New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-02
CONTESTED 6RATS


We presume that there is little mistake
somewhere about Representative Manning's
alleged remark OH the contested election case
OF Bsbee against Hull. Mr.. Manning is Ne
ported to have declared that he " lad read o
great deal of the testimony, bat had en-
deavored to do so without allowing it TO
Influence lis Judgment We know that it
is common practice for Congressman to re-
ceive testimony without allowing IL 10 influ-
ence their judgment. But 1t IL not customary
for them to say so. In many eases they de-
lude themselves with the belief that they are
amenable to reason and quito ready TO accept
even facts which tell against the interests OF
then party. They remain, if we may use the
expression, entirely insensiblc Of their own
insensibiity. In many other cases. however,
the decision OF n contest has been 50 plainly
in defiance OF the evidence that the Manning
rule must have prevailed; the members OF
the majority in making up their minds have
endeavored not TO let the ties tim0ny influence
their Judgment.
The House Committee on Elections has six
teen contests to decide, and in the Senate
there will, moreover, be an attempt 10 oust
Mr. Kellogg, committee having been sent TO
New Orleans to take the statement of large
number of Louisiana liars as n preliminary to
that operation. We shall not assume that the
majority in Congress mean to cheat until
clear indication has been given of some such
purpose. Their proceedings, however, will be
watched with suspicion. The Democrats have
majority Of only seven over all others in
the present House, and they will need more
than that to get along comfortably i'll emer-
gencies. In the Senate their numbers will
soon be so largely reduced that they will want
Mr. Kellogg's seat, and with the miscellaneous
lot of perjuries they have collected ut New
Orleans IL will be easy enough to take it
always provided, of course, they are not re-
ouired to believe the testimony which they
accept as the basis OF action. The rank soil
of Louisiana breeds the most luxuriant liars
the world has ever seen and, as the experience
Of the past three years has demonstrated, an
industrious investigating committee can obtain
at New Orleans, for trifling expense, any
quantity Of testimony desired upon any topic
whatever and every variety Of witnesses, ex-
cept those who tell the truth. The romances
of Mrs. jerks aud the brilliant inventions of
Night Editor Anderson will long be remem-
bered by the amused reader of political his
tory; and Mr.. Clarkson n. Potter. we are
sure, will never forget how he was kept skip
ping from the Potomac to the Gulf Of Mexico,
and from the Gulf back to the Potomac, to re-
ceive the condolences of those picturesque
characters who spent their time in receiving
letters that never were sent, overhearing words
that never were spoken, witnessing meetings
that never occurred, and finding documents
that never were lost. The Kellogg case is
already involved in a maze OF contradictions
and impossibilities; but if the majority in
Congress have resolved not to allow the testi-
mony to influence their Judgment theS can
promptly arrive at a decision nevertheless.
The President makes timely reference in
his Message to the " new and decisive evil
"dence" recently afforded "of the deep in
"terest which the great body of citizens take
in the progress OF the country toward
more general and complete establishment
at whatever cost, Of universal security and
" freedom In the exercise of the elective fran
chise.r They are resolute about this They
mean that every rightful voter shall be free
10 vote, that the votes shall be fairly counted.
and that the man who has been elected shall
have the office. They will not submit to ter
rorism at the polls. They viii not pardon the
use of " Copenhagen" or best United states
documents to purchase Canvassing Boards.
And they will not agree that candidates who
have been honestly returned shall afterward
be expelled from their places by partisan
majority under the forms OF contest We
hope the Democrats in Congress. when they
lay out their plans for the session, will bear
these facts IN mind. The new and decisive
"evdeDce" of the popular feeling was borne
home to them, at the recent elections with
what ought to be very strong effect.