New-York tribune., 1878-06-29

tbo vast difference between what they actually
did and what they advertised to do, 60 BACK
from the appropriation bills they passed at the
close of the session to some OF Mr. hahuali
speeches before the opening. How they fulfilled
their promises to reform the Civil Service Is
attested by the story with which the coun-
try is familiar, of their administration OF
the department of DOOrkeeper of the House,
with which they had been intrusted, and by
the records and accounts which have been un-
earthed by the unconscious Glover of their IN
vestlgating committees, with their long tails
of secretaries, experts and witnesses. Iheh
there Is the record of Glover himself and his
investigations. No one of all the Democratic
trumpeters sounded so high key or SO LOUD
and startling an opening note as be. 1t would
be hard for any of them to taper off to soinfin-
itesimal a point. He promised so much, and
repeated his promises so many times and Ill so
impressive a manner, and had always such
grotesque ill-luck in his frantic endeavors,
that Just to name him anywhere in public Is
to raise a grin.
And now here is the Potter investigation.
Consider for moment the contrast between
Mr.. Chairman Potter, sitting at the head OF
this committee, listening with weary
and disgusted look to Mr.. Buffers cross
examinations, and the Representative Pot
ter, who a few weeks ago startled the
country with the introduction OF resolu-
tions which promised the most astound-
ing revelations, threatened revolution,
and charged some of the highest oiii-
cials in the Government with crimes ana
mlsdemcanOrs which should subject them TO
impeachment. SO far as now appears, the
great movement that was to un-
cover fraud, vindcate Mr.. Tilden, un-
seat the President, convict Secretary
Sherman and Minister Noyes of bribery,
fraud, and subOrnatiOn of perjury, has Ia
pered Off to a small sguirt-gun, which MI
Butler has got hold of and is trying
to use for squirting dirty water at some
of his personal enemies And the present
nrosprct is that even this use of the COM
mittee will turn ont a failure. But What
n contrast between this outcome of the busl-
ness and the great ado that was made over
its inception, when it was deemed Oh such
trausccndent importance to set the lnVeStga-
tion on foot that all business Vas stopped lot
three or four days in Congress until quorum
could be obtained TO pass resolutions WHICH
have since turned out to be mischlcVous
and false. 1t is in every case the flare OF
the horn that these people enter and the very
little end Of it that they come out at. The
Democrats in Congress would not to-day, in
the light Of their experience, enter upon a
single one of the great undertakings from
which they expected so much. They
would be very glad if it could all
be undone. They would never have appointed
a Glover committee had they the tantest no.
ton what it would lead to; and as to the
Potter affair, no one can look upon that poor
man at the head Of it. listening with uncon-
cealed disgust to the proceedings, without
feeling that if the thing were to be done over
again ne would be very certain not to put
his foot in it. 1t Is quite plain that he is
sorry he enlisted. But it seems fatcd that
they should always come out at the little end
of the horn.