The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-02-25

correspondents. Of the standard. e.

rouespendencs Of the standard. 'san .
| nri CmoAoo. Feb. 10, 1879. r
For weeks the Palmer House has as
sumed quite the air of a court of JUS
tice, parlor and dining-room being
transformed into halls for martial and
judicial investigation, while its
corridors have been thronged with
generals aud judges, soldiers, law
yers and civilians; and the common
talk in street cars and restaurants, has
been of Major Reno and Judge Blod-
gett. The Major is called 10 explain
his action, or rather lack Of action, in
the memorable Custer battle on the
Little Bighorn.
This notoriety and anxiety, during
the past two weeks. he has shared with
Judge Blodgett. of the u. s. District
Court, who has been before branch
of the Judiciary Committee of the
House of Representatives. charged with
unjudicial conduct. Uncle Sam has
seemed anxious TO come at the truth OF
the whole matter, in both these civil
and military courts, and the charges OF
fear and fraud, cowardice and corrup-
tion, against his servants in high
places, have been thoroughly looked
into, as proves the time aud expense Of
the Reno trial and the 81 or more wit
nesses summoned and heard concern
ing Judge BIS cause.
Major Reno, at that well remembered
Indian battle, where the gallant Con.
Custer, with his whole command, was
slaughtered, though within hearing of
the fighting, as has been proven, failed
to take his men and go into the fight.
Although, most probably, he would
have found the same bloody grave, the
feeling generally seems to be that he
should have gone to the aid of his SUI
perior officer, and been ready in such
an emergency TO help "to win or lose
it all, rather than have "lived to fight
another day" with it's inglorious sug-
gestion, and lose the enviable oppor-
tunity of death on the field, for the
prosaic sometime ending Of his life, in
an ordinary unwept, unhonored and
unsung style. The military generally
testify In his favor, but the scouts and
civilians OF the party, are those from
whom the suspicion of cowardice, and
even drunkenness, comes. OF course,
he claims that be would but have sac
riiiced SO many more men, and that
his judgment was correct, and in like
situation, he wOnld repeat the action.
But the matter is before the Military
Committee, aud he is liable TO a court
martial.
Three young lawyers Of this city.
working against strong opposition
from Judge Blodgett's many and in
iluential friends. have succeeded IN OBJ
tanning from Congress a committee TO
investigate the conduct this Judge,
and have brought serious charges
against him before j. Proctor Knott,
member of the House from Kentucky,
aud Messrs. Lapham aud Culbertson,
who were sent here as this committee.
There were some fourteen. charges, but
the most important alleged, his con-
niving at the sale OF A. G. Hessing's
stock in the Stats Zeitung company,
for a third OF It's value, by ordering "A
private sale; his overlooking the exces-
sive and illegal charges OF the bank
ruptcy court; his preventing the in
dictment OF his friend Register Hib-
bard. of the bankruptcy court; by tam
pering with the grand jury. III this
committee are convinced Of the failure
Of the Judge to answer satisfactorily
these charges, his chances for having
articles of impeachment preferred
against him, by the House, are very
great. IL rs singular that both the
Times aud Tribune stand firmly by the
Judge, while only one paper, the Daily
News, penny sheet, dares assert any
lack Of faith in him. But the public
feel safe in leaving so important mat
ter in the hands OF this committee,
with such a man as J. Proctor Knott
as its chairman, who singulariy enough
twenty years since was on committee
to investigate a Missouri Judge, charg-
ed with similar failings, and who on
that occasion made a speech, IN which
these words occur, And sir, / care
not what may be his position IN society,
even If he dress in purple and fac
linen, and hold subject to his will the
very thoughts Of thousands, yet il he
close the gates OF justice upon one sin
gle man, though clothed IN the rags Of
extremist poverty. his influence will
not save him from being dismissed in
disgrace from the distinguished place
he has dishonored." A man who could
say such words is a man before whom
both Judge Blodgett and the memoir
ialists may feel safe in the surety that
justice will be done them in this mat
ter, and il they ask moro than justice
they are poorly of indeed.
The committee have returned 10
Washington, and are preparing their
report. The Reno question is closed,
aud is passing along the military red
tape channel TO the same city, from
whence they will both emerge in their
Own good time.
The theatrical star this week has
been the German actress, Janauspek,
whose admirers place her second only
TO Charlotte CushmaR. She deserves
success, striving against such odds as
a foreign tongue, an advanced age. and
a wofully homely face have and do
throw in her way, but she draws good
houses and that is the criterion OF sue
cess.
The spring campaign for city off,
GERS, is about opening aud our fellow
townsmen, (you will be glad to learn
Col. Ricaby, is mentioned prominently