Year: 1872

CATION To Be . Farcet


Campaign charges are generally put for
ward for political effect. and suffered TO die
out with the close of the election they are
designed to influence. Such. however. does
not appear to be the case with the singular
disclosures Familiarity known as the "Credit
Mobilier Scandal" which have outlived the
allotted term and promise to prove serious
source of trouble to some of those embraced
within their scope When the Oakes Ames
letters were first brought to light with the
accompanying memoranda by Colonel Nc
Comb, alleging to give the names of certain
Congressman who had been corruptly inter
ested in the Credit Mobilier stock, we were in
the heat of the Presidential struggle and the
story was generally regarded as one of those
canards with which the country is certain to
be flooded at such time Some of the Sena-
tors and Representatives implicated in the
charge broadly denied its truth. and branded
the statement as wholesale forgery from
beginning to end. Not only had they
never been possessed of a single dollar
Of the stock, but Mr.. Ames had never
written the letters purporting to be his,
and the names had been selected by the
opposition at hazard for political purposes.
The republican organs heaped the foulest
| abuse on those who had "concocted' this
wicked slander'' and endeavored to divert
public attention from its revelations by rails
ing the familiar shout of 'Tammany thieves
Tammany thieves!" This general denial
answered the purpose for which it was in
tended but after the election was over, the
evidence on which the charges Of corruption
were based was still in existence. and certain
politicians, whose aspirations for the future
ore known 70 DO high, felt that something
mere than mere disclaimer was needed to
clear thsm from the suspicious that stssShed
to them. Speaker Blai ne brought the subject
before Congress In motion for an investiga-
tion and, after declaring that he had mover
owned dollar Of Credit Mobilier stock, de-
manded q committee, to be composed of
majority of democrats Congressman 8. 8.
Cox had been called to the Speakers chair
and to him the selection of the committee was
left He appointed Messrs PQland, Banks
Beck, Niblack and McCrary, but as Mr.. Beck
declined to serve his place was flled
by the substitution of Mr. Merrck, Of Mary
land


Now all this virtuous indignation and appa-
rent fairness may have had favorable effect
upon those not familiar with the management
of such affairs at the national capital, but,
unfortunately, enough is known to shake the
faith of the initiated in the honesty of the in
vestigation. 1t is notorious that Congressman
Cox was aware Of Speaker Blaine's intended
motion three or four days before it was made,
and of the fact that the Speaker would assign
to him the duty Of naming the committee of
time to reflect upon the subject, and to select
from the whole House the members best fitted
for such work and the most likely to prosecute
it fearlessly and faithfully. Az lawyer, an
experienced representative and shrewd OBJ
server Of men, he was in every way qualified
to make o good choice had he been disposed
to do SO. He will not seriously pretend that q
full and fair investigation was likely to be pro-
NOTED by handing over the committee to the
friends Of the Union Pacific Railroad. Yet out
of the five committeeman named by Congress-
man Cox, four are members who have voted
steadily in favor Of every Legislative act de-
manded by the promoters of the Credit Mobilier
and engineered by their friends of the lobby,
who are implicated in the charges, to be exam
fact, no person is better aware than Mr.. Cox
of the unftness Of Judge Poland to manage
such an investigation as that which has been
placed in his hands. Judge Poland is an
amable, fussy old gentleman, who is pre-
pared to do anything for his party and friends
but he is the last man to sift out the truth
from mass Of corruption and falsehood, even
if he should be wholly uninfuenced by his
former warm sympathy with the Union Pacific
Railroad and the Credit Mobilier General
Banks has been one of the strongest champions
on the same side, and Is moreover scarcely
desirable member to be assigned to the duty
of investigation at this particular moment
Mr.. Niblack and Mr.. McCrary may both be
honest men; yet there hangs about them that
intangible suspicion of jobs SO familiar to
those who have had experience in Washington
life. and their names have always been found
recorded in favor of the extraordinary legisla-
ton asked for by the Union Pacific Railroad
The names Of Messrs Kerr and Holman,
Of Indiana, were both before Mr.. Cox during
his three days cogitation over tho CON-
mittee. Can Mr. Cox honestly pretend
that either of these members would not have
been preferable to Mr.. Niblack, if o full and
impartial investigation had been designed?
Mr.. Merrick, Of Maryland. is no doubt gen.
tleman Of integrity; but Mr.. Cox could not
have selected him for the characteristics of
sharpness and stubbornness, so essential in q
member Of committee who may find himself
in opposition to all his associates.