The Portland daily press., 1879-02-11

$50 N0O"aOSAatiC COduJuLOrS-tnOs0 VINO went
South and those who staid at home, those who
cent dispatches aud those vi no received them
from Sil compiicity in the bribery business. 1t
Is aoous as Clean and clear O case of vicarious
atonement as ever was made out. Mr.. Pelton
admits with charming frankness that he tele.
graphed to one of his compatrots in Florida on
the 9th December, 1876, accepting a proposi-
ton received by him that day TO pay S5OOOe
for the electoral vote Of that State Your Com
gresham, MIR. Reed, who, as you know, is a
member OF the committee, worried the witness
when hb eross-examiued him as to the means
cy which he expected to raise this considerable
sum ff money. There were only two DAYS to
DO l" in; the Returning Board met on the 9Th;
tho Electoral College on the 9Th. Mr.. Pelton
satd he depended upon contributions from
members Of the Democratic committee for it;
but aftsr being urgently pressed he could only
name two persons whom he recolected to have
had Ia his mind as likely to respond to his call
for funds. One of these was Edward Cooper,
who had previously repalsed similar sugges.
ton referable to the vote of South Carolina:
tue other was William L. Scott, Concerning
whose willingness to assist 10 a scheme of
bribery he had had no previous intimations.
Now, 1t must be confessed that it is a little
diffcult for the unassisted mind to place uu.
doubling faith 10 the statement that the colonel
would so readily pledge himself to the pay yment
OF $50 600 without knowing with auy kind Of
cer'ainty whence penny OF it was to bs pro-
cured, and with only forty-eight hours to get it
IN. Everybody knows the money was in the
house. If that was the source of supply, there
is 10 perplexity in comprehending his alacrity
in agreeing to furnish it. But to suppose that
the committee at the end of an exhausting
campaign would be willing to tax themselves
to this extent to promote the political ambition
of man whose individual wealth exceeded
the sum of their aggregate possessions isa
little wearing upon the average credulty of the
public mind. There is 10 way of getting as
the facts. The project fell through, for during
the eventful day-December 4th-a message
was sent to No. Is Grauercy Park that the
vote OF Florida could not bs purch ssed.
The Inquiry, which may be said to have viz
tually ended, Mr.. Marble and Mr.. Tildeu hav-
ing been heard at length in the matter, leaves off
about where it began. The parties iuculpated
all sgIes that COL Pelton did hold teegraphic
corresDondenee With persons representing his
uncle in South Carolina and Florida, that a
price was fixed at which the electoral vote OF
each State could be counted for the Demo-
cratic candidate, that Col. Pelton accepted tha
proffared terms in each instance, and that
finally the contract failed of consu N u alton bs.
cause the men vino pretended TO have tha
votes for sale were unable to deliver them,
Mr.. Tllden's solemn declaration under oath
that he bad no knowledge of the neg citations
10 which his nephew bore so conspicuous O
part is eorroborated by the TWO principal wit.
nesses. and is not contrsdicted by anybody.
l can see no good reason why his AS
severations should bs received with dis.
trust If it seems absolutely unaccountabls
that be should have been so seriously compro-
missed by his near knsman, acting presumably
with intent to serve him and holding SO volum-
inous telegraphc correspondence within the
walls of his own house, it is on the other hand
still more amazing that gentleman OF Mr..
Tlden's Acknowledged shrewdness aud dis
cernment would consent to be placed in DO.
stion which exposed him to the danger Of the
utter loss of his reputation. Pa ting the thing
merely upon the low ground Of expedsncy
for the sake Of the argument. l cam
not conceive that any man of ordinary Ca
pacity, would encounter 80 terrible risk for
ever SO great prize. But think well enough
of Mr.. Tilden to believe that he would be re-
strained by more creditable motives from abet-
ting so disreputable performance. There is
no doubt he was eager for success. He fels
sure that he had bsen fairly elected. 1t may
be taken for granted that he watched the pro.
ceedings in the debatable states with intense
interest. OF course he would have done any
thing not actually inconsistent with honor, to
turn the scale in his favor. Bat when 1t comes
to the bald and open purchase of the office it is
an offense l could not be persuaded to imputes
TO him on any amount Of circumstan-
tial evidence. at any rate on none that has
been adduced np to this point
feel entirely confident that this will be tha
final conclusion upon which the American
people will settle down. They are not in the
mood to consider the subject dispassionately
just now. The events to which it relates ara
too recent, and the circumstances connected
with them are too peculiar to admit of their
forming an impartial judgment at once. Un-
fortunately for the Democrats they initiated
the att ack aud the tables have been completely
turned upon them. They are on the defensive
and hard pressed at that. Mr.. Tileea was in-
discreet enough to impute fraud to his oppo.
nents. Some of his iDiadicious friends, with
more zeal than caution joined the cry, without
considering the consequences their mistaken
fervor might involve. The Potter Com mittea
was the result of their clamor; 1t has brought
upon them grievous discontinue and retribu.
ton. All the fraud that has bsen revealed has
been traced home to them, and the best defense
they are able to make is that their principal
was the dupe Of unscrupulous agents. It is
not pleasant situation for any OF the parties
concerned. 1t is not worth while to aggravate
it by drawing more uncharitable inferences
than the naked facts warrant That Presi-
dental candidate could be so grossly imposed
upon is very unfortunate for him that his cal.
vass shoald have been conducted BY peopls
who were willing to resort to measures 50
utterly at variance with the principles Of reci-
titude and purity is equally calamitous to the
party. The Democrats have deprived them.
selves Of all chance of gaining the popular voice
In the next Presidential campaign on the plea
that they were cheated in the last one This
was for while one of their strong grounds Of
reliance. The disclosures before the Potter
committee have shattered it to fragments. Rs.
sumption has taken away another of the main
planks of their platform. In fact, unlsss they
have fresh accession of capital. it is difficult
to imagine how they are going to enter the lists
again with any prospect of success. The popu-
lar dis,ucnation to the complete surrender OF
the Government to Southern domination in
manifesting itself very forcibly in many ways.
The panic is over, and hard times always create
spirit OF dssontsnt that inures to the advan.
tage of the party that is out. That element
will be neutralzed now that prosperity is re-
stored. Take it all in all the political outlook
is remarkably propltious. YARMOUTH.
STATE NEWS.
ANDRosCoGGIN COUNTY
Messrs. Willis. Parsons & Co of Auburn.
have m ada into fl our 1200 hushals of wbaas