New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-11
MR.. ALTORD AND HIS ASSAILANTS.

Mr.. AFFORD And HIS ASSAILANI1.
For weeks before the meeting of our present
Legislature, The Times assaled Mr. Thomas g.
Alvord, Asscmblyman from Syracuse, witt
charges of gross, notorious corruption, denOunc-
ing those who should support him for Speaker
as corrupt like himself His election, The Times
asserted would at once disgrace tho Assembly
and blast every hope of Reform. At the Re-
publican Assembly caucus, Mr. Rush c. llaw-
kns, i'll presenting the name of Mr.. Henry
Smith, reiterated these imputaiions with
out, indeed, naming Mr.. Alvord, but
very plainly asserting that the al
Tentative to Mr.. Smiths success would
faint the reputation of the Assembly and
blast The hopes of Rcformors; and since the
only alternative to Mr.. Smiths election
was that of Mr.. Alvord the application
of these structures was inevitable. Tie Times,
in reporting the caucus, made that application !;
adding that while Speaker Smith would feel
constrained by usage to place his competitor
at tho head of the Committee of Ways and
Means, yet he would be careful to surround
him with honest incOrruptibe men, who
would see that The public was protected from
robbery.
When, therefore. the Speaker had designated
Mr.. AlyOrd for the Craftsmanship i'll question,
Mr.. A. rOso to question Of privilege, and,
referring to the imputatiOns in which Mr..
Hawkins had seen fit to indulge, required the
Sneaker to state whether the important posi-
ton assigned him had been so assigned from
courtesy or because of the Speakers faith in
his (A.'s) integrity and honestly The Speaker
replied that he had assigned Mr.. AlvOrd, like
all others, to the position he deemed most ap-
proprate. MIR, Alvord thanked the Speaker
for the explanation, and accepted the post as
signed him.
All this was duly, fairly set forth in the
report transmitted to the Associated Press.
The Times, suppresSing this report prints in
stead the following travcsty, which is cx-
clusvely it's own:
"After the announcement of lthe Committees by the
Speaker r AlyOrd arose TO question Of privilege and
everybody expected that lie going to decline the
place of Chairman OF Ways and Means rs he was advised
to do by THE TRIBUNE but they were dlsappOihteu'
Old Salt is not the TO give good tang at inc
suggestion OF unsafe guide as H. o. Hturhcu
that only fishing for some kind OF compment
some Endorsement quasi vindcaton OF MS
character for integrity from tho Speaker ne COM
mcnced raking up the proceedings OF the RepuoIic'h
held before the meeting OF tho legislature ana
therefore entirely place the present OCCASION
He assumed that certain speech made in tho caucus by
gentleman supposed to DO Col Hawklns) had drect
reference him. althouh his name was not MENTIONED
and went tell the Assembly that he despsed the man
who mado IT, aud should hereafter treat him with |
contempt. He vOuched In tho strongest terms Tor
his own integrity and gave proof of 1t that he had
no fortune to leave his heirs except his reputation.
He closed by nnatnG that the pance OF the posi-
Lion OF Chairman OF Ways and Means would depend on
what response his rigmaroe he should ecit from te
Speaker When got through, the Speaker quietly re-
marked in general terms. that he made W the Commit
tee Oh Ways AID Means as he did all the |
rest OF the Committees, with sole regard TO |
what he deemed the qualifications and nj |
ness Of tho men ho had placed on them, and in
accordance his oath Of Office Mr. Avord appeared
TO be perfectly satisfied with this Endorsement of his
integrity and Immediately replied he thankfully ac- |
cepted the position, and should fulfill its duties with
regard the public good and the credit OF the party
TO which he belonged. Mr.. Hawkins then 70 ques
ton OF privilege stating that he wished to reply the
gentleman from Onondaga, but the Speaker suggested |
that there was no subject under discussion, which
equivalent to saying that there nothing In Alvords
haranguc deserving a reply and Col Hawkins took the
hint and sat down"
Perhaps this is manly, honest, Creditable |
journalism if so, we have wasted many ardu-
GUS years in not learning our business. Nay |
we are sure it would once have not passed for
such journalism in The Times.
We are in no sense tho champion of Mr..
AlVOrd, and STAND ready 10 unite IN condemn
ing him if the vague charges and innuendoes
to which he has been subjected shall ever be
substantatod by facts. Until they shall be,
we shall feel for him the sympathy naturally
aroused by seeing one shot full OF
poisoned arrows by masked and hidden foes.
Months of intimate association with HIM IN
our late Constitutional Convention imbued'us
with respect for his abilities, his frankness,
his knowledge of our States history, resources
and internal policy, his uniform courtesy in
debate, and his commOn-sense views OF puDllc
affairs. There are rot ten men III the
State whom VIC should Judge better quail
fed to legislate wisely, practically, than
Thomas G. AlvOrd. Hardly member OF
the Convention aforesaid exerted more iDilu-
ence or commanded more respect than he did.
All this should not shield him from reprobation
shall not shield him from Ours-if he shall at
| any time be proved dishonest and corrupt. But
| it should shield him from vague imputations
and loose charges of corruption unaccompanied
by spccifcatiOns and unsustaned by facts.
| And such, we are confident, will be the gene
| raj verdict.
| POINTING MORAL.
In the first flush of unreasoning tenderness
with which We look back upon the faults and
IL.