Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-01-07
CLUB RATES.
The Case of Mr.. Hear.

Some Of the Republican papers oil Masea-
chusetts continue very indignant at the VIZ
tual rejection by the Senate of the nomina-
ton of Acknowledgement Hoar TO be Judge
of the Supreme Court. They pretty natu-
rally take the part Of a citizen Of their own
State under such circumstances. One Of
them calls the result sc triumph of the Office
iobbers." AL concur in an explanation Of
of it derived like enough from head
quarterly that Mr. Hoar was too independ-
ent and incorruptible man to suit the trad
ing politicians Of the Senate. This view Of
the case Is also taken by Harper's Weekiy
and other high-minded journals in other
States. Ii Ii further asserted that every New
England Senator but one voted for the con-
frmation Of the appointment which asser-
ton we venture to doubt The course of
Senator Edmunds, who is assumed to have
been leading opponent Of Mr. Hoar in the
matter, is a subject of comment and it is
stated that his opposition, with that Of Sen
ator Conkling of New York, was due to the
circumstance that certain of the nomina-
tons of the new Circuit judges, secured by
Mr.. Hoar, were displeasing to those Sena-
tors. Again it Is stated generally, by the
well informed Washington correspondent Of
the New York TDses, that the opposition to
Mr.. HOar was owing - to a sense Of the
afronts which Senators and Representatives
have received at his hands
We suspect that none of these statements
tell more than half Of the truth Of the mat
ter. Mr.. Hoar undoubtedly has aironted
Senators, especially in the matter Of recon-
mendations to oiice-and it would not be
surprising if some Of them should he very
willing to show him that the Senate is a
body which shares with the President the
responsibility and power Of filling the Offices
and which is consequently entitled to some
respect in such matters. But if bis surliness
and stiffness were but backed by honesty
of purpose and genuine independence of
character, he would still have retained the
respect Of men who did not like his ways.
He has a strong bump Of self conceit
but if backed by great ability, this, too, |
would not have prevented his confirmation.
Mr.. Hoar was little known outside Of Mass
achusetts, and we have No doubt was great |
" overpraised when be went into the Cabi-
net. Acquaintance with him by the gen
tlemen at Washington We believe has con-
WINGED some of them that be was not the |
man they had taken him To be-that. for in
stance, there must be something spurious in
the " honesty" Of a man who could insist on
recommending to responsible Office person
whose dishonesty had been fully proved to
him, and who could Justify himself in such
Recommendation by the consideration that
the standard Of official honesty was not a.
high on the Pacific coast lit being Califor-
MIA appointment) a. in New England The
country can Judge whether he has said OF
done anything in the Attorney Generals
Office indicating very commanding ability,
or very heIrty devotion to republican princi-
pies. That his republicanism fails to take
any very practical shape; that what passes
for his " independence Is really chiefly
wilfulness and quarrelsome disposition, We
believe to be the opinion Of some gentlemen
in good position to become acquainted with
Mr.. Hoar, and who have had no particular
controversy with him about any appoint
ments.
Mr.. Hears recommendations for the cir
cult iudgeships, may have helped make him
trouble with the Senate bu. if so, we pre-
sumo it was because they showed how much
he was uSer the influence Of his hrother-in-
law, Mr.. Eyarts Of New York \ conceited,
quarrelsome and wilful man, of oyerrated
ability, Of questioned rcpublicanism, and
who as judge would be owned and run by a
member Of the New York bar, is not the
kind Of addition We wish to see made to the
highest Court in the land. This is a verv
different character from that Of the able
Judge, the steadfast republican. the man of
spotiess and highminded integrity that Mr..
HOar Il still described to he, and that we
should be glad to believe him to be; but We
have no doubt that 1t is the truer description
of him, Of the two. And we should suppose =,
that selfrespeet and respect for public opin-
ion would induce him now to insist on leav-
ing Cabinet in which his continued pres
ence can only be source Of embarrassment
to the Administration.