Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-03-07
An Infamous spectacle.


A spasn Of common sense seems
to have lately overtaken Hayes and
his Cabinet. They have given up
the idea of attempting to interfere
with the trials Of the rogues of the
Returning Board. 1t
was high time that a CLEAN of SAN
ity should visit these men. Al
ready q memorable scandal has
been psrpetrated by John Sherman,
the Secretary of the United States
Treasury, writing his message CT
sympathy and condolences to con-
victed felon. There had been no
such incident in our--political his
tory a. that up to that time, and we
heartily hope there never will be
again. Gen. Anderson was tried,
under the exact forms of law exist
ing In Louisiana, for the crime of
forgery in connection with the Yer
non Parish returns. The language
of the Louisiana statute is precise
and it describes the offence with
unmistakable exactness. The old
common law definition of the crime
of forgery is the "making or utter
ing of any written instrument to
the prejudice of another's right"
The Louisiana statute-made long
before the present complications
arose-.applied this identical phrase
ology to the crime of tampering
with any election return OF that
State. The return which conveyed
the vote of the people of Vernon
parish was altered, by Anderson
and his associates, not only to the
prejudice of the people of Vernon
parish, but Of the people OF the
State of Louisiana and OF the
United States at large. Sufficient
scandal was committed by the adj
ministration in appointing Ander'
son to an office of high trust and
emulument before his arraignmeni
in felon's dock. The full meas
ure of the infamy was attained,
however, when, upon presentation
of overwhelming proof of his guilt,
he was found guilty of forgery by a
jury of his peeis, which contained
by the way, two colored men. The
telegram of sympathy with Ander'
son sent to that convicted malefac
tor by the Secretary Of the Treasu
ry can avail the culprit nothing
but it has power to sink Sherman
himself to depth of moral degra
dation to which no American pub
lie man has ever hitherto de
scended.
The attempt, by certain portion
OF the Republican press, to Civ
these trials the aspect Of politica
prosecution, is the farce OF the age
The Attorney General of the Stat'
of Louisiana who should, knowing
the facts, fail to institute prosecu
tions for the forgery and perjury
committed by these men, woul'
simply be guilty of compoundin!
felonies = an offence which
by the laws of most ua
tions, would be equal to thu
original crime in guilt and to which
precisely similar penalties arr
melted out.
The fact is that Sherman wa
particeps crimiitis in the guilt o
these men, and it was probably
necessary for him to exhibit some
demonstrative sympathy with
them to prevent their 'peach
Ing" upon their instigator
We are not without hop
that, moved by remorse, or by ven
geance at seeing their villainou
work miscarry as far as they them
selves are concerned, these mel
may make such disclosures of thu
part John Sherman performed in
the drama as will bring him to thu
felon's dock as alder and abetter o
the signal crime of the age;
crime which was not merely politi
cal because it was, in expires
terms, accomplished through tech
meal forgery and perjury. 1t viii
not distress US in the least to SCI
conspirators in high place com
PEELED either to stand their trial il
u New Orleans Court, or confess, b.
shielding themselves with process
of habeas corpus against a requisi
tion from Gov. Nichols, that the.
dare not face jury of twelve goo
men and true. We are not withou
hope that this melodramatio ant
inspiriting spectacle may yet be al
forded to the outraged people of tn
United States.
The SILVER Bill n signal Success