The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-01-30
The Cipher Dispatches in Con


The Democrats Il Congress hare z
last been stung into orderiSw an foves.
tigatinn by the Potter conrsiftee ~ tn
cipher dispatches. The pFinary mnse
of this movement u the poxsistenf AMI
powerful attacks Of the New York 1rf.
tane. By some means. As vet undisclos-
ed, that paper had become possessed Il
the secret dispatches which passed be-
tween the Democratic leaders in New
York City and their agents in Florisla.
Louisiana and South Carolina, during
the pending of the electoral vote in
those States. These dispatches were in
ciphers, which for some time dcfied So
luton. By process of ANALYSIS. which
amounfen to demonstration, their con-
tents were deciphered. They revealed
the most barcfaced attempts to purchase
electoral votes in every closely contest
ed State. They purported to pass be-
tween Col. Pelton, Mr.. Tilden's nephew
and confidential agent. Mr.. Hewitt.
chairman of the Democratic National
Committee. Mr.. Havmeyer. and other
prominent Democrats in New York and
Manton Marble. one of Tilden's chief
supporters, and other Democratic agents
in Florida, Louisiana, etc. The Tribune
has used these dispatches with great sa-
gacity and with much effect. publishing
them from time to time. and calling up
on the parties implicated TO explain. Ii
has also repeatedly called upon the DEM
ocrais III Congress in their furorc for in
vestigation 10 devote little attention
TO these dispatches.
The exact policy of ordering the in
vestigation at this late date is not appa-
rent. Some Of the Democratic leaders
seem to think that il would not do for
the party to go into the next Presiden-
tial election with this matter hanging
over it. Some of them are said TO favor
the investigation in the hope and expect
alton that Mr.. Tilden Will be so serious
ly compromised thereby Us to make it
impossible for him TO be candidate in
1880. The remarks of Mr.. Hewitt how
ever, in the discussion which preceded
the passage of the resolution authoriz-
ing the investigation. seem TO point out
the line of defense to be adopted By the
party. This is disclaimer that Tilden
knew any thing about what was being
done; that Pelton, Marble, etc, acted
upon their own responsibility and with
out his knowledge or consent: that the
names of Mr.. Hewitt. himself. and of
other prominent Democrats were used
without their consent, etc. etc. In a
word, Pelton, Marble and their .'copar-
ceners" in the cipher tlispaici, business.
will be made the scape goats. and Uncle
Sammy and the Democratic National
Committee VIII go free. This is very
pretty scheme. but it will not work. for
the simple reason that it outrages the
common sense of the American people.
Nobody will believe that TiIden's nephew
Pelton, living in his own house. his near
relative and confidential secretary, Man
ton Marble, a confidential friend and
adviser, and men like these. were carry
ing on Il correspondence for weeks. tI'.-
ing to capture the Presidency. and Mr.
Tilder knew nothing about ii. To use q
slang expression. that is too thin. No
matter what Tilden may swear. or Pei
ton or Marble, unless they can success
fully impeach the kilograms themselves.
the great masses of the people will be-
lieye that Tilden had a guilty knowledge
of what was going on.
OF course the investigation will renew
the public interest in the cipher dispatch
es. Ii viii be great card for the
Tribune, which in their dispatches has
already made the greatest journalistic
strike Of the times. Everybody now
will want 10 get . full knowledge of the
whole matter. The Democrats will
probably find before they get through
that they had better followed the add
vice of cid Ben Batter and let the ci-
pher dispatch business alone.-Lawfence
journal.