The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-06


- In 1bese columns, of the career OF the
Iotorious Daniel T.. Sickles, who has been
mt nv President Grant to represent our OoV-
,y,,ment at Madrid, without confirmation Dy
Iba senate. We choose to reply TO this par
Ecular inculpation, in preference 10 any one
of several others, because, thougn uealln8
Ssoois, IN ;nvective. it has nevertheless some
a,,,ilonco of reasoning We will not retort
a. d;soourtesv but will endeavor to observe
tLo aobr;etv and decorum which beht the dls-
cussion of a grave moral subject. All that
,or be reoarded as argument III the article
from which we quote is comprised Il thei Oh
lowing extract;- ,,.....,,.,
ssNow we do not propose to go into any inVesTga-
, uVh " vnnvn and should be frankly admitted, that
mere Ia much In his record which he ana MS iriends
would gady yiOsf iUrgeb the mass Of nsnuaton and Of
dirty rumor which the World mas CHOSEN 10 mlngle
with something Of fact EVERY a g tber Crimes s No
mans private history is proper loT puohoaton MS th
we mean to assert is that the pa yHr S u that ~
NAV he a crime TO utter It, hardly second 10 tne
original ofrense. The greater the truth tne greater
the libel has this meaning. Wnen man selis eluI
he should do 1t with decent motive. Inc TuIn- u
teller who would blacken the reputation Va Iie h
woman he had betrayed may be able 10 prove MS
facts Int never to Justify their disclosure. so TOO,
il might happen that the shadow OF agIeaS SIN Iies
across the pathway OF man VINO nOS Ohy epnns LTpe'
but has done works meet for repentance. SUPPOSE
for instance that we to-day should publish ana
prove that man who has been Tor many years ,a an
estimable citizen in his youth IN jail IoI tIet
or forgery, or other infamous crime Wnat rghI
have we to disgrace his grey hairs ana Drng snane
nnon his children? OF all bes, that would pc tne
most malicious and have the least justification in
any honorable SOUL The law makes IL cTlne, anu
it mserably mean ana heAcusaple lex M ~ Sl,os ia
that me- under a burden which would nave crusneu
my but an indomitable WILL and weight Oh censuIe
Which would have made most lives utterly hopeless,
las fought his way upward and onward redeemed
himself In public estimation, and conquered what
Ieemed TO be an irrevocable fate. He mas opened
NTH his sword deep gulf between his present and
his earlier life Holding high executive positions
which reauired the coolest temper and the strongest
Integrity he has satisfied his countrymen and won
their suffrage. And now when on the eve OF MS de-
parture to ill place Of high and respoasible trust
his felowcitizens OF all parties, and Of the most dis
tinguished social rank combine to do him honor lt
is no time to make him the target of all the scandal
down, as weaker natures Would have DONE slowly
sinking to abasement, the world would have been
silent, or perhaps charitable to the faults OF the
poor Fellow But now that he has plucked up
drowned honor by the locks, saved himself ana
helped to save his country; now that his Government
selects him as its ambassador and good men crowd
TO do him reverence, 1t is only wicked to revive with
eager particularly and revengeful gossip the bem-
ishes in which, for its sins, has atoned with
Justice and which, out OF all its sad events has risen
to the dignity Of acknowledged craftsmanship and
patriotism"
TAe substance of this impetuous effusion
is, that although the past life of General
Sickles is infamous and indefensible, it ought
to be condoned in consideration of his more
recent career From the abstract proposition
that faithful repentance ought to shield for
mer misconduct from wanton censure, no
considerate mind will dissent. But in apply
ing this principle to particular cases.
some regard must be had to the right
of other people than the criminal to judge
for themselves as to the treatment which
may be due him in consequence of
his penitence. If there had been given to
General Sickles instead of the recent recep-
ton, a private dinner party to which New
York gentlemen had been invited with their
wives or daughters, we suppose that no ladies
who value their social Responsibility would
have consented to attend, and that no father
or husband who is at all strict or fastidious
respecting the social credit of his family
would have permitted them to be present. It
is obvious enough that the Newark Adoer-
tsSer'S argument that General Sickles past life
ought to be eondoned has the same applica-
tion, when stated in general terms, to joint
social recognition by ladies and gentlemen
as to reception by gentlemen alone. If
self-respecting ladies shrink from association
with General Sickles, as from contamina-
tion which would compromise their social
standing, their refusal rests, for its sole rea-
son, upon the acts which have branded that
man with social infamy. Nothing could well
be more impertinent, or more subyersiye of
accepted social standards, than to question
the right of such ladies, or the right of their
husbands and fathers, to be their own judges
as to their duties and obligations in such a
matter Sentimental saws about the forgive.
ness earned by subsequent conduct would be
treated, in such case, with derisive scorn.
The appointment of such man as Sickles
to an important foreign mission is an insult
ing invasion of the social rights of the circles
in which foreign minister is expected t
move. The social relations of high diplo
matte officer are even more important thar
his official relations. 1t is but OCCASIONAL,
that he is charged with negotiations of muci
consequence; his habitual duties consist il
keenly watching current events in the countr
to which he is accredited and supplying hi
Government with early information. To Eno,
things after they have occurred is of littl
use; that kind of Information is attainable, at
tmfing expense, from the public Journals
We send ministers abroad to learn events
their seeds and beginnings, in order that OF
Government may be prepared for what
coming, and not be taken by surprise, and
be wise behind time. 1t is therefore of ii
first consequence that minister have com
Dental access to the social circles in whiC
those men move who plan and direct Il
policy of foreign governments. Such an a
gointment is universally regarded as a pas
port to the highest society. The salaries
ministers are accordingly liberal, to enab
them to maintain that Intercourse of hosI
tality through which alone they can expect
learn anything which the Government
home might not as readily find out throul
the ordinary public channels of inform
ton. Our ministers to England al
France receive each salary
$17,5OO in gold, equivalent to 1924, 800
currency when gold is 140, sum nearly equ
to the salary of the President of the Unit
States, and more than three times the sala