New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-02
MP POTTER ON TELL.

Democratic members of the Investigating
Committee, and Democratic newspapers, evil
IDENTIFY mean 10 claim that some proof has
been obtained Of participation in fraud by
Secretary Sherman and Minister Noyes. IL is
easy TO believe this. The Democratic party
has been in the habit of running itself, ever
since the first outbreak in Kansas, by out
rageOusly impudent pretences. All ITS bad
ness, ut its worst, would have gained more
votes, and rightly. than the scandalous pre-
texts usually offered. The party has lost
much, because It's aims were unpatrotic but
it has lost more because its methods were
dishoDorable.
Secretary Sherman and Minister Noyes were
assailed by name in a formal resolution
adopted by the House In support of the
charge against Mr.. Sherman it has been sworn,
by confessed perjurer, that Mr.. Sherman
promised him assistance if he made false afii-
davits to support the Republican cause,
though he never asked the performance of
that promise that letter, purporting to be
from Mr.. Sherman, was shown TO him by
Webber, in which protection was promised
for doing his duty, and that warm re-
commentators were obtained from that poit-
zeal innocent, Senator Matthews, which, how
ever, were of no avail with President Hayes,
and were never offered TO Secretary Sher-
man. And this is absolutely the Alpha and
Omega of evidence as to completely of Mr..
Sherman in any fraud, while he swears that
he never wrote any such letter as is described
and a woman swears that she did write such
letter, signing the name of Mr.. Sherman
without his knowledge, and did give it to
w T. 10 bon 10 hal h. nh,
peats the accusation against Mr.. Sherman, in
the face of such evidence as this, marks him
self as a slandererf
AS to Minister Noyes, the case is even
worse. Not single witness, be he confessed
peIiurer or any other, testifies TO anything af-
fecting the integrity of Mr.. NOyes. and the
very witness, McLin, chiefly relied upon by
Democrats to inculpate the Minister, admits
that he never had any interview with Mr.
NOyes on the subject, and his only cOrrespOn-
dence was subsequent to the decision of the
case by McLin and his associates of the Re-
turning Board, and, being produced, is found
entirely credItable TO Mr.. Noyes. Not frag-
ment of evidence is given by anybody else
affecting him, while his testimony is clear,
frank, straightforward, and completely vindi-
Gates him. Yet, under these circumstances,
can man accuse Minister Noyes without
marking himself as n slandererf
We have said that this business is no longer
one of private interest. The reputation of n
Cabinet officer and a Minister at Paris must
of necessity be somewhat important TO Amer
leans. But the case has gone much further.
1t has become a question whether an honest
and decent investigation of charges against
high public officials is possible under a repub-
lican form Of government. The question has
drawn the attention Of reasonable men in
every civilized country. The unlimited bow
string, on suspicion only, is not worse than
the assassination of private character at the
beck Of party spirit. II IL has come to this. that