The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-09-16
ALL IN TWO YEARS.

Referring in a recent issue to the re-
publication by the Democratic organs
of an article that appeared in this paper
two years ago, we promised to make
brief statement of the reasons why those
who trusted Gov. Taylor and his as
sociates then, can not do SO now. 1t
appears upon reflection, however, that
these considerations cannot be even out
lined within the limits of a single arti-
Gle, and only n beginning will be made
at present. leaving the rest Of the recital
for subsequent issues.
Two years ago Mr.. Taylor was little
known through the State. He had been
in the Legislature, but was a following
and not q leading member, and the
history Of the State would have been
quite the same if he had stayed at home.
Then he sank back to the position of
member of the Board of Supervisors,
and those who knew the measure of his
capacity, without, however, knowing
that even III that subordinate position
he was racreant and faithless, generally
entertained the ide.. that us a supervisor
he had reached the highest sphere of
public service that he was fitted for. 1t
may be here remarked parenthetically
that the opposition to Gov. Taylor with
in his own panty includes the men who
are best acquainted with him, and have
had the best opportunity to learn his
character and capacity. One of these IS
Hon. Philo Dllnning, who has been
his neighbor for years and has had ex-
| tensive business relations with him. An
| other is Hon. John ID. Gurnee, who
had professional occasion to investigate
the affairs of the collapsed Farmers
Bank, of which shady concern Mr.. Tay
| lor was president. No one can fail to
see the significance of the fact that two
such gentlemen, being peculiarly well
informed as to Taylor's mental and NOR
al qualities, unhesitatingly affirm that
he is grossly unfit to enjoy the conf
dence of the people, for any capacity,
and that his incumbency of the office of
governor is humiliation to the State.
But this is departure from the pur-
pose of this article. We have shown
that Taylor was not widely known when
he became a candidate for governor, and
during the campaign, so little was the
| danger of his election thought to be,
that no effort was expended in the in
vestigation OF his antecedents. Hence
the average voter came to look upon
HIM as a man of moderate ability, but
of fair reputation for integrity. This
view of his character obtained generally
outside of the comparatively small num-
Der Of citizens who were better acquaint-
ed with him, until after mis- Inaugural
ton. Among his earliest official acts
was the signing of certificates upon
which the Wisconsin Central Railroad
obtained patents to certain lands that it
claimed. This excited considerable
comment, in view of Gov. Washbarn' 8
refusal to sign the certificates and the
other circumstances of the transaction.
A statement recently published III The
Chicago Tribune, which was telegraph
ed from this city, but not, as has been
stated, by the editor of The Sentinel, af-
fords some light as to the motive of this
proceeding. The statement is thus COR
roborated by The Portage Register, a
paper that is little apt to make charges
without abundant proof:
| That The Madison Democrat the re-
| cipient OF a large sum of money from the Wis
consin Central Railroad at about the time
| specified, for purpose, do not believe
will be disputed. Whether Gov. Taylor was in
| fuenced by it, or not, we do not know We
| do know, however, that his action in the mat
| ter was SO strange, unaccountable and indefen-
sible as to awaken the gravest suspicious of his
/ official integrity. After resisting and denying
! the application of the Central Company for
| some time, and counseling with those who
were opposing the demands OF the Company
for the certificates before they had built the
| road from Portage and while the matter was
pending before the Supreme Court of the
State, and a bill was also pending before the
| Assembly. and was its third reading, and
after receiving the written opinion of Col.
| William It. Villas, to whom he applied for legal
advice in the matter. that the Company was
not entitled to the certificates, which advice
general S. S. Barbor and his assistant. Hon. P.
| L. SpOOner, Gov. Taylor sent in a message to
the Assembly just before a vote was to be
taken on the bill pending before it that would
| have settled the whole matter, that he had
| given the certificates to the Central Company
It should perhaps be added for the in
formation of those who are not already
acquainted with the fact, that one Of the
proprietors OF The Madison Democrat
is son-in-law of Gov. Taylor.
About the same time another event
TRANSFERRED that illustrated strikingly the
character of Gov. Taylor. A man named
JENNIE. who had been employed as a
clerk in the executive Office, was dis
charged. Upon applying to Gov. Tay-
lor to ascertain the reason of his dis
missal, he was informed by that gentle
man that the man whom he had appoint
ed in his place owed him Craylor) sum
of money, and that the only way he
could get it was to give him an Office.
In other words, Gov. Taylor had used
the public patronage to collect private
! debt. It is difficult to distinguish be-
tween this proceeding and an offense
known to the law as simony. But the
statement is supported by the affidavit
of Mr.. Jenne, and has never been denied
by Gov. Taylor or any one for him.
This recital will be continued in subse-
quent issues, when additional informa-
. ton of great interest to the voters OF
Wisconsin will be set forth. The Demo
cratic papers have taken great pains to
let the people people know what The
Sentinel thought of their candidates two
years ago. We will not fail to let them
know what The Sentinel thinks of them
now, and what reasons it has encounter
ed for revising its conclusions both as
to their capability and their honesty
Sentinel.