Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-23
The Outrages in the South.

A " ashington special TO the Tribune dated the
18th says:
General Garfield has been greatly misrepresent-
ed in the reports that have gained currency in re-
gard to his position on the new Southern question
He has never criticised those republicans who
following the lead of Mr.. Blaine, have denounced
outrage and fraud in the Sonth and demanded an
inveslig alton of them. What he did do was to
declare in ubstance that the country would never
forgive the men VINO revived sectional issues after
they had once been settled by the Southern poll
cy OF President Hayes. Ia saying this he had in
mind the men who have revived those sectional
issues by resortng to fraud and violence in order
to carry elections, and not to those who insist
that such fraud and violence shall be exposed, and
that those who have been guilty of perpetrating
them be punished.
II may be sand here that there is no difference
of opinion among republicans in Congress in re-
gard to the wisdom of the inquiry set on foot by
Senator Baine's resolution; and all reports which
represent that there Is ,uch opposition, even
lukewai mDess Oh the subject, originate among
the dtm clais.
The iLdisposlion OF republican Senators to
serve upon The committee is a very natural one.
Several Senators who under ordinary cifcum-
stances would consent to become member. of the
committee, pave elections nv the lCgls.at oil
THEN States 10 look after within the tex few
weeks, and could hardly be expected to leopard
ne their chanc, Of being returned TO the Senate
by going 10 /, mote sections Of the South, where
il would be difficult to communicate with their
friends. Other senators have business of pub
lie nature upon their hands which will occupy the
most OF their time for the winter This is the
case with the members of the judiciary Commit
tee. ST. | others have made engagements for the
holiday recess which they cannot break without
great sacrifice. These are the reasons, aud not
dlsprova of the Investigation tsei, OF desire to
have 1t abandoned, that have made it difficult to
make up the republican part of the committee.
The Elections Investigating Committee, as
finally constituted to-day, is very strong one,
both in its ma ority and minority branches. The
Chairman, Mr.. Teller, though new in the Senate,
is very able lawyer, and persistent, push
Ing man. lie Is IN the habit OF going 10 the
bottom of any subject which he attacks. Mr..
kukwoOd 10 "A man of sound common sense and
marked ability. Mr.. Cameron (Wisconsin),
aud Mr.. Mcmillan aie well known for work
that they have pieviou-ly done IN the of in
vesilgation Their experience will he very valua.
bic to the committee. OF Mr.. Hoar nothing needs
to be said. His familiarity with Louisiana politics
and his acquaintance with the geography and peo-
pie of that State, make him emineDty fitted to
serve as chair.I an OF sub. committee to conduct
the inquiry into the recent occurrences there. Be-
sides all this, Mr.. Hoar's conl ageous AID indie
pendent action on former occasion, when he had
to examine into affair. 10 louisiana, will cause his
conclusions to be be received, even by democrats,
as entitled to he believed.
OF course no decision has yet been made by the
committee IN regard to the beginning of its work
OF the distribution of it. Messrs Hoar and Nc
MILAN have engagements during the holidays that
VIII prevent them from entering upon the work
that may be assigned to them until about the time
Congress- reassembles. The remainder of the
committee will probably begin the South Carolina
inquiry during the recess, aud it is possible that a
subcommittee may go to Charleston within the
next week. Much of the inves gation " i'll prob
ably be conducted here in Washington, as only a
small number of witnesses will probably have to
he examined, and II is about as expensive to ex
anime them at or near their homes a. here.