The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-21
Tho Political Attack on Mayor Grant
Views OF an InpArtIal Critic.
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The proceedings of Monday before Mr. Fas-
setts Senate committee fell of very greatly In
comparison with the preceding session, and
the sensational press will find It very difficult
to work MP the results for it's purpose. The
only witness, the pawnbroker. McAleenan,
who remembered to have spoken with Grant
upon the subject recalls a positive decla-
ration OF Grants that he could not BIO used for
any sort OF corrupt arrangement Other wit
nesses whom Mccain had implicated in his
story OF the $1S0.000 Doodle. contradicted him
fatty, and the testimony respecting McCann's
credibiity reduces the Importance Of that Wit
ness substantially to nothing.
So far nothing decisive has been brought out
which could allow the antagonists Of Grant
and Croker to suppose that these men have
been compromised by the doodle story. If u
corrupt scheme of the sort reported by Mccain
really existed. other witnesses must be brought
10 establish II, II any impartial man Is to be-
lieve anything about 1t.
To the community it Is naturally OF great i'm
portance that any actual corruption should be
revealed but, on the other hand, 1t Is not in
the public interest that the regulations OF high
officers should be shaken by unsubstantial ac-
cusations. merely to serve the purpose Of those
who speculate upon political hatred and pref
udice. Every one who wishes to adhere to the
truth. must say that, with the exception of
the confession made by the Mayor that he
had given 100000 to the Croker family
in the shape Of gifts to godchid. nothing has
been produced that even suggests an improp-
er relation between Grant and Croker That
gift Is subject to criticism, but in itself it
ts far from being sufficient to excite public
opinion In the degree which the foes Of Grant
and Croker would wish. II these are to gain
from this investigation the political capital for
which they began It, they must show other
facts than any they have yet produced.
Admitting that we must not be too scrupu-
lous In the means OF disclosing corruption, and
that one thief must sometimes be used to
catch another, vet the impression ia produced
OF a very dirty intrigue in which no decent man
would wish to take part, when We see the
promoters OF this Investigation making
use OF family Quarrels, and especially OF
a controversy between husband and wife,
for The purpose of bringing forward
against Grant and Croker witness so I'M
worthy of credence as Mccain. The managers
OF this investigation. and especially tho politi-
clans who stand behind the scenes, and whose
puppets alone are visible to tho public. can
draw for themselves tho consequences OF this
view Of the subject.
Especially indecent was the plan which was
disclosed by Mr.. WINS OF having Mrs. Croker
brought upon the witness stand by the
counsel OF the Mayor. 1t is true that
in this business Mrs. Croker has not
borne herself with the highest tact: but she
has sufficiently disavowed Mccain to make it
inadvisable for Messrs. Twins K Co. to summon
her formally witness The suggestion to
the counsel OF the Mayor that they should call
the lady was properly repealed by Mr.. Cochran.
At the same time. there is not the least ground
to doubt tho declaration of Mr.. Holme. which
thoroughly destroys the assertion Of Mccain
respecting the alleged attempt to get Mrs.
Croker and the physician out of the country.