New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-08
The Question of wilkes Booth.

Wien the clerk of the House Committee
of Ways and Means denied the other day
that he had ever named child John Wilkes
Booth, We accepted his denial without re.
serve and promptly published it, though it
was made in Q rather suspicious and eva
sive manner. For our part we are glad to
believe that the stories so widely circulated
about this man we're untrue-glad for the
rake of our country and of common human
lty to believe that there was no one base
enough to call son after the assassin of
Abraham Lincoln. But it seems that we
we're too ready to trust the fathers denial.
so many witnesses have since borne testi-
mony to the truth of the original report
that we have been induced 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" Gentlemen whose word can not
be doubted assure us that they have heard
the father boast that he had child nan ed
John Wilkes Booth. Residents of Atlanta
assure US that the fact was notorious in that
city. When the family were in Washing
ton. few years ago. the name was com
mon subject of conversation among those
who came in contact with them. The child
himself, when asked his name, always an
swered John Wilkes Booth" The child's
nurse habitually gave him the same appel
lation. And the father confirms ali this
testimony by acknowledging in his state
ment to the Washington correspondent of
the Tribune that the child was sometimes
called Booth because = neighbor had q
child called Abraham Lncoln"-an acknow
ledgment 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 obscur
ity and lifts him up to public view al q
specimen of the Southern Democracy. Here
is man who has done what ought to exclude
him forever from all decent society; man
who gl0ried in paying honor to a murderer;
a man who fastened upon his innocent child
the name of one Of the most dastardly as
sassins in history; q man who cherishes.
long after the war has closed, q maginant
and diabolical hatred of his country. and
holds in such adherence the memory
Of the martyr President that he
spews his venom on L!ncOlns grave. Such
a man is . traitor at heart as well a. a
brute. No right thinking, patriotic Ameri-
can 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 the men in the
United States for one Of their most i'm
portant clerkships. 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 Lincoln's assassin.
If there is any self-respect in the Com
mittee of Ways and Means. it will lose no
time in undoing this shocking blunder. No
doubt it is true that when Hambleton was
appointed the facts now brought to light
were not kno wn. although it would be
strange If his general character and senti-
ments had not been known to those who
appointed him. But there can be no excuse
for negleoting an inquiry now. This is not
tritling matter, mere question of clerk
ship. The DemocI attic party is on ,iial. 1t
has not done too much since its surprising
successes in 1874 to give US confidence in its
wisdom or integrity, or to make US forget
how it treated Lincoln during his lifetime.
and how large number Of it's ablest and
most popular leaders bore themselves in the
crisis of their country's peril.-Ner York
T,.iL,y,,n