New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-08


Mp. HfUBLETON'S DEFENSE.
MIR. James p. Uambleton, who was appointed
Clerk of the Committee of Ways and Means
by the Democratic Chairman OF that Com
mittee, writes to The Ne,c- York World y letter
which is published herewith. 1t purports
TO be a denial of the widely circulated
and generally accredited report that MIR.
Uamblcton showed his fine sense OF
honor and patriotism and decency by naming
his son after President Lincon's assassin. we
ask of our readers a careful, nay diliGcnt,
pcrnsal of il. 1t bears his signature. 1t Is the
first public recognition OF the report by Mr.. Ham
bleton that has appeared over that gcntlcman's
signature. Read it carefully, please, and find,
if possible, il anywhere it denies the alicSa-
ton which public rumor has made. Mr.. Ham
blcton says il is Il &" stale SANDER" " base
"lcss len that "has been time and again
"refuted,r malicious falsehood." q" base
"lcss fabricatiOn," and various other things,
which would seem sufficient; but IL
will be remarked that none OF these
things are said upon Mr.. Ham
blcton's authority. He says those falsehoods
were invented by ex-GOv. Bullock OF Georgia
OF whom he takes the unnecessary pains to
give us wholly supcriluous Biographical
skctcb-and that they were denied by Gen.
Charles Ewing of Ohio in letter to Gen. Gar
field and By The Washington Republican. All OF
which is well enough. SO far Is it goes. But
Mr.. II .mblcton himself is the best authority.
He knows whether the child called himself
Wilkes Booth; he knows whether the nurse so
called him. and he knows whether he himself
ever gave his name ~ Wilkes Booth. lie
nrglccts 10 give any information upon these
points. He could easily have done 1t. But
in the letter in which he cites Gen. Ewing ana
The Washington Hcpub'icon he has wholly neg
lectcd TO state the facts within his own knowi-
edge. He has gone so far as 10 say that he
has two sons named " benjamin ana "oii-
"vcr,r and to add the gratuitous information
that they were not named for either benjamin
Butler or Oliver Morton. He SAYS nothing
abont the son named John Wilkes, except to
quote what other people have said.
Now we desire to be fairly understood III
this matter. Mr. lIalnblcton had a perfect
right TO M IN, his son rs he pleased. We have
nothing TO do with that, and we have nothing
TO do with the innocent child himself. We
have only TO say that the act dlacloSrS chafac-
ter. We IRE dealing with the act OF The iather
alone. IL may be in very bad taste to
deal with a man because OF SO tnih"E a
thing - the christening of child, and
in worse TASTE perhaps II the child Is dead
But this happens to be a ease ~ when pccn-
liar circumstances make il a very proper sub
icct of comment and Of honest critI-
ci.m. Til, Congress is the first that
has been controlled by the Democratic party
since that party went ont of power III
1860, defeated by Abraham Lincoln. IL
hated Abraham Lincoln. 1t pretended 10 ii
sincere gricf when he wa, killed. what IS IFS
first act upon attaining power after MI Lih-
coins dcathl II has not honorcd his assassin.
il il true. Ii could not. IL has done the
next thing. II has honorcd the only
man in Iii, country who was base enough to
glory in Nh Lincolns death and allow his
own child to be called by the name of his as
sa.sin. 1t Il not malicious fll'chood,
and this man knows it. II is not Il
"hasclcSs labricition." and he knows it
- well that over hi, own signature he
does not dare deny H. The Democratic party
might afford 10 appoint such nnn to ONCE II
in its history for the past ten years II had
ever had the opportunity to put ITSELF above
the suspicion OF resentment bu' 1t has not.
This has been il, first opportunity to show its
anmus, and it has shown it.
Not that by this act it has shown itself "a
an organization incapable Of forgiveness and
cagcr for revenge. Only this, that its ruling
spirits recognize fcalty 10 Democracy III the
act of this man, and that herein glow5 ITS
shirt. II takes down to 1876 the ciinrhcd
GA of 1865. 1t hates. 1t learns
nothing. 1t forgcts nothing This Is
but little thing. The boy is dead. The
newspapers who snecrcd at :" the late Ia
"mcntedn Mr.. Lincoln months after his death
see nothing in it. II is not worth anyb0dy's
while TO hold great party to account
for the act of one foolish ardent partisan.
But away back in the country, and perhaps
in The cities too, there is rcycrcnt affection
for the memory of Abraham Lincoln that will
not think it small thing that the Democratic
Darty gives its Offices 10 men WHO Gorlci In
his .sa-sination. And perhaps by and by 1t
will be seen that 1t was mistake to make
this appointment, and worse one to try to
laugh it oil.
SENITORLiL a TSPAU&