Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-26
Il WILY WOMAN.

The testimony of Mrs. jerks before the
Potter committee is suggestive of theories,
and theories only, as to the authorship of the
Sherman letter. Those who have closely |
analyzed her evidence must have been struck
with the fact that she is playing part, and
that she has learned her role SO perfectly
that there is little hope that the committee
can succeed in eaiciting from her any facts
other than those she has already given. She
is an adroit, shrewd woman, perfectly coached
by Sherman and his counsel, and succeeds
in parrying every thrust of her examiners
with dexterity that marks her as one of
the Bhrewdest of her sex. The trivial man
ner in which she treats the gravest subjects
stamps her also as woman entirely destitute
of conscience, ready to prevaricate whenever
it will suit her purpose, but preferring to
evade, or absolutely refuse to answer ques-
tions that would serve to clear up the mys
terry surrounding the Louisiana iniquity.
The theory that John Sherman was in re-
atty the author of the letter about which
there is so much controversy, is not dis
proved by Mrs. Jenks' testimony, even ad-
hitting that she has sworn to the truth. She
may have dictated the language, as she
claims to have done, and Sherman may
have approved the letter and
signed it. Nothing has been stated
that disproves the superstition that in so
| doing she acted US the amanuensis of Sher-
man. 1t is, besides, a reason able suppo-
sition. Being the ambassadress of Weber
and Anderson, it would have been quite nat
ural that he should inquire of her what sort
of guaranty they required, and to ask her
to dictate it. Her care to avoid calling it a
forged document during her whole testi-
mony also lends an air of probability to the
supposition. She may speak the truth IN
this respect, but she certainly does not speak
the whole truth, and on this account is as
palpably guilty of perjury as if she deiber
ately falsifed as to the whole matter.
Another point as to her connection will
this business should not be overlooked: a.
her letter in which she states that "Ander
son may be sure he will never get the Sher
man letter or any other papers he deems O
value'' When she penned this there is NJ
doubt she wrote by the card, herself having
obtained possession of the documents. Sh
saw their value, and knew that she could U.s.
them as lever upon Sherman and the ad
ministration as we'll as Anderson, and vastl
more to her own profit. She had had a pre-
vious experience in Washington politics
knew their devious ways and fully under
stood how to use the power the letters CAV
her. She was cheek by jowl with Kellogg
and entered into an arrangement with hir
whereby he was given seat in the Senate
the evidence pointing very directly to tn
letters in her possession as the means EN-
ployed to attain that end. TO use her OW
expression, eff he had been
Feejee islander he would hay
been seated all the same.'' The power
that be could not afford to defy this woma
for fear of provoking full exposure of a
the transactions 50 seriously cempromisin
them.
There is little hope that the committee wi
be able to get any more out of Mrs. Jen]
than she has already told. She is fully con
v mitted to the cause of Sherman, and will {
vulge nothing that will any further compr
9 mise him. She will tell only what can
+ proved by other witnesses, forbearing to i
troduce any fresh facts. The commit
possesses no power to compel her to tell wh
she knows, OF to punish her contumacy. 81
+ is entirely dead to every sense of moral I
y sponsibility, and tells lie with as mu
q sang f'oid as if she was relating little
g cial gossip. From woman afflicted wi
such moral obliquity little of practical bene
1t to theinvesti cation in hand need be expecte
l. --