Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-14
Wo RICE S T E r
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY II. 1872
MIR. unlr,s Cn.r Again.

1t is reported from Washington that the senate
committee on foreign relations has reported
favoraby on the appointment of Hon. Charles
Hale to be assistant secretary of state II is not
honorable to the committed that they have
allowed the Vaccinations of Greek notorious
for lack Of character to delay this report. This
Greek has been well known in Washington for
years. Twelve or fourteen years ago, Senator
Douglas denounced him in the senate as a man
utterly unworthy of belief He has been known
ct the state department as man who deserved
this denuncation; and when his rascally charges
against Mr.. Hale were made, Secretary Fish was
able to give the committee a complete history of
ali the transactions referred to by his lying
accuser, and show that Mr. Hale had in those
matters simply obeyed the secretary's instruc-
tons, and done his duty to the Cover nment with
the most scrupulouS and honorable fidelity.
Nevertheless the committee has kept the case in
suspense, and thus given the Greek slanderers
lying tongue an Importance which should not
have been allowed for moment.
Mr.. Hae's record as consul general of Egypt
can be found nowhere more complete than at
the state department, Secretary Fish has ac-
curate information concerning his conduct in
Egypt He heard, long ago, doubtless, all this
Leyan inc Greek adyentuer can say, and took
pains 10 know The whole truth At any rate
the committee found that he was fully informed
on every point, and that he knew precisely what
he did, whtn, with the presidents concurrence
he selected Mr.. Hale to be assistant secretary in
the state department. ltwas known TO the com
mittce that the appointment had not been made
hastily and without knowledge of the man ap-
pointed; and yet, knowing this, the committees
method Of dealing with the appointment has
trifled with Mr.. Hale's good name, and assumed
that the lying, worthless, scaudalous Greek to
whom we Ieicr had a right to meet him on
equal terms, and receive from the committee
equal consideration. Honorable men NAV rea-
sonably shrink from being exposed to such
treatment.
We hope that the civil service reform now at
tempted so earnestly will include thorough fe-
form ofthe custom of toleratng villanous per-
sonal attacks on men proposed for office. Ii the
gentlemen of that senate committee had never
allowed or felt the influence of this custom, they
might have been more sensitive to what is due
the reputation Of an honorable man. 1t is most
vianous custom which should be made infa-
mus. Reform 1t altogether and you will remove
one ofthe most serious obstacles by which some
of The best men are kept back from allowing
themselves to be brought forward as candidates
for Office These men are unwilling TO be sub
jected TO such INSCRIPTIONS attacks. The Del
aware whipping post is justly regarded as
very barbarous institution; but, in Delaware,
we believe, no man is tied to the whipping post
without being sentenced to it by some court In
many parts of the country, il is different in the
warfare Of parties and factions. The best and
most ilreproachable men are tied to the polili-
cal whipping post without ceremony, the mo-
ment they venture to become candidates for any
office. If the civil service reformcrs will change
this, they viii deserve special honor.