The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-10-13
uoREIEADERs FROM Sidney.

Ii is very distasteful 10 us to recur every
day, almost, to a peculiar coincidence in the
coming and going of the Hon. Sidney Clarke
and the immediate appearance in our demo-
cratic contemporary Of an article, plainly put,
10 promote that virtuOus statesman's-the
Young Oak of the Kaw-interest, or what
lac conceivcs to he his interest. Sidney was
here day-before yesterday. Yesterday there
appearcd in the Commercial willy and
wicked assault upon John Mcdonald, the
present Supervisor Of Internal Revenue for
this Distrid-Kansas, Missouri and Arkan-
sas. In the first place, Mr.. Mcdonald sup
posed that in his recent visit to our city, the
Commercial had decided, after a fair hearing
of his case, that they would no longer
asIrrse his character, and indulge in at
tempt, to destroy his usefulness, in his in
beavers to bring To condign punishment a
ring of rascals who had been rioting upon
the peoples money, paid to them under the
deusion that it was to he used in aiding the
government i'm its financial difficulties in
CURED by the war. We leave tins
paper to deal with Supervisor Mellon
aid i'm this matter, and pass to
brief consideration of the charges made
against him; and the only Prola-
BILE and possible Interpretation OF their
meaning. In the first place, the Commercial
saws it is very bad business to put in such
an important office as that Of Supervisor OF
the Internal Revenue collections in district
composed of 20 many proud States AZ Kan
sas, Missouri and Arkansas, Such petty
politician and low bred demagogue. This
is finding fault and, also, making direct
charge to justify it. In the first place, John
Mcdonald is guilty once in his life of i;av-
ing been a common steamboat 'scalPer."
. Before going further, as this sounds like 4
serious charge, we would like TO have the
writer Of the Philippe in review, tell us just
what the meaning of steamboat scalper' is
what is the business of such man?
Then, John Mcdonald is again made TO
stand up and answer to the charge OF trading
uuinine for cotton during the war. This Is
against him. He should have been virtuous
and honest like the Democratic army con-
tractors were-like our Sidney was and Is.
He should have been smart enough TO have
studied up some legitimate place of making
his fifty thousand dollars out Of his regular
salary, Just as our Siteey did the hundred
thousand NOW invested in L. S securities
saf.
sometimes, quite likely to overcome the con-
scien,ous scruples Of very good men-espe-
cially when the money getting bump is ex-
travagantly developed, or the ambition TO be,
very great character is overweening.
We admit, as above remarked, that John
Mcdonald, should not have traded quinine
for cotton during the war, especially with the
bilious, body wrecked, saffron skinned, soul
suffering women and children of the rebel
soldiers who were the nearest friends Of such
as the Commercial, during those fearful days.
No doubt that ninc-tenths of all those con-
nected with the Union army, will up and
throw Just such wicked stones as this one
Sidney prccurs flung at Mcdonald. Surely
that proportion are not residing III glass
houses. They live, as Sidney does, in for.
titled palace, covered with the triple steel
plate of truth, self-sacri6ce, honor.
One count our ncighbor in the haste o.
composition, failed to make against Johr
Mcdonald, Supervisor of Internal
Revenue, for this DISTRICT. w
supplement the Indictment. So John
Mcdonald stand up and listen TO this grave
accusation, omitted by accident by our friends
on the other street.
You have wilfully, in obedience TO thu
stern requirements Of your Office, arraingnet
Mr.. Speer, ex-Collector, near, confidential
friend of Hon. Sidney Clarke, and such o
hi. subordinates as were found, upon an ex
animation of their accounts with the Govern
ment TO he delinquent, for malfeisance in Of
fcc,-for embezzlement of the people,
money, which We suppose means stealing
This is, Sir. the gravest charge of all, ana
which will subject Eou to more serious as
sailments by the present guardian of the in
terests of the people of Kansas, representing
them in the Congress of the United States
than all others. And mind you, he vii
not stop with such feeble counsel as he car
command in his own political family. Thu
tremendous force of the Democratic pres