Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

is but iaferential, and it will not be
presumed, if the conduct of the Dist.
Atty can be otherwise accounted for.
That there was gross mismanagement,
involving inercasea6Ze neglect of plain
official duty, by which justice ,cas de-
tayea, ifno defeated, as clearly shovn.
1t may be accounted for BIZ presenting
that the District Attorney was ig,,o-
rant Of has duties, rather than that he
was colluding to shield those whom it
was his duty to prosecute; but an aug
erent, there acas gross neglect to per-
form a plain cftcia5 duty. and as has
continuance an office mould tend to re-
tard, if not defeat the ends of Justice.
Therefore |, C. G. Washburn, Goven-
or of the State of Wisconsin, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and laws of this State, do
hereby remove the said P. O. Cassidy
from the office of District Attorney of
Wood County, and do hereby COM
mand him, upon the service of this
order upon him. forthwith to deliver
the books, papers, records, and other
property of and appertaining to said
Office, over to George r. Gardner, of
Wood County, who has this day been
appointed by me as his successor in
office"
These reasons are thick enough for
anything but q "reform" stomach.
They seem to US, as they will doubtless
seem to impartial men generally, com
plete and satisfactory; and while the
Governor has manifestly travelled to
the very verge of official duty to ac-
quit Mr.. Cassidy of direct ''corrup-
ton" because the proof of it is but
"iDferentiaI," and rendered verdict
more favorable to the accused than
most men would have done, his mis-
taken charity is seized upon by the
apologists for the disgraceful conduct
which led Mr. Cassidy to removal, as
stool npon which to raise themselves
to a position in which they can pirate
of ''thin excuses" for submitting
sour people to the expense of special
election" ooh, how we'uns long for
reform !'' eff zee apples only could
swim ~
The most novel phase Of the ''ref-
ormation" which the Tribune is max
ing-it and Mac. ogether-is classic
ally summed up by that paper as
follows:
"Now we claim that it is one of the
inalienable rights of the people of
Wood County to elect any dalnphool
to county Office they see fit to.
Everybody in the county knew that
Mr.. Cassidy was an inexperienced law
yer and an unsophisticated cuss. They
we'll understood who they were engag-
ing for county pettlfogger. They
knew he WASH ia Webster nor a Chase.
But they elected him-we believe
unanimously; and if he mismanaged a
case, none are disappointed, and it's
none Of GUY. Washburn's business.
If the poor Irish cuss don't know
enough to manage a case, the only
party concerned is the people of Wood
County. What does GUY Washburn
want to stick his nose in for? Perhaps
we'uns don't know enough to vote in
diligently, but that's none of Guv
Washburn's biz No sir. Well elect
damphool every time we're mind
to-
Mr.. Cassidy no doubt feels grateful
for this manly defense of his claims.
But. at the risk Of being unpopular
with those entertaining sentiments
such as are expressed in the above ex-
tract, we are compelled to say, as one
of the people who was here and helped
to elect Mr.. Cassidy, (Which Mr..
Brundage was not that we believe
the people expected Mr.. c. would dis
charge his official duties honestly and
impartia,ly, and that he possessed too
much both of Intelligence and integrity
to allow, as the Governor in his YER
diet says he did, ''the tendency of his
whole course" in any case to ''defeat
the ends of justice. :" Our estimate of
the intelligence of the people Of this
county is toe high to believe they have
ever Intentionally contracted for that
kind of service in county pettifog-
GER" whether the service be the off
spring of either corruption or igno-
rance. The idea that District At
torney may override the law, and be
guilty of ''gross neglect to perform a
plain official duty" and it concerns
only the people of Wood County,"
and Governor Washburh had no right
to "stick his nose in' is not only