The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-05
The Cinhnr Tplpprnms.

The Cipher kilograms.
1t is remarkable how greatly, in the light
OF recent events, tho cipher kilograms have
fallen of in interest and in consequence.
Tho publication of these kilograms was
a skllful picco OF newspaper enterprise
on the one hand. and fair political
manUuvrc Of the Republicans on the other.
They were, indeed, in u desperate situation.
They had put their man into office as Prcs-
dent after he had been defeated in
the election; and they had put him there
through fraud and false counting, con-
irmcd and consummatcd by their unconsti-
| tutional Electoral Tribunal. With politi-
cal crime 80 enormous constantly kept fresh
in the minds OF the people, they could not
hope to carry another election; and they
eagerly seized upon the cipher dispatches
in tho hope not only OF discrcditing tho
Democratic candidate, but of bringing
the Democracy as n party down to n
level OF shame not too remote from
that occupied by themselves. This, we
say. was natural manTuvrc for the Re
publican politicians TO undertake; and as
fart as its main purpose is concerned, It has
certainly proved a failure; because II * now
clear that the kilograms have no effect
whatever, except 50 far ms they may inllu-
ence the Democracy in tho choice Of their
next candidate for President.
While the majority Of the POTTER Com
mittec properly devote their report to the
electoral frauds in Florida and Louisiana,
proving by unqucstioncd evidence that
HAYES and WHEELER were not elected. the
-
the other hand devote the chief part Of their
report 10 an elaborate argument upon the
cipher kilograms and to the alleged COM
plicity of Mr.. TILDEN in the negotiations
concerning propositions TO buy from
the Returning Boards CT these two
States decisions in favor of the Democratic
electors. This argument we published yes
tcrday I'm full. and IL Is hardly necessary TO
advise our readers TO consider IL with care.
The result OF it all, we presume will be- that
those who wish TO believe Mr.. TnDEN
guilty, will find in il something to crafty
their desire; while those who prefer to hold
him innoccut will continue to do so just as
earnestly rs they did before this report was
made, perhaps even more earnestly.
There Is. however this essential difference
between the eases VI the two political par
ties. The Returning Boards were for sale.
Agents who spoke rs by authority nego-
tiatcd with certain Democrats who wcrc not
unwilling to buy. These agents We're peril
nacious in urging that the money should be
put up SO that it could be surely handed
over to sellers after the proposed dec
laration in favor of the Democratic
electors had been made; yet nothing
l..s
that Mr.. TILDEN himself explicitly and
positively refused 10 trade, although
there was yet ample time to make the de-
posit preparatory TO the proposed delivery
Of the merchandise, is amply established
not merely by the notorious facts. but by
the testimony Of all the witnesses examined
before this Committee. Thus no prominent
= anAIat@nsdsCS u t-suiss..+,s,uusuA OH
cial organ Of the Democratic party is con-
nected with the affair; nor has the Demo-
cratic party in any manner ever Justified, or
excused, or pallatcd such transaction
On the other hand the Republican party
took the merchandise which had boon
offered for salc and which the Democrats
refused 10 buy. Tho Returning Boards
delivered il 10 them, and they went on by
ncfarious means and finally by the creation
of an unconstitutional tribunal to consum-
mate the conspiracy. and 20 make their pos
session perfect. while the individuals CON
ccrncd-Returning Boards, agents. and all
have been paid by official appointments with
salaries aggregating a quarter Of n million
Of dollars year. More than this, the Re-
publican party stands in the attitude Of jus
tiying this possession and OF justifylng all
the means by which it was brought about
and completed.
In such q contrast those two parties now
stand before the tribunal Of history and be-
fore the people Of the United States; and
they are to be Judged accordingly 10y the
one and by the other.
As for the final effect Of all these things
upon the chances Of this or that candidate
for President that is a matter upon which
the people will likewise pass Judgment; and
we are willing to believe that their iudg-
ment will Toe such as will approve itself to
common sense and to the highest political
wisdom-tho wisdom OF democratic and
constitutional ideas.