The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-06-14
THE POTTER INVESTIGATION.
The field of inquiry is

The field of inquiry Is:
Finst-To ascertain how, by whom |
aud under what Inducements the re- |
turns Of election were fa.sified in Loui- |
SLAMS and Florida, and who held out
the Inducements.
second-Whether, at any stage OF
the proceedings, bargains were made
to facilitate the progress of the frauds
and to remove obstacles to Its accom-
plishment and If such bargains were
made, who were the parties to them,
and what was the consideration in
volved.
Third-Whether after the accom-
pliehment of the count and installation
OF Hayes, any Interference was had
with tile processes of Justice growing
out of the electoral frauds in Louisiana
or elsewhere, and il 50, who interfered,
what courts were tempered with, what
influences were brought to bear for
that purpose, and by whom and for
what consideration.
A number of witnesses have already
been examined, but James E. Ander-
son, the Supervisor of Registration of
East Feliciana, Is the strongest and
most important who has been or will
be put upon the stand. He is a terri
BILE witness, and II his testimony be
not true he is the most remarkable of
liars. His diary, an agreement or a
letter, always convenient for reference
or production, Is as appalling to his
adversaries as gratifying to his friends.
Quick witted, he never trips, and
avoids the cleverest of traps. He for
gets nothing that he has seen, read or
heard. He misplaces no writing and
confuses no facts. He was a most me-
thodical rascal. His mission was in
guilty he took to 1t as duty and dis
charged 1t faithfully. His services
were great and accomplished his
work. He expected a recompense and
claimed 1t as right. He secured a
strong Recommendation for favor. |
Enemies were numerous, logged his |
tracks, intercepted his way and delay |
ed If they did not secure denial of
hisSreward. He became indigna and
vindictive. The drift of his evidence
is damaging to Hayes, Sherman and
Matthews, to the Joy of the Democrats
and modification of the Republicans.
Astdi aNe,,ans 2oastem-hear the other |
side. Rebuttal will come in due !
course when those who win can laugh |
att li6ituns. Among the smartest men
In the country are on the other side,
and to expect to get away with them
without struggle Is to abuse our own
understandings. 1t should be borne in
mind that we are a peculiar people in
more than one respect Interest and
politics make strange bed-fellows, and
the scoundrelism of one party is the
patriotism of the other. Morals are
subordinated to success; the ends justi-
fy the means. If the disclosures can
not affect the title of the President, be
they ever 80 vile and wicked, what
will it all amount to? To smirch the
character of American statesmen has
not been of late any difficult task. 1t
has injured but few and does not seem
to have terrified many.
We fail to see what good Is to come
out of it. Impeachment is impossible,
a quo 'cz'raato proceeding impractical
Die and revolution the most senseless
of twaddle. The South can never adj
NIT the election of Hayes, but the
South cannot complain of his admins
tration thus far. The time for prevent
ing the wrong has past and that for
undoing it will never come. Granted,
we were sold out or outwitted in the
count, but being a party to it, it has
the force of the thing adjudged-"blacl<
has been made white and the crooked
straight
We confess, however, to a curiosity
to see the investigation continued, to
let all the disappointed pour out their
wrath and "deal damnatton round,"
although we know that it will be
nothing but horrible exhibition of
official corruption and private intrigue.
REMOVE THE TEMPTATION,