The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-11
The Lost Cipher Dispatches.

nv Isoet NlputI DcNIdtCnfss
Tho majority report upon the cipher de-
spatchcs expressed the opinion that the Re
publicans, as we'll as the Democrats, prob
ably had compromising dispatches in the
trunk surrendered to the Senate Committee
by the late Mr.. OBroN For this conclusion
the Tribune has attacked Mr.. POTTER per-
'~"""'iv 1t is the conclusion at which every
man Of sense and candor VIA had eonsid-
cred the matter at all arrived long DC''re
the POTTER Committee made its report.
We know that Mr.. ORION, a Jealous and
conspicuous Republican. had tho de-
spatches delivered to Senator MoRToN's
Committee, instead OF to the Democratic
Committee Of the House. The control OF the
papers was thus put into Republican hands
Mt the outset.
We know that after dipping into the con-
tents Of the trunk. prominent representa-
tives of both parties agreed thett II would
be better all around -. -, 70 publish dispatches
OF oahK '..vunts. To suppose that the Re-
publican leaders entered into such an ar
rangemont with the consciousness that they
had nothing to fear from exposure, and that
only their opponents could be damaged
would be to give them credit for magma
nimity Of quality and size hitherto UNI
known in practica politics.
We know that Senator MORTON and his
subordinates had uudi-turbod possession Of
the dispatches for seven weeks II has been
proved that they let BRADY withdraw his
cipher messages- BRADY, a little fish whose
reputation was OF slight consequence in
comparison with some Of the regulations
tbnt IL .. in that lunGlp
We know that at least one-quarter OF all
the dispatches handed over by the tele-
graph company could have been distracted
and destroyed without fear Of discovery.
We know that BULLOCK, messenger OF
the MoRroS Committee, who stole the
Democratic ciphcrs that have been pub
llshed, was rewarded for the theft with The
appointment Of Consul at Cologne. Bull
LOCK understood the risk he ran, for h
wrote to Congressman EVANS that he woul'
be turned out Of Office and ruined were i
known that he took them. 1t seems that he
underyalucd the dishonesty Of the HAYa
Administration. His crime has been dis
covered, but he remains in his Office, at
comfortable distance from grand iurcs an
deputy sherins.
We know that Of tho 10000 dcspatcAe
originally surrendered by Mr., OkToN, nearl
10000 were addressed to Indianapolis, tn
home OF senator lGoRToN Not one of thcs
is found in the lot now produced. The onl
Republican ciphcrs remaining in that lc
are few harmless, disconnected dispatches
parts Of no continuous story, apparently let
there as docuys. with them arc n few Floi
ida dispatches in substituted words. Ihcs
cannot be translated, because there are S
few Of thom left TO work upon.
Is anybody 20 stupid as 10 believe that I'll
subordinates Of MoRToS Committee, wi
had the great mass of dispatches in the
hands for nearly two months, guarded the
charge with strict and honorable fdclit
that was relaxed only In single instanc
whore THOMAS j. BRADY was concerned
Does anybody believe that after giyr
BRADY the chance to withdraw his Il
spatchcs they rclapscd into virtue Al
denied all other Republicans the same facI
ties for supprc-slgg dangerous record
that BULLOCK, who stole nearly 700 Dem
cratic dispatches on his own account,
trade upon in the future, was too honest
man 10 lay finger upon piece Of pap
that might incriminate the leaders Of j
own party?
The lost Republican cipher dispatches a
not needed to prove that the Presidency "
stolen, offered for sale, and bought for HAY
by his agents at the South. But il we h
the 1896 dcsrUtchc, 10 indianapolis, for e.
ample, our knowledge Il many details OF {
great conspiracy might bee clearer than 1t