New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-14
CAN THIS BE TRUEf

The Democratic newspapers arc assigning
various reasons for the collapse, temporary or
permanent Of the movement to indict Colonel
w. w. Dudley for bribery Some of them as
sert that the action of Judge Woods In dis
missing the Grand Jury for ten days In order
that he might hold a term of court at Fort
Wayne was the first step in a conspiracy to let
corruption go unpublished. Others are able to
find an honorable excuse for Judge Woods,
but denounce the resignation Of DiStnct-At-
torney Sellers as a voluntary bargain with
iniouity and there are few who intimate
that orders have gone out from high quarters
that the investigation must be stopped. We
observe that "The Evening Post" presumably
an authority in matters involving the inner
circles Of Democracy, inclines to the opinion
that strong "pressure' is being exerted in
Indiana by the eminenty respectable con-
tiibutors' to the political corruption fund, who
realize that such an investi cation could not
be confined to one party a belief which it re-
grets, considering that " the only way by which
the benumbed consciences Of these contributors
can be reached is to have the censure of the
law put publicly upon their agents, and the
full enormty of their own offence thus for
mally proclaimed to the world"
Il will not do to dismiss lightly the sug-
gestion thus forcibly propounded. We do not
often find ourselves in agreement with The
Evening Post" but its utterances and intima-
tions concerning Mr.. Cleveland have consider
able weight. At various times it has stood
pretty close TO the EXecutivcIhair and though
some kindness may possibly have been lost
since the election. no one who desires to keep
himself accurately informed Of the Presidents
feelings and intentions can afford to ignore
what "The POST has to say on the subject
If President Cleveland is really socitous to
conceal the use which the Democratic leaders.
with HIS approval, made Of his enormous con-
trbution to the Democratic corruption fund,
" The PostD would be apt to be aware OF the
fact, and in conveying to the public an in
timation Of what was in the Presidents mind
would naturally employ just such diplomatic
phraseology as that in which yesterdays editO-
nal was corched. We do not altogether agree
with "The PoStsD estimate of the President
when il says that the contributors dread the
shame that would follow exposure; at least
that is not the way we should put it, but the
motive is less important than the fact
II, dS i ne lO>J' l'duS lN ~ inluhi MI
Cleveland is determined to stop the proceed
ngs in Indianapolis, there are several ways
in which he might accomplish his purpose. \
hint to the chairman Of the Democratic State
Committee or to the Editor Of The Indian
apolis Sentinel" would probably be suili-
cient, but those gentlemen have no official re-
lations with the President, and he might feel
a certain deicacy in approaching them upon
such a subject. But the United States Dis
trict-Attorney directly represents the Admin
istration, and Mr.. Sellers was Mr.. Cleveland's
own choice and appointee. request for his
resignation would be equivalent to command.
Here, then we have three important guides
to a correct conclusion "The Evening Post"
an acknowledged supporter Of the Adminstra-
ton in good and evil report, suggests that the
President has the strongest motives for de-
string to stop the bribery investigation; the
DiStrict-Attorney has resigned; and it seems
TO be generally conceded by Democratic au-
thorities that the prosecution threatens to col
lapse. We pretend to no exclusive informa-
tion but have endeavored to make the logical
deductions from the information supplied to
us by Others