Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-07
From the New York Tribune.


TIE QUESTION or WILKES BOOTX.
When the Clerk Of the House Committee Of
Ways and Means denied the other day that he had
ever named child John Wilkes Booth, we &C.
copied his denial without reserve and promptly
published it, though it was made in rather sus-
picous and evasive manner. For our part we
were glad to believe that the stories widely cir
culated about this man were untrue, glad for the
sake Of common humanity to believe that there
no one base enough to call son after the
assassin of Abraham Lincoln. But it seems that
we were too ready to trust the fathers denial. So
many witnesses have since borne testimony to the
truth of the original report that we have been in
duced to make fresh inquiries, and the result is to
satisfy us that whatever name the child may have
received in baptism if he received any, he was
always known in the family as Booth Gentle
men whose word cannot be doubted assure us that
they have heard the father boast that he had child
named John Wilkes Booth. Residents of Atlanta
assure US that the fact was notorious in that city
When the family were in Washington, few years
ago, the name was common subject of converse
ton among those who came in contact with them
The child himself, when asked his name, always
answered "John Wilkes Booth" The child's
nurse habitually gave him the same appelaton'
And the father confirms all this testimony by &C
knowedgng in his statement to the Washington
correspondent of the Tribune that the child was
sometimes called Booth because neighbor chad
a child called Abraham Lincoln, An acknowl-
edgment which makes the animus too clear for
doubt.
And now we ask again, What is to be thought
of the democratic leader of the House who takes
this man out of his obscurity and lifts him up to
public view as specimen of the Southern democ-
racy? Here is a man who has done what ought
to exclude him forever from all decent society; a
man who has gloried in paying honor to muir
derer; man who fastened upon his innocent
child the name of one of the most dastardly as
sassiDs in history; man who chershes, long al
ter the war has closed, malignant and diaboil-
cal hatred of his county,. and holds IN such abb
horrence the memory of the martyr President that
he spews his venom on Lincoln's grave. Such
a man is a traitor at heart as we'll as brute.
No right thinking, patriotic American can meet
him on terms Of fellowship. But our democratic
friends no sooner get possession OF the House
of Representatives than they choose him, of all
most important cleikships. They turn disabled
Union soldiers out of the petty places which the
Government has provided for them, and give an
office to the blatant admirer Of Abraham Lin
coins assassin.
If there is any self-respect in the Committee
of Ways and Means it will lose no time in undo
ing this shocking blunder. No doubt it is true
that when Hambleton was appointed the facts
now brought to light were not known, although
it would be strange if his general character and
sentiments had not been known to those who ap-
pointed him. But there can be no excuse for neg
Letting an inquiry now. This is not trhing
matter, mere question OF clelkship. The
democratic party is on trial. 1t has not done
too much since its surprising successes in 1874 to
give us confidence in its wisdom or integrity, OF
TO make us forget how it treated Lincoln during
his lifetime, and how large number of its ablest
and most popular leaders bore themselves in the
crisis of their countrys peril.