republican members of the House
either out OF regard for the feelings OF the
mOurners, or from a reasonable doubt, born OF
experience of past Investigations, OF the
ability Of any committee of the present House to
throw additional light on q subject which
TIE TRIBUNE has already illuminated-have
taken no step in the matter, and the Demo-
Gratis seem to have lost all interest IN 1t. They
are not rising up and demanding investiga-
ton with anything like the alacrity that was
expected. The precise point in the proceed
ings which should have been marked by the
| introduction of resolution on this sub
iect was accentuated by Mr.. Fernando Woods
| call for an investigation of the tyranny OF
| John |. Davenport. This was so tremendous
an undertaking that the initiation OF it ex-
hausted the energies of the party and the re-
sources of craftsmanship, and there was ap-
parently nothing left for investigating cipheTs.
We confess we are disappointed. That a
Congress which has shown such predilec-
ton for investigations, and that boasts OF
Glover, should fail to jump at this opportunity,
surprises us. Various reasons are assigned for
it. 1t is said that Mr.. Tiden's friends have
not moved in the matter for fear of injurlng
him, and that his enemies have not for fear
the result would be his vindicati0n. Mean
time the gentleman himself. the person per-
hans most concerned has not fully made up
his mind what the effect would be, and is
considering it with the same seriousness and
deliberaton that he gave his long delayed
letter of acceptance, leaving the respOn-
sibili.y for action or inactiOn-just where they
say he did during the tendency of the cleo
toral cOntest-upOn the party leaders in Con-
gress. The latest theory we have heard
preached, is that THE TRIBUNE does not
really desire an investigation, and the Demo-
cratic leaders have such an affection for this
| paper that they will not, under any circum-
stances, do anything to give it offence. We
should be guilty of the basest ingratitude not
to appreciate such consderate kindness, if
this theory were the true one. If it is a
fact, as was stated by some Democratic news
papers at the beginning of the cipher expo
sures, that no such dispatches Us those pub
lished and deciphered ever passed between the
persons to whom they have been attributed /;
or if, as asserted little later, the keys alleged
to have been discovered are in fact no true
KEYS, but false and malicious inventions; or
it, as still later asserted. the keys were not dis
covered by The TRIBUNE, but betrayed by some
of the coparceners, we ought TO feel under
| great obligations to the Democrats in Con-
gress for not exposing our duplicity and de-
ceit. And it is so like them to be c0nsiderate
of THE TRIBUNE, and to refuse to do anything
TO its prejudice, that we feel quite like thank
ing them IN advance, upon the assump-
ton that this theory is entirely correct.
And yet we beg to assure them and
the public that we have no interest that
we are now aware of in suppressng investi-
| CATION. On the contrary. we have harb0red
the hope that it might be taken up by COM
petent and authorized persons and pursued
With vigOr and thOroughness. The silence of
| Congress Oh the subject has disappointed Us.
| They all, with one accord, seem to avoid the
subject They pOunce upon Davenport /;
| they set nets in the Treasury Depart
ment they send subcommittee all over the
country they start Investigations wherever
there's the slightest thing to pique curiosity
but no man says CiphersW On all other
subjects the House is Babel on that it's a
| Quaker meeting. Is there no way to break the
| silencef Will not some one, when Congress re-
| assemblies, initiate the example of the worldly
minded person who rose up In Quaker
meeting with a mince pie balanced on his
hand and broke the stiffness with the remark,
"The man that speaks first gets the pie"
Young man, go thy way !" spoke mp a ven
cradle Friend. The PIE Is yOurs!" was the