The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-24

A "settlsr" for MIR. Blair = Inter-
views with Nearly Ala the ssas-
tors .nd Represents ttvss-S leLin's
Con fsssion.
We present in this number Of the HERALD
mass Of good reading Of the bombshell
order or broadside order the bombs falling
where they twill do most good. and the
broadsides being poured into the crazy
craft which Mr.. Montgomery Blair is at
tempting to navigate in troubled political
waters, sinking it to the bottom. The full
significance of the great body Of interviews
which we publish will not be appreciated
without some explanation of circumstances.
What appears on the face Of the inter-
views would seem conclusive enough as to
the chances of Mr.. Blair's project; but to
perceive their full force it is necessary to
read them in connection with the remark
able despatch from Jacksonville. describing
the confession Of McLin. the chairman OF
the Florida Returning Board. 1t was be-
cause we knew that such o confession was
in existence that we thought it worth while
to procure these interviews. Now the great
point on which we desire to fix attention is
that McLin's confession was we'll known in
q confidential way to most Of the Senators
and Representatives when they gave
to the HERALD their opinions on
the question raised by the Mary
land memorial. They have not been
entrapped into declaring their sentiments
in ignorance of the facts. In spite Of their
knowledge Of McLin's forthcoming con-
fession the members Of both houses are
almost unanimous in condemning the at
tempt to reopen the question Of Mr.. Hayes
title.
We confess that we felt much curiosity
and some anxiety respecting the effect Of
this confession when it should be exploded
upon the country. BY ascertaining the
views of Congressman, many OF whom
knew of it, we hoped to anticipate the
impression it would make on the public
mind. Whatever excitement might have
followed the confession had it been
published alone will be repressed or
allayed, we think, by the mass
of Congressional interviews which appear
simultaneously with it. The force and
value Of the interviews depend in part on
the fact that the existence of McLin's con-
fession was already known to large pro-
portion Of the persons interviewed. The
interviews will, therefore, operate as on
enormous wet blanket on the fire which
might otherwise have been kindled by the
confession.
McLin's confession is the latest exhibi-
ton Of what is called ga quickened con-
science" and it will be received with quite
MS much abatement for the idiosyncra-
sizes Of the confessor as was its i'm
mediate forerunner. the fruit of the
"quickAned conscience" Of Mrs. Eliza
beth g. Tilton. In both cases tho
glaring observation-disclosures of the witness
destroy the value of the testimony. In both
cases the motives of the confession nre open
to question and may be traced without diff
Guilty to something very different from 50
quickened conscience" A man or o woman
who virtually confesses perjury on former
occasions is unworthy Of belief without
corroborating evidence. Phe "quickened
conscience Of Mr.. McLin is likely to be
treated with the same hooking derision rs
the "quickened conscience" of the poor
woman in Brooklyn who has entangled her
self in such web of contradictions.
McLin is poor creature who has taken pains
to prove against himself that he ought not
to be believed under OATH How WORTH
less his confession is deemed in Washing
ton by Senators and Representatives of both
political parties is apparent in the copious
interviews which We advise our readers to
consult.
The almost uniform drift Of these multi
tudinous opinions must be notifying to
Mr.. Blair aud annoying to two Of our city
contemporaries that have been clamoring
and shouting for IN investigation of Mr.
Hayes title. OF the 2G9 members of tho
House whose statements we publish POT
declare their emphatic opposition to the
Blair movement and only Is favor it. The
residue decline to express any opinion
some because they have given no attention
to tho subject, some because they intend
to net with their party, some from sheer dis
like Of being interviewed. and some because
they do not believe that the question will
como up and see no necessity for having any
views upon it at all. The preponderance
against tho measure is overwhelming in both
houses, and Blairs bantling will not live
long enough to cry. II is cold comfort that
he gets from the public men of his own
State. Senator Dennis in presenting the
Maryland memorial made strong
speech against it, and Mr.. Whyte, the
other Maryland Senator, condemns it
with equal vigor in the interview
with him which We publish. Mr..
Swami, the ablest Maryland member Of the
House, left his position ambiguous when no
presented the memorial, but in the inter-
view he opposes il as strongly rs the two