Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-07-08
Ground for Impeachment.


Four of the nine members of the com
mittee appointed by the House of Repre-.
sentatives to investigate the Pan-Electric
Telephone conspiracy, and TO ascertain
the true motives in which the Govern
ment suit to break the Bell patent had Its
origin, report facts and present evidence
affording sufficient ground for the i'm
peachment of the Attorney General of the
United States. Another member of the
committee, Mr.. Hale, u Democrat, has
prepared an Independent report which il
said to be substantially in accord with
the conclusions here presented. Tha
leaves in minority those members of the
investigating committee who, for politi
cal reasons, have agreed to whitewasl
the Attorney General and to declare tha
the Department of Justice has not beer
used for private ends.
What story of greed, dishonor, ant
shame! The proof Of bargain and sale Is
clear. With studied moderation of Ian
guage, without word Of invective or {
sentence of argument, by logical marsh
alling of the established facts, presented
in their true relations with the lucidity
and conciseness of judicial charge, this
mastery report proceeds step by step tc
the unwritten conclusion which no candid
person that reads it can escape.
The United States Constitution pro
vidcs that the power of Impeachment
rests solely with the House of Represen
tatives This power was intended by the
trainers OF the Constitution to extend no
only to indictable crimes, such as treason
theft, and distinctly proved bribery, bu
also to just such offences against the pub
lie morals and just such gross infractions
of the principles of honest government as
that which the Committee S report fastens
upon Mr.. Garland and his Pan. Electric
associates holding office under the pres
ent Administration.
If the Attorney General implicated in
this scandal were Republican Attorney.
General, and If it were a Republican
President who refused or neglected to re.
move him from office, who doubts that
the Democratic House would proceed
promptly to bring him to trial before the
Senate? Is the case changed because Mr..
Garland and Mr.. Goode and Mr.. Atkins
and Gen. Johnston and Senator Harris
call themselves Democrats? We draw nc
such line in the enforcement Of the laws
of public morality. The Sun takes up this
matter in the interest of good govern
ment and the honest administration of
public trusts, and for exactly the same
reasons as moved 1t in the case against
the Credit Mobilier statesmen. Then the
majority of men implicated were Repub
licans, but there were not wanting honest
Republicans on the investigating com
mittec to dcnounce the bribe takers and
to use plain language about their crime
Now the persons indicted are all Demo
crats-all Southern Democrats. Is thu
duty of the Democratic House any les.
urgent, any less plain, because that is so
The best pledge the Democratsin Con
gress could give the country Of the sin
cerity of their professions during fifteer
years OF Republican misrule would be Il
( make Pan. Electric craftsmanship forever
odious, within the party as we'll as with
out. Short-sighted indeed is the course
which a narrow partisan policy suggest,
under such circumstances as these. Tht
attempt to cover up, to conceal, to white
W ash, to exonerate, will be confession
that the party is not worthy to exercise
the power with which the people have
intrusted 1t. 1t will be confession, and
confession is suicide. e.-From an editorial
| in Tie Ne,D York Sun Denny.