The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-11
The Great Question.

Opinion h rapidly crystallining ms to the
duty and the necessity of an invcatlga-
ton which shall bring In an authentic
and comprehensive form before Congress
and the country all the facts relating Go the
conduct ot the Returning Boards, and the
sinister Influences under which they opcr-
atcd. Also ~ To the a. -clctOn OF the final
count in the House Ga Representatives by
which Mr.. HAYES was declared President
over Mr.. TILDEN. who had been fairly
legally, aud consttutionally elected by the
people and by the electoral colleges.
Testimony can be obtained now, which
could not bc reached by any Of tho Congress
sionai committees while the Presidency was
held in suspense and while truth was 81
fenced 10y the promise or the expectation of
reward. The conspirators have quarrcllcd
among themselves. Faith has not been kept
with some OF the parties Ia the Fraud while
others have boon unduly paid or grabbed
the lions share The whole political situa-
ton is radically changed rs compared with
that which existed twelve months ago, when
the conspiracy to steal the Presidency was
In full operation.
This question Is in no proper sense party
one. 1t concerns the good name of the re-
public, and involves Il precedent which, once
established by passive acquicsccnoc, or by
eollusive agreement, may lead to its ruin
and overthrow. If successful Fraud shall
be- permitted to take place in our history
without cXhaustiug every proper means To
cxpunge It, the judgment Of impartial men
will bc that a people 80 Lost to the assertion
Of their rights were unfit for the enjoyment
of liberty. We know how the freedom OF the
old republics was stolen by corruption, 10y
bribery, and by bargains sS'h a. have re-
Gently been revived among us.
II IL an suspicious sign that the move
lent for searching inquiry, by disclosures
thut IKE it Indispensable, originated with
Republican politician of motto. who himself
Wa. a. - ..'>',i up with the proccedngH ~ "
speak by authority. Mr.. CHANDELIERS utter
aucce were based upon personal knowledge,
and therefore he is n most competent and
conclusive witness on the Republican side
On the Democratic side Mr.. MONTGOMERY
BLAIR has presented thcqueston compactly
and forcihly before the Mar land Lcsinla-
ture in memorial and speech which pro-
duccd much impression. He alleges that
the Fraud WAS cunsummatcd by body Of
men elected 10y one party, but openly acting
with their opponents IN the interest OF cor
tain railroad corporations at decisive
moments" In effect he charges that the
eunt WIS completed in the House 10y a bar
gain madc through the leading advocates
of bill thea pending in said House 60 grant
large subsidy to the TcxasPaciho Rail
road Company
How far this motive may have operated
on tie PARTIES to the alleged contract, is not
now easy to determines Mr.. BLAIR Is very
positive IA assuming it 60 have b"cn con
trolling reason. But when the power. the
PATRONAGE and tho offices of the Federal
Government, with five or xix hundtI u'l-
lions Of dollars 81 receipts and expenditures
year t. handle. are considered. IL Will hc
readily socn that the gamblers Were playing
Tor a much bigger rtpkr than the leNa--
Pacific JOB. though thar part Of the game
was probably never lost sight OF.
Whoever leads in the demand for q rigid
investigation, which shall include every
thing and every body concerned. without
prejudice or partialiiy, and without care
whether the exposure touches Republicans
or Democrats, will render great public
service rut the work must be- thorough
and leave no ground for future dispute.