The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-02-05
Our Washington Letter.
Special to the REPUBLICAN.

pretty severe cross fire, first and last,
and has stood it fairly WE'LL With the
exception of what he was reported to
have said relative to Mr.. Stenger's
completely in the suppression of Re-
publican testimony by the Potter sub
Committee at New Orleans, he sub.
stantially reiterated the statements of
his affidavit which Seo'y Sherman filed
with the committee. General Butler
found the witness not disposed to sub
NIT to his bullying and insulting man.
ner, and either the chances of en-
countering the badgered witness some
dark night which st. Martin remotely
limited at or some other equally re-
etraining influence seemed to induce
the General to assume a more respect
ful demeanor towards him. ST. Martin
may be dismissed with the statement
that he has emerged from the fire a
good deal less damaged and demoral-
lied than the average Louisiana poll
tician who has figured before investi.
eating committees here during the
past Is months. He seems to have
been induced to go squarely back on
himself only once, when some of the
others did so innumerablo times. If
bis testimony relative to some of the
men who accompanied the Committee
south as confidential agents of Tilden
is to be relied on, their lack of moral
perception seems as marked as those
of the great reformer himself, and they
appear to have been equally unscru-
pulous in their methods to advance
his fortunes.
Fair progress has been made in the
cipher kilograms business since $4,000
was voted wherewith to begin their
investigation. Mr.. Orton was at one
time tempted to burn all the political
kilograms relative to the campaign of
1876 in his possession, and it is i'm
probable that any material interest
would have suffered had he yielded to
the temptation. For it may be stated
as generally true that we have very
little, practically, to show for the hun.
dreds of thousands of dollars that have
been wasted in this line in the last
decade. While they have operated to
make or mar the fortunes of particu.
lar professional politicians, perhaps,
they have been too often followed by
whtewashing reports to shield those
suffering from the inquiries and they
have so rarely been succeeded by leg
islation or other action to correct Oh
punish the lawlessuess and crimes re.
veAled that such instances have been
the exception to the general rule. Few
intelligent readers of current events
l presume, doubt Tilden's completely
in the conspiracy to steal or buy
enough electoral votes to make him
President whatever their politics. But
what will it profit the ax.burdened
people who contribute the money to
establish that fact as far as it ever
will be established by Congressional
investigation? Buffers zig.zag polit.
cal course involves so many fat in.
consistensies and absurd contradictions
his name is so inseperably associated
with everything that is tricky and dis,
reputable in national politics, that he
Is expected to turn up somewhere with
in the limits of every startling expose
made, when the light is once turned
on. They are not disappointed in this
case though We have advanced hardly
far enough to exactly locate him
VIM. +. Chandler with the readiness
and gusto of man who has nothing
to conceal, and certainly so far as We
have gone the telegraphic correspon.
dence between the Republican man,
ages here and in Florida pending the
count of the vote in November, 1876
is characterized by a course almost
austre in its propriety, showing theil
wisdom was only excelled by their vir
tue. But alas for poor Samiyel. HI
only had one good eye and he couldn
be expected to keep that we'll open t
wind'ard looking out for squalls. wher
it was so intently turned on the mirag,