Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-02-16
4 Laughabic Republican Presence
Of cunt.


The attempt to convict Mr.. Til
den of culpability, arising out of
the overtures made by representa-
lives Of the Returning Boards to
sell, for coin, their verdict in an
election in which the people had
pronounced for the Democratic
candidate, has proved to be a la
mentable fiasco. Only the impu-
dence born of the consummate
"cheekn OF the Republican party
could have conceived the idea, orig
inally, of aspersing an already
wronged man. With their Chad
baud Hayes In the Presidency,
smiling and smirking and repre-
senting political grand larceny on
a stupendous and unprecedented
scale; with every plmp and parasite
who administered to any detail of
the fraud, however small, installed
In some office or other Of emolu-
ment, the situation, if it were not
( Infamous, would be unspeakably
comical. The whole thing recalls
to Us the energetic and eloquent
picture Of the whited sepulcher,"
as drawn by Christ, which, ex-
teriorly, was fair to the sight, but
which was, within, all rottenness
and corruption.
We sometime ago expressed the
opinion that the features of the
cipher Investigation which reflect
ed honor on Mr.. Tilden would not
be allowed to reach the Pacific
Coast through the Associated
Press. The New York papers con-
tanning the testimony in full, of the
first days session of the Com mittee
In New York, reached US yesterday
There are certain dramatic phases
OF this evidence, which we CLEAN
from this source, which are worthy
of attention. Smith M. Weed is
the witness examined. Pelton had
gone to Baltimore entirely on his
own responsibility to meet Weed
and the fellow Solomon, who repre-.
sented the South Carolina Return
lug Board. which was ready to sell
to tbs ,ightfully elected Democratic
candidate. Mark the sequence!
Pelton had never interchanged a
word with his uncle about the
cipher business and his profound
negotiations. On leaving New
York he had spokentto Edward
cooper, the present Mayor of that
city, elected by Democrats and Re-
publicans against the Tammany
Democratic nominee, telling him
that he might call upon him for
money. The price of the Returning
Board In question was $50. 1000, and
Mr.. Cooper. on receiving demand
Tor such a sum, at once saw Mr..
Tilden, with a result flattering to
the rightful Pesident. 1t should be
borne in mind that Pelton, Weed
and Solomon, the latter the agent
of the South Carolina Returning
Board, were In consultation in
Baltimore. Weed says that the
result was what will appear from
the subjoined extract from the tes-
timony:
Q.-It is your opinion, then, Mr..
Weed, from all the facts and cir
cumstances within your knowl.
edge, that if the meney had been
paid portion of the South Caro-
lima electors would have been
counted for the Tilden electors?
[Mr. Reed objected to the ques-
tion, and Mr.. Springer, who had
propounded it, withdrew it, Then
Mr.. Stenger revived 1t, and a sharp
discussion on its admissibili fol-
lowed. Finally, by direction of the
Chairman, the question was ad-
mittsd.
Witness-It was my opinion at
the time, and have never changed
1t since.
By Mr.. Springer-Q.-Statew what
conversation you had in Baltimore
with Col. Pelton relative to these
transactions with the Returning
Board? A. Immediately upon
finding me, he said the old man
had got hold of some information
Q.-"The old man!p Who did he
refer to? Al understood Gov.
Tllden-and he may have said
Gov. Tilden In the course of the
conversation, but I think it was
"the old man." Aud he had re-
ceived two dispatches, one from
Mr.. Cooper-that no money could
be paid and he must break off the
neg0tiations-and tho other from
Gov. Tilden, or somebody else for
him-I didn't see the dispatches
that he was required to return i'm
mediateiy to New York.
Q.-Was Mr.. Solomon present at
this time? He was in the city, but
not present at this conversation?
Q.-What conversation did you
have then with Mr. Solomon? A.
l told him, within an hour, that
we could not accept the PROPOSE
tlon; that we could not raise the
money. He then desired to come
to New York; and, finally, after /
told him did not think it could
be done, still he hoped it could,
and came on to New York.
The mission Of Pelton, Weed and
S0ion1on tn Nav Norlx WAC fruit-
less. Tilden, man worth seven
millions, declined to pay $50, 900, or
any sum, for the South Carolina
Returning Board. Solomon tele-
graphed the declination; and, with
In four haIira lin anna al n an u 4