The sun., 1879-01-12
Total Tor the week.
The Matthews Inyestigntion.

Inc matthCWS inNeStlsutiOn.
After the remarkable correspondence be-
tween STANLEY MATTHEWS and JAMES L.
ANDERSON had been exposed to the country
before the POTTER Committee, which placed
the former in n position where silence was a
confession of guilt, he was forced TO move
for the appointment OF a special committee
TO investigate his connection with the fraud
In Louisiana, MS disclosed in the letters
which ANDERSON had produced. and tho
authenticity of which was not disputed by
MATTHEWS They were originals which
spoke for themselves, and the only question
now is, whether MATTHEWS can explain
away the force OF his own words by giving
them meaning wholly different from that
which is accepted by all othors who have
road them.
Mr.. MATTHEWS asked for special COM
mittcc on the 5th Of June. and on the Sth the
following Senators were appointed: Mr..
ALLISON, Mr.. EpMUNDs, Mr. INGALLS,, Mr..
HoAR, Mr. DAVIS Of Illinois, Mr.. WHYTr, ana
Mr.. JoSEs of FlOrida-four Republicans,
one Independent, and two Democrats. The
Committee took no action until after tho
adjournment, alleging that as the time was
Rhort--Congrcss was TO adjourn on June
2O--it would be better to delay proceedings
until the pressure at the close OF the session
was over.
When a meeting was held ANDERSON ap-
peared as the first witness, and refused TO
testify, on the ground that MATTHEWS had
declined TO so before the POTTER Com
mittce when respectfully invited by the
Chairman; but sguihed his Willingness to
answer If MATTHEWS would then put him
self in a position to be cross-examiued by
the House Committee on the basis of his
own correspondence. The Committee hav-
ing no power to coerce ANDERSON in the
absence Of the Senate, they adjourned, to
meet at the call Of the Chairman, with the
understanding that the inquiry should be
continued at Saratoga during the summer.
Strangely enough, the Committee was
never called together during the recess. and
the only meeting held since Congress reas-
sembled is understood TO have been required
by the minority, when n proposition 10
bring ANDERSON before the Senate and to
compel him to testify or TO take the conse-
qucnces. was voted down by the Republican
majority. OF course, there can be no inves-
tigation without ANDERsoS's testimony,
and the refusal to bring him from Nevada,
where he is known to be, indicates fore
gone purpose on the part Of those who con-
trol the Committee to prevent. II possible,
any inquiry at ALL
Unless public opinion Is brought to bear
on the Republicans, this whole proceeding
will turn cut 20 bc a disgraceful sham. When
his letters were read ana filed before the
POTTER Committee. Mr.. MATTHEWS skunk
away from confronting them, under mis-
cradle preteXt Of privilege. though Mr..
FERRY had voluntarily appeared as a wit
ness, as IL 10 make the contrast more strik-
ing. After thus refusing to meet the issue
on the spot, when the whole subject was
fresh before the country, he resorted 70 the
expedient OF getting packed committee in
the Senate hoping either to insure a white
washing report, or, better still, to Kill the
Investigation by delay and thus to gain the
benefit of Scotch verdict in the end
The course pursued by Mr. ALLISON and
his colleagues upon the order of the Senate,
proposed, too, by Mr.. MATTHEWS himself. is
gross indignity to the body, and trick
on the public. 1t shows clearly enough that
no real investigation is intended, and all
the parade of MATTHEWS in his resolution
for n committee WAS a cheap deception. It
is perhaps natural that Mr. ALLISON should
employ this sort of dodge TO save his friend
from deserved censure. He knows how IL
is himself. having been one Of OAKEs AMEs's
jobbers in Credit Mobiler, out Of which in
Vestlgation he emerged with unclean hands
and scorchod garments.