The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-01-22
ALEXANDRIA La. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY % 1879
( NO. %.
TIE. TELLER SHOW.

There is in session. at the Custom
House in this city, a committee OF
the United States Senate, composed
of the Republican Senators Teller,
Cameron and Kirkwood and the
Democratic Senator'S Bailey and Gar
land, The majority Of this commit
tee is Republican; and hence con-
trolls its action entirely. AS if by
|preconcerted arrangement with the
United States district attorney, a
large number OF witnesses had been
ssubpened before the United States
grand jury from the remote country
parishes. These witnesses, Of course,
are Republican. There is no notice
to the Democrats ofthis- investfga-
ton, hence no opportunity given to !.
rebut the malicious, drilled Custom
House Witnesses. These Senators
are all lawyers; they are familiar
with principle, as ancient as Mag
sna Charta itself, that the accused
shall, be confronted with his accuse
ers. Here Is reversed, for The &C.
cused people are from 800 to GOO
q
miles away. ''s
A little whisky key labeled Horne.
moves about the Custom House, pre-
pares the puns and bon mots for the
African clowns, while Teller. as
skillful ring-master, is careful that
no rude interruption shall take place,
in the shape of questions, to test
whether there is the shadow of a
shade of.truth retailed by any mem
bers Of this stock company, run at,
the expense Of the government.
The funds for the committee were
surreptiously distracted from an
other appropriation. Tue fables and
Munchausen tales are occasionally
relieved by pious CALCULATIONS of the
clowns. Religion is male to take
Tits part in this verbiage Of stuff.
No wonder many of the performers
retire from the ring dripping with
perspirasion from their exploits
Although well drilled for the occa-
sion, like other performers, they oc--
casionally make slip in the parts.
Like that witness yesterday, who, in
his direct recital, stated he saw for
ty-nine armed men by the clear light
of the moon, in his after rehearsal
stated tue moon was low and it was
/ quite dark, and could not give the
name Of the leader.
A member of the committee no.
ticing this discrepancy, asked him
to give the name Of the leader,
which he refused to give. Teller
saw the discrepancy and, therefore,
thought it unnecessary. Mr.. Came
ron, however, thought that the wit
ness had said so much he might as
well tell all, and then the witness
gave the name. Mr.. Teller will
keep on with his farce, no doubt,
feeling that he is doing good work,
and will soon displace Blaine from
the command Of the slalwarts. II
he is DESTROYS of serious investiga.
ton instead Of this farce, let him
lay down a programme which will
take away its star chamber charac-
ter. Give both sides a hearing; let
the people who are being maiigned
and viliiied by these chickeHthieves.
gin-kouse burners and mnrderers.
ready to swear away the characters
and lives Of honest men, have adj %.
portunity to confront these swift
witnesses, to rebut their narrowing
and blood curdling tales, and show
up the character of Horne's pupils.
Let the investigation be conducted
as a judicial inquiry, and not as q
farce, long drawn out. or such the
country is weary and we are so ac-
customed to them, that they no long
er disturb the peace Of mind Of any
sensible Louisianian. Familiarity
breeds contempt, and the long list of
political Investigations has long
since bred contempt for anything of
Tthat kind here. We tell Teller that
THE manner he is conducting this in
vestigation will result in only one
thing, that is, fresh crowd Of Lou.
1isiana politicians in Washington,
demanding place in consideration Of
their services in getting up this
show in the Custom House. For
Through just such performances as
these, the crowd Of Louisiana Office
holders have multiplied into a host,
whose depredations on the State and
country are like the grasshopper
Iconstituents of Mr.. Teller, which
Ileave nothing hut fdcsolation in their
L tsor