The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-20
The Potter Resolution-How the Game
Was Played.

Maryland memorial the HERALD procured
interviews with all the members Of Congress
then present in Washington. That mass OF
interviews attracted much attention, and
members made no complaint that they had
been unsupported. 1t will be recollected
that majority of six or seven to one, even
Of the democratic congressman, expressed
decided opposition to the purpose of the
Blair memorial and to any and all attempts
to reopen the Presidential question and
review the title of Mr.. Hayes And
yet these same gentlemen who pub
licly washed their hands of COM
plicity with any movement looking in
that direction, sustained Mr.. Potter during
the protracted deadlock of last week and
voted for his resolution. This remarkable
change Of front by SO many democratic
members is a political phenomenon which
excites curiosity and requires explanation.
Why has such multitude OF democratic
Congressman SO suddenly changed ground?
What has induced them to act against their
recent convictions on subject Of SO much
Importance?
Our alert correspondents in Washington
and elsewhere have got upon the trail OF
this mystery, and the facts they have
learned enable us to penetrate to the pith
Of the situation. The truth is that
systematic coercion has been practised
by Mr.. Tildens agents upon the demo-
cratic members. They were industriousy
threatened with the wrath of their constitu-
ents if they failed to toe the mark in this
investigation. If it be asked how there can
be any terror in such threats and what
power Mr.. Iilden has to execute them, it is
to be remembered that new Congressional
elections take place this year and that the
thoughts of members are occupied with
their chances Tor denomination. There is
hardly o man among them that has not an
aspiring democratic rival in his own
district who would gladly supplant
him. Mr.. Tilden's s'still hunt" has ex-
tended into all the districts, and in
most of them he had his man selected to
run against the present member if the latter
kicked against the Potter resolution. This
widespread scheme Of silent preparation
would not have been much regarded if a
cunning plan had not been concocted for
rend ering it effective. 1t was given out by
Mr.. Tllden's emissaries that the Florida
documents in the hands of his friends are
50 startling and SO absolutely overwhelming
that nothing will be able to stand against
them when they are published. These
formidable pieces of evidence have been
withhold from the inspection Of tho
threatened members. who have been
asked to accept the confident asser-
tons of Mr.. Tilden's agents # the
alleged proofs are as astounding and
damaging as the tools Of Mr.. Tilden assert
to their places, have an ineligible motive
Tor yielding to the threats. They were
placed in dilemma and forced to act on
contingency Of which they were not per-
mitted to judge. Had the alleged evidence
been submitted to their examination they
could have acted intelligently; but when
asked to accept it on trust they feared that
if they failed to vote MS required the next
days or the next weeks developments would
expose them to party censuro and destroy
their chances Of denomination. Being COM
PEELED to ego it blind" they chose what
they deemed the safer part. By voting for
the resolution they have foilcd the Tilden
''still hunt" against them in their own dis
tricts, and have less anxiety respecting
They have been misled by
bold and INSCRIPTIONS exaggerations relat-
ing to the evidence held in reserve which
they were no. permitted to see. Mr..
Tilden's agents refused to disclose it, be-
cause it docs not come up to their represent
tons, adroitly acting On the proverbial
omne ignot'tm pro nngnifco. Political imasi- |
nation goes to great lengths when much is
asserted and the proofs are left to conjcc-
ture. 1t IS by thus playing on the imagna-
ton and the fears Of democratic members
that they have been swayed from their real |
Judgment as expressed in the HERALD in
tcrvicws.
The Potter resolution having been thus
carried through by tissue of artful exag-
gerations intended to practise upon the |
fears Of members who are soon to appeal to
heir constituents, the actual investigation
IS likely to provc.a Jiasco. There is q great !
deal less evidence than has been repre- |
,ented. All that is real was given to the
public several weeks ago in the columns of
the HERALD AlcLins confession, which !
caused 30 much excitement ut first, has
iwindled into very small affair, like a
soap bubble which collapses into
lirty suds. When McLin is sum-
moned as . witness before tho Pot
ter committee he will be as ready to
testify to dem,cratic frauds in Florida as to
republican frauds, for since his so-called
he has proiessod large knowl-
edge Of both. Dennis has retreated to n
similar position, and the prospect is that no
will prove boomerang to the democrats
when he is called to testify. Besides McLin
and Dennis, whose evidence will pour