The news., 1885-07-14

held in short time to settle the diff
ficult question. Joseph H. Gaskill,
ESQ.,, of Mount Holly, is counsel for
Burlington County.
Elsewhere we print in full the inter-
esting keyhole scandal now the domi-
lnant political theme in this State.
just why prominent Democrats
should fall out when harmony is de-
sired is hard to tell.
The issue which has gained SO
much prominence is an old one and
only gains prominence now, we be-
lieve, from the fact that Senator Nc
Pherson is 'close" to the Administra-
ton at Washington by virtue of his
being Senator and exerts an influence
Herewith that has excited the envy
and malice of smaller fry who would
like to dictate the distribution of pa
tronage in the State. This ungener-
GUS feeling has caused this certain ele-
ment to vent itself with view to sep
arating the Senator and ''the powers
that be" hoping thereby to usurp his
position. This is the whole trouble.
AS to the charges. With those peo-
pie who are at odds with Senator Nc
Pherson it was not necessary to make
them public. They only needed to
know them and their beliefwas strong.
They hoped by widespread publica-
ton to bring hosts of converts to the
fold. Whether they have succeeded
or not remains to be developed. Fair
minded people, however, and Demo-
Gratis who have no axes to grind stamp
the True Observation-Disclosures
charges as infamous, having no foun-
dation whatever. Senator McPher-
sons reply to the charges could not
be more explicit and minute and his
affidavit attached thereto begets conf
dence in the integrity of the man.
His letter is in strong contrast to the
clustering, unsubstantiated statements
made in the True Americdn. That
paper also further weakens its posi-
ton by telling Mr.. Mcpherson that it
is his duty to see Mr.. Watson, the al
legged eavesdropper and get his sworn
statement that the charges are not
true. The memorandum of the in
terview has been printed, the Sena-
tor declares its contents false with all
the power of language, and as far back
as 1879, in letter to the late lamented
Senator Randolph said the charges
were as "as false as he'll" For the
True American to say that the burden
of proof rests with him is silly, ridicu-
lously absurd. If Mr.. Watson's sworn
statement is to appear it rests with
the True American to produce it. Com
ing from any other source it would
not have the same effect. 1t remains
now for that paper to produce the
statement sworn to or back out and
admit that its attack upon the Sena-
tor was a personal or factional one
which is generally believed to be the
truth anyhow.
The fact of General Sewell being an
interested party seems to have lost
significance since the publication of
the memorandum. Assuming that the
alleged interview took place there was
nothing said by General Sewell inn
plicating him in the alleged deal. He
is simply credited with saying that
he would not become a candidate un-
less Col. Scott asked him to do so, and
that he would not lose his position
and salary as r. r. President DUR
ing the term of his Senatorship.
All concerning him in the interview
as reported shows him to have been
entirely consistent and honorable.
This alone stamps the whole thing
as piece of miserably managed polit-
zeal deviltry, as the disgruntled ele-
ment concerned in the effort to ruin
Senator Mcpherson politically, moral
ly and socially and stamp him as a
traitor bears no love for General Sew
ell and would not spare him in this
manner. Since Senator McPherson's
prompt, positive and sworn statement
appeared the whole affair has fallen
fiat and become nauseous to honest
people. These political hounds will yet
we believe return to their vomit" and
reap that they so justly deserve, polit-
ical oblivion. 1t is serious matter to
attempt the ruin of a man in the con-
fdence of the people by unsnbstanti-
ated charges.
Whatever may be the result it can
nor be otherwise than advantageous
to the Republican party and they
stand aside and view the fight COM
placently. If the conspirators fail to
make good their charges, which ap-
pears to be the ultimatum, they and
their following will seek some other
mode of venting their dissatisfaction. If
they should convince the party that
Senator Mcpherson is traitor the re-
suit would be still more disastrous.
The Republican party is the gamer in
any event. Hence we cannot see why
there should be a falling out when
Democratic harmony is most desired.
Nothing within memory has created