Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-15
The Sham.


Two or three weeks ago McLin of Flor
ada made his confession. The Sun and S.
j. Tilden rejoiced and renewed their Ia
bors. We said at the time that we had no
sympathy with those who would deny the
fullest investigation. OF course the bust
ness interests of the county demand that a
presidential campaign be fought as seldom
AS once in four years, but the cries of
"Tilden elected but Hayes counted in :
have SO stirred the minds Of the masses of
the democracy that they want to go over
the contest of 1876 once more.
AS American citizens, if they have been
wronged they should have their remedy
though it cost the country largely directly,
and indirectly by disturbance of business
The honesty and purity of elections are
the rock foundation of our government
and are not 10 be tampered with.
So when it was reported that the pres'-
dental fight was to be invest gated we had
no objection either us matter of right o.
AS matter for political campaigns in the
future, recognizing the fact that the demo-
Gratis would regret the job they were be-
ginning before they got through with it.
For two weeks the democratic congress.
men have been warming their new found
egg and on Monday forgetting that the
usual period of incubation had not passed
-Clarkson Potter of New York introduce
ed II resolution that had been agreed on
providing for an investigation into frauds
In Louisiana and Florida. 1t was intro.
duced AS question of privilege and will
remain before the house until disposed of
Mr., Potter was very anxious about
purity oft ballot and all that, but would
not answer republican questions as 10
whether the resolution was intended to be
the beginning of movement to Dust Mr..
Hayes. He stood by the words of the
resolution. Then Hale of Maine offered
an amendment to the resolution which
would have extended the investigation 10
South Carolina, Mississippi and Oregon.
This was not what the democrats want
ed. They proposed to investigate Florida
and Louisiana and nothing more-that is,
to dig for what parts of the truth they
want and not for the whole truth. They
were assured that all the republ-
cans would go for investigation, and
that by committee controlled by demo-
Gratis, If they would only make the investi-
CATION general one into the frauds of the
1876 campaign. wherever and by whom
soever committed. This was an enter
tainment the Bannings and Springers of
the house did not propose to be self invited
tc,1nd they stuck to the original resolution
for partial overhauling only.
The republicans thereupon announced
that If the thing was simply intended to be
limited hunt, so constituted that no dem
ocratlc, fraud. if found, would be admitted
be Legitimate game. the democrats miont
go on and pass their resoluli ms them
selves. And the democrats who, by seat.
ing Deans and Pattersons who were moi
elected have worked up their majority in
the present house TO about twenty found
themselves staa ghtway in trouble.
They had no quorum of the house pres
enl OF their own party, and the republicans
quietly refralned from voting. call of
the house was then ordered and every
republican present answered to his name
which stopped all further proceedings
under the call. But whenever Potter tried
to do anything with his resolution the
republicans did not vote, and SO The demo-
crtls had to get AN adjournment to try if
they could get members Of their own party
IN sufficient number to make IL quorum
Meantime they refused the republican offer
to pass The resolution at once with an
amendment making it general
Yesterday there was very short session,
the democrats having been unable to get IL
quorum After the session they held II
caucus and alter mu h wrang Cling and dis
agreement in opinion, determined to
adhere to their original plan of " clo.e
communion investigation. So to-day
they are doubtless Ill it once more.
The conduct of the democrats shows
that it is not the truth they want but party
capital. Their party is the same old ticket
that it always has been and always will be !;
and the bummers it puts TO the front 50
mismanase things that the republicans
have very good chance to retrieve the
losses which they have sustained by hav-
ing TOO much management by bummers of
their own in the past. At present the
effort is to force sham investigation, and
the republican leaders well meet it by in
sstlng that it shall be real one.