Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-16
THE av.s.T1Nc srATEsMEx,

While no one proposes to remove Hayes
from the public pillory in which he was
placed by the visiting statesmen, 1t is gener-
ally conceded that he is damaged by recent
disclosures, and that Sherman and Mathews,
his bowers, are disgraced. The New York
Times, whatever else it may be, is not fool,
nor can its worst enemy accuse it of indiffer-
ence to the Republican party or its welfare.
When, then. it declares, as it does in the fol-
lowing extract, that John Sherman has thus
far failed to meet the revelations made con-
corning him by the Potter committee, and
that Stanley Mathews has been placed In
most humiliating attitude, it cannot be &C
cused of playing into the hands of the DEM
ocrats. The Times says:
If Messrs Sherman and Mathews, in their
dealings with the investigating committee,
obey the dictates of their own Judgment, it
is clear that they have no adequate concep-
ton of the case they are respectively required
to meet, or of the impression that prevails in
regard to them. If they are guided by the
advice of others, they will p.rhaps discover
that professed friends are sometimes more
dangerous than open enemies. Considering
Mr.. Sherman's reputation for shrewdness,
his course is inexplicabe. His first defiant
letter was we'll enough. 1t sounded like the
outburst of an honest man, who, having been
uniustly aspersed, demanded an immediate
opportunity of indicating himself. His talk
with newspaper correspondents who called
upon him for information was of the same
character Very different, however, has been
his conduct since the committee opened the
proceedings. A damaging letter, bearing
his signature, was produced. The contents
were fairly susceptible of construction which
an honorable man would not like to have
placed upon his action. Mr.. Sherman's vim
dication depends upon his ability to explain
away the suspicious epistle or rid himself of
1t as forgery. Before the committee he did
neither. Instead OF denying the authorship,
he met the question with equivocations which
may not be incompatible with innocence, but
more naturally suggestive of embarrassed
guilt. The matter now stands as he left it
then.
The honest Republican press throughout
the country have been forced to admit that
the disclosures have disgraced Sherman and
Mathews, and had damaging effect upon
Hayes and all the visiting statesmen. The
Potter committee is bringing facts to light
which have never before been clearly shown,
however much their existence may have been
suspected, and it is demonstrating that the
job performed by the returning-hoard in
Louisiana, was not merely a gross piece of
villainy. but that it was participated in and
encouraged by men now In high public sta
ton who formerly had the confidence and
respect of the Republican party, and who
abused its trust in them to mislead them into
the approval of measures which it would
rather have lost thousand Presidencies than
have become responsible for had it known
the whole truth. The fact that this investi-
cation has thus brought to light things which
call forth such comments and acknowledge
ments as this from the leading Republican
paper of the country, is the best conceivable
evidence of the use of the investigation, and
it is high time that Republicans claiming to
be honest men were ceasing to de-
plore and depreciate the appointment
of the committee. The American peo-
pie are brave and strong enough to
look all facts in their own history in the face,
and they do net ask that for their comfort
truth shall be suppressed. Any one who as
sumes that they prefer the bliss of voluntary
ignorance TO the fullest exposure of the facts
in any matter does not comprehend their
character. They may feel a great deal of
disgust at the revelations now being made
but they are none the less willing to have
them made, and the best possible antidote to
the disquietude and distrust caused by the
events Of l876-77 will be such complete
exposure OF all the facts that everybody will
admit that there is nothing more concealed
or covered up. We doubt if congress can en-
gage in a better business than ascertaining
the truth, and we hope there will, between
the two houses, be a thoroughly impartial
exposure Of all the facts, LEI who may be
damaged, and the passage Of a rational bill
10 regulate the count, so that we shall have
no more such disputes as that preceding the
inauguration II Hayes.