The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-23
Republican Antipathy to Investi-
eating the Theft.
COLLECTOR ARTHURs DEFENCE
Net Result Of the Blaine Investi-
cation in Louisiana.
Mr. Blaine in Favor of Subsidies and
Opposition to Free Ships.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1879.
THE CIPHER DISPATCHES REPUBLICAN ANXIETY
TO AVOID THE MAIN POINT OF INvEsTIGA-
TIoN-How THE TELEGRAMs HAVE BEEN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BUTLER's STORY
The ciphers at last came up in the Potter Commit
tee to-day and the republican tactics were at once
developed in regard to them. It proves to be
their desire to examine the ciphers over again
and to occupy the time Of the committee to the
clusion of any inquiry into the manner in which the
dispatches. which private in their nature.
stolen from the committee room. carefully assorted
This. which is the real question for the
committee to investigate. the republicans appear
to be very nervous about. Mr.. Hscock to-day urged
that the committee should ask General Butler to pro-
amined and deciphcred. But the answer to this de-
mand clearly is that they have already been published
and deciphered Nobody has denied the correctness
of their Interpretation. The only question which
gate is, How did these dispatches become public?
They were surrendered under compusion by
the telegraph company to the republican
Senate committee; that committee received
and held them in strict condolences; agree
mcnt was made between prominent men Of tho
two political partiesmade. it has already been under
Stood at the desire instance Of republicans that
aone Of the dispatches should be used as evidence
or in any way made public. In accordance with
that agreement the dispatches supposed
10 have been returned to tho telegraph COM
pany, who destroyed all they received. But Il.
now appears that this agreement violated; that
secretly the dispatches were looked over by repub
licans. certain ones sorted out. and it is to
be presumed that those damaging to tho re-
publicans were destroyed. while those damaging
to the democrats were not merely stolen but
copies taken and furnished for publication. Who
committed this theft. and at whose nstigation? il
the question which the committee have TO inquire
into. But it seems to be just this which is dis
agreeable to the republicans
General Butler has, it is reported, GAL dispatches Of
various kinds in his possession. How they came to
him he cannot say. but the superstition is that they
put in his reach by the persons who stole them
some of their confederates. and there are in
the parcel greater number of dispatches than
whole parcel harsbeen carefully prepared by republic
hands and that it will be found to contain GER
tain number of harmless dispatches from republic
cans with those already published damaging to tho
democrats: that in fact. the whole thing was care
fully arranged beforehand.
The story of the dispatches in General Buffers
hands is very curious. He had them before him in
the committee room during the summer but had not
himself any idea of their contents. did any
bcr OF the committee suspect their nature. Copies
must have been made before the originals we're
sent to him. When Congress adjourned he left
the whole parcel in the committee room where
when that room cleared up. they were hudtllcd
up carelcssly with printed matter and by q clerk
taken to the Generals house. where they wcre
flung his Office floor among other lumber and
there remained until in December After good
deal of search he discovered them and has not to
this day examined them.
THE BLAINE INvEsTIGATIoN-REsU IN LOUIS
IANA-GEossLY FALSE REPORTS CIRCULATED.
The testimony taken by the Teller Committee in
Louisiana has been sent here though most of tho
members of the committee have gone to Charles
ton. II appears that the evidence shows out
RACES to have been committed in only four
out of the ffty-scvcn parishes of Louisiana.
and in two of these four the violence
able. In Tensas and Natchitoches there was I'M
doubleday political violence without excuse though
itdoes not appear to have seriously affected the
result OF the election for in Tcnsas the canvas was
between two factions OF republicans. the democrats
dividing thcir votes among these The net result so
far as Louisiana Is concerned. to DO that
there was no disorder which Governor Nichols could
not easily have put down had Nc been man capable
of doing his duty to the state Governor; that he
in fact. weak and incapable: that the perpe-.
traitors of outragcs have been for the most part ap
pretended and indicted in the federal Court and are
likely to be punished. and that the iuaction Of
the Governor has had the bad effect of
cripplng the just and honest sentiment of
the State. and allowing a few desperadocs to work
their will in the four parishes Meantime, IL is also
shown by the testimony that there has been an in
iustrous circulation of grossly false reports about
the state and that the elections passed. on far moro
quietly than they did under carpct-baC rule
that is to say, this State. long held by federal
force, shows improvement soon as Is restored
to local selfgovernment. and had II had energetic
Governor would probably have given no occasion at
all for complaint.
GENERAL ARTHUR's REPLY To SECRETARY sHER-
MAN REJECTION OF THE NEW YORK NOMINAL
TroNs pREsAGED.
General Arthur's reply to Secretary shcrmsns let
ter concerning him is in town tonight. and is said
BY those who have seen IL to be conclusive. and to
meet aud refute Mr. shermans charges at every
point The two documents will be considered before
the Commerce Committee at its meeting tomorrow
aud 1t is not impossible that Mr.. Arthur's reply will
be read to the Senate, Mr.. shcrmans attack upon
him Friends OF the administration profess
TO believe that majority OF tho republican side Of
the Senate will vote to con6rm Mcssrs. Merritt and
Graham. but tho friends of General Arthur seem to
be certain that the result will be the reverse of this
Democratic Senator'S do not appear TO give themselves
much concern about the matter. most OF them being
inclined to let the republicans hght IL out among
themselves. 30 tar eau bc asccrtained Mr.. Shcr.
iuan's letter has not had any such effect upon
Senators u was horcd by its author
II would have, aud while there is
good deal of curiosity among politicians as to tho
result. the general impression is that the nomina-
tons will be rejected by large majority II IL shall
prove that Mr.. Shorman hsa brouoht rrivoioos mr.