Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-11-15
Delaware State Journal.
WILMINGTON, DEL
november 10. 1873


recent developments winch hhfe SOh
WINGED this community Of the urgent
necessity Of the appointment OF a new
Postmaster in this city. We take NO
pleasure in dwelling on matters which
must bring pain and humiliation to
innocent and guilty alike, nor do we
approve Of any attempt to rreJudge
case which may come before a jury LOT |
legal decision. For these reasons, we
have simply given emphatic expression
to the demand OF the whole people oil
this city, based on the evidences OF mis-
management, ineompetency and careless
ness alone, that Postmaster Lewis be
removed, and have pointedly avoided any
discussion OF the question as to whether
or not any, or all, of the guilt of the de-
faleation in the office is attributable to
Mr.. Lewis.
Our paramount duty to the public will
not permit us to maintain this courteous
silence concerning many things we know,
if It be possible that Nr. Lewis, In def
ance of decency and public opinion, Is to
be retained in office. We had hoped no
effort would he made TO do so outrageous
a thing as this, aud We cannot yet believe
that such an effort has been made, despite
the fact that Washington correspondent
OF the Commercial writes that paper that
It Is understood about the department,
that the Postmaster General "ls not will
ling to remove ar. Lewis under present
circumstances" II the Postmaster
General, unprompted from this city, were
10 make such a decision, II will be ac-
eelxsd as a very ugly confirmation of the
rumors arising out of his continuance Of
Mr.. Lewis in Office after knowledge
OF previous Irregularities there, and
the reciprocal favor by Mr.. Lewis
- appointing two Marylanders
70 positions In this office. If on the
ether hand it shall appear that the Post
---st6r General has been prompted to
lain Mr.. Lewis by any politicians in
slls city, such politicians will lind that
iaVe welded themselves 10 Mr.. Lewis
LAlsfortunes, and they have attempted to
larry load which will oyerwhelm them
as well as the man they champion.
And now a word as to the succession.
We believe that nine-tenths OF those
most largely doing business through the
post office, without regard TO party OF
other divisions, would prefer to see the
principles of civil service reform applied
in this instance ty the promotion Of Mr..
PYLE. We believe that it would be g
blunder, even from the standpoint Of 8
wise politician, te iuu counter to public
sentiment By appointing any enc to th'
place from political considerations alone
and we regret the movement that ha
been made in behalf Capt. Gallagher, 70
his sake, as well as for the principles o
civil service reform, for we do not shar
the feeling toward the Captain OF tn
correspondent whose communication W
print elsewhere, though we know It ]
held by many others. We agree wit
the writer, however, that the appointment
Of Capt. Gallagher would be a ludlcrou
violation of the professions OF the AID
ministratIon with regard to the principle
regulating its appointments.
We also print criticism by the MI
ford News and Advertiser, of which DR..
8. Prettymsn, Collector Of Interns
Revenue, and enc Of Postmaster LewlI
sureties, in this city, is one Of the editor
and proprietou. If our readers wi
pardon the expression, we can but Ell
press our opinion Of this efutlon BY tn
criticism that It is "too thin" The pre-
teIt of the "earnest gentleman" Is funn
10 the last degree. For one of NJ
Lewis political friends and co-workers
manifest righteous indignation at g
attempt "to put into this responslb
"posltion" man whose chief recon
mendation is his subservlency to
" certain clique" is grotesquely funn
Again, If, as the Milford paperl d
slares -" the idea that men Of doubt
"charaeter can be of so much service
ga party as to justify their being !
"warded with responsible trusts Is
~absurd one" why did it not come
ourald In our efforts to prevent the ]
appointment Of Marshal Dunn, or vi
were Lewis and Dunn appointed in t
first plaee7 We are opposed to a
attempt to make the pest Office "ring
stronghold but let us not be asked to {
sp any special indignation on the grou
that such a thing would be unDrsesdlent
We have no suspicion that the Repr
xeans or other politicians "away do
"the State " are unsophistocated,"
let them not suppose we are so unsph
Heated as TO not see through this ala
about the danger Of ring obtain
oo4lrol of the post Office.