Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-02-29
THE PHILADELPHIA COLLECTOR
SHIP.
Col. Forncy asa ConcIIiuror--ThcR Real
Cause of His Resignation.
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The resignation of Col. J. w. Forney
as collector of the port of Philadelphia,
which was sent to the President on the
10th, creates considerable comment.
Although it seems TO have excited very
general surprise, his intimate friends
have for a long time known his deter
mination to resign his place at the ear
hest possible moment. His reluctance
in accepting 1t under the apprehension
that its duties would interfere with his
devotion to the Press, for, as he fire.
quently says, "to excel in journalism
is the only ambition of my life, has
been confirmed by his experience in
the collectors Office. When he left
Washington, after resigning as Secre-
tarv of the Senate, he was anxious to
do his level best to improve and
strengthen his newspaper prop
erty in Philadelphia. He had
tried Office here and found
it failure, and when he took the po-
sition of collector of your port he an
ticipated precisely what has happened.
/ think | betray no secret III saying
that moro than the colonels salary as
collector was paid by him to supply his
own place on The Press while his off
cial duties called him from the editorial
chair. His long experience in public
life has taught him that no Independ-
ent journalist, unless he is very rich,
should hold an Office, except one of
high honor, or one confirmed by the
people A seat in the Senate or the
House of Representatives is entirely
different, for that leaves the editor
measumbly independent, but to the
collector OF the port of Philadelphia,
and at the same time editor of The
Press, for instance, is not exactly the
thing for one OF Col. Forney's peculiar
temperament. While he was collector
of the port, il he wrote an article
in favor of President Grants
administration, some ''super-
serviceable knave' would hasten to
to cxclaim that the colonel was paid for
his praises of power; and if he ven
tured to denounce some local politician,
or to refuse to JON the scandal against
u statesman like Col. Mcclure, an old
and better republican than many who
have been hunting him down. he would
be characterized as an migrate to that
same power Thus he had to choose
between the shame OF being slave or
a parasite. He has decided to be nei-
Their Many persons suppose that Col.
Forney's resignation means opposition
to Gen. Grant. | do not think the
President has to-day more grateful or
earnest friend than Col Foruey, and
Gen. Grant knows it. But he is nj the
same time Il friend of Mr. Sumner, a
friend OF more than 20 years standing,
and of others who do not favor the
Presidents denomination. This fact
was known to the President when Col.
Foruey was appointed collector OF your
port. His great desire is to unite the
republican party of Pennsylvania, and
to this end he will work steadily
ON his return to his editorial duties.
He feels that it is time to cry, "Halt -
once more TO the desperate men who
are trying to use the name of General
Grant To keep them in or help them TO
Offices He believes in the Cancellation
OF the old dissatisfied anti slavery lead
ers Of the country, He pleads for good
relations between Grant and Sumner,
between Grant and Greeley, between
Grant and Fenton, and insists that
what Mr., lincoln did with the men
dissatisfied with his administration
General Grant ought to do with the
men dissatisfied with his. The Presi-
dent invited Col. Forney to call and
see him, hut as the Colonel left in the
early train for Philadelphia, in order
to attend business meeting ut the
mint, he could not accept the invita-
ton He addressed n kindly letter to
the President, thanking him for the
honor conferred upon him, and assur-
ing him OF his continued friendship
aud support
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