The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-07-13
Investigation So Far.


end, but the recess of the committee af-
fords fair opportunity to consider what
it has already accomplished and how much
or how little it is likely to accomplish.
Before it began and for little while af-
terward it was regarded with Indignation
by the whole Republican press, and fran
tic efforts were made by these organs to
convince the people that the investigation
movement was fraught with iBlnaiueat
danger to tie Republic. Scarcely more
than a month has passed since the cry of
"Mexicanization" and revolution" was
raised by little Mr. Hale from his watch
tower in Washington, and passed from
mouth to mouth along the lines, striking
terror into the hearts of the faithful.
Grave journals, like the New York Tn
Une, and pompous prigs Of the old school,
like the Boston Advertiser, made the
lives of their readers miserable by dis
QUESTIONS on "The Peril of the Hour"
the mercurial New York Graphic talk
ed wildly Of a civil war which would
plunge every community into blood. So
it was, until the passage by the House
of Representatives of the resolution declar-
ing the title of Mr.. Hayes inviolable show
ed the organs into what an absurd pitfall
they had tumbled head over heels, in fol-
lowing Mr.. Hale's lead Never did revo-
luton spend itself sooner, never was cam
paign capital more completely swept out
of existence by single vote. But the
watchword was quickly given. aud now
the more potent shafts of ridicule are lev
eled against the Democratic masked bat
teries which shrieks of terror and the great
guns of denunciation were powerless to ST.
lence. Early in june the Potter inyesti-
cation was the crack of doom for a free
people. Early in July it is a farce, a
travesty, the most ridiculous offspring of
Democratic folly. They like it; but it is the
liking of the small boy for his first cigar.
1t makes them sick.
The truth is that the investigation, so
far as it has gone, has by no means realiz-
ed the expectations of the radicals of
either party. On the one hand there is
surprise that the first few turns of the
crank have not brought out evidence so
startling as to lead Mr.. Hayes, out of very
shame, to retire from the White House
and hand the keys to the lawful tenant.
On the other there is modification that
so much of what has been long suspected
of the villainy by which Hayes secured his
seat has been proUed beyond reasonable
doubt and made matter Of record, to the
everlasting disgrace Of the Republican par
ty and certain influential men who are
either in the administration or who stood
sponsor for it. Not scintilla of testimo-
ny has been produced to show that Mr..
Hayes was privy to the frauds in Louisi-
ana or Florida and to that extent he is the
better off for the investigation. This
expression must be qualified. The ap-
pointment by Hayes to a fat Office of every
man in any way connected with these
frauds, is strong presumptive evidence,
which cannot be rejected, that Hayes made
these appointments for services rendered,
and in pursuance of an understanding or
promise. 1t is ridiculous to say that mot
a scintilla of evidence has been produced
to show that Mr.. Hayes was privy to the
frauds in Louisiana and Florida."1 Mr..
Sherman, however, has been entangled in
a net of circumstantial evidence, to say
nothing of that which is direct, but dis
puted, from which extrieation seems i'm
possible, and Mr.. Stanley Matthews is
buried beyond resurrection under the
weight of his own letters. These are the
larger game brought down by the investi-
CATION; smaller has been bagged In album
dance. 1t is no light matter for the
purposes Of the investigation that the
Democrats have been able to show the
character of the men who have been the
managers of the Republican party in the
South. 1t was known that there were
villains among them, and now, So far
as Louisiana is concerned, the theory
that there were any exceptions has been
well-nigh disproved. The Jenkses, Wet5-
ers, Andersons, Pitkins, Pinkstons and
the rest tell their own stories and no
more is needed to disclose their deprav-
ity. There can be no more striking
illustration of the straits of Republican
partisans than the fact that whether these
people testify for or against them they are
obliged to admit their knavishness. The
more an Anderson or Weber is denounc.
ed the stronger is the Indictment of the
Republican party, Of which they have been
the evangelists. Certainly it is an anom-
ally in politics that if you fog a Democratic
witness you cripple Republican states
man.
We take little stock in the prevalent
Democratic faith that more startling things
are yet to come. There will be great
deal of the same kind of testimony, but
little that is new save in detail. Witness
es will go on proving themselves and each
other liars, and throwing side lights on the
great frauds, but doing not much else.
At last the true inWardness of the South
ern political situation of 1876 is under
stood by the whole country, and although
the picture may be painted a good deal
blacker, as we'll it might be, in trnth, it
cannot be more effective. No candid man,
Republican or Democrat, will now deny
that the States of Florida and Louisiana
were wrongfully counted for Hayes in pur-
suance of a conspiracy originating with
certain members of the national Republi-
can committee, executed by Returning
Boards under the inspiration of visiting
statesmen, and under the protection of the
army of the United States. This does not
affect the title of Mr.. Hayes, for that now
rests upon foundation that is not chal-
lenged; but it does fasten upon the
Republican party a terrible responsibility
from which it can never escape, aud which
honest men in the party cannot disavow
too soon or too positively. An investiga
ton which has accomplished this much
towards eliciting the truth cannot be said
to have been begun in vain.
The evidence taken by the sub-commit-
tee at New Orleans Monday went to con.
firm the theory, now little needing con-
firmation, that the non-v0ting of the
Republicans of East Feliciana parish was
in pursuance of the deliberate scheme of
Kellogg to throw out1he whole parish on
the false ground of intimidation. 1t was
also shown that it was necessary to pay
Supervisor Anderson for discharging the
plain duty Of signing the official re-
turns. This was the sort of man select
ed for managing an election in Louisiana
under the carpet-bag regime. But there
l. no reason for astonishmant Andar