The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-10

The New York investigation of the cipher
dispatches has established the substantial
correctness of the Tribune translations.
Some Of the men implicated claim that few
errors were made in the deciphering, but
when called upon to point out these errors
have invariably acknowledged their inability
to do so. protesting they have "lost the key."
There is no longer a doubt and scarcely
pretence at denial that the Democrats who
visited the States OF South Carolina and
Florida during the progress of the electoral
count were engaged in attempts to buy the
returning boards and electors. They failed,
either because they could not raise the
amounts demanded or because the electors
could not be bribed.
The acknowledgment is now made that the
Democratic leaders tried to buy the Presiden-
,cy, aud the only attempt is to persuade the
country that Mr.. Tilden knew nothing of the
negotiations carried on. Even if his inno-
cence be proved, as it has not been yet, the
Democratic party will not be relieved oil re-
sponsiblty for the acts of its accredited
agents. But there is no reason to believe Mr..
Tilden innocent. He says he is-and what
else can he say2 If we believe him we are
forced to the conclusion that he Is the stupid
est man in the United States. The line Of
defence he has adopted is familiar one with
him. He advanced it in 1868, when circulars
bearing his name, having for their object the
Justification of returns, were scattered all
over New York. He now asks US to believe
that his nephew, PeIton, assisted by his pri-
vate secretary. Smith, carried on communi-
cations from his house with the visiting Dem
ocrats in the South with the object of bribinp
Southern electors, and that he knew nothing
about it; and that when the attempted pur-
chase of South Carolina electors was brought
to his knowledge he severely reprimanded his
nephew, but that Peltou Immediately went to
work after the reproof aud tried to buy the
vote of Florida. 1t will be remembered, too,
that Ia his card Published last October he de-
MED that he kn7w, until long after the time
the electoral votes were cast, that negotia-
tions had been carried on with the canvassers
of either South Carolina or Florida. He now
acknowledges, in his testimony before the in
vestgatiDg committee, that he did know at
the time of the South Carolina negotiations,
and he says he at once stopped them. Mr..
Tilden must not complain it the old maxim.
false in one thing, false in all, is applied to
him. In contradiction of his testimony just
given 1t is only necessary to place the follow
ing extract from his card of October 18th.
1t will be seen that in one of these cases,
which one the public may be left to judge, he
has been guilty of Misrepresentation:
None of these kilograms, nor any telegram,
communicating such offer, or answering
such an H1r. or relating to such an offer, was
seen by me, translated b. me, or the contents
of it 10 any manner made known to me- had
no knowedae of the existence or purDort of auy
telegram relating 10 that subject. Nor did T
'earn the fac tn t such an offer of the Florida
certificates had been made until long after the 9th
OfDeceneber, at which line the cefrhcaJes were
delivered and electoral votes cset; and when
the informstioo casually reached me, as OF
past event. it was accompanied by thu stste
ment that the offer had been r. jsc'-d
No Offer Dego',sticn in behdLfOf the State can
Udssers of South Carolina or any of them, or in
auy dealings with any ot tbeD IN r-spret to the
rt, fca,as 20 tne electors. aCdS eUer authorized
or sanctioned IN any manner By me directly or
through any other person