Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-11-07
1877 r

situation. and asked for and receives
their views on his policy of Civil Ser
vice, the discussion leading to fre
Interchange Of opinions as to VIII
would be # IA IN
THE FITTEsT PERSON
to serve the Government as Ministc
to England. Tho name of Wayn,
McVcagh was prominently mention
ed, "a were the names of two or thre,
other gentlemen, but the momen
that of John Welsh was suggested
the Presidents face frightened up
and, bringing his hand down will
force upon his knee, he exclaimed, 81
have had his name in my mind fol
some time past" In the ensuing
conversation the committee pressed
upon the President the remembrance
of his long and faithful services tc
the City Of Philadelphia and the
State Of Pennsylvania, and to the
splendid record he had made for him
self in his public and private capaci
ty as citizen. Furthermore it wa.
pointed out that he was one of the
few men who would be
ACCEPTABLE TO ALL CLASSES
of the State that he was not a poll
tician; that he was not guided BY
partisan motives; that he was above
reproach, with no joint in his armol
which adverse criticism could reach
and that he had all the ability, if nam
ed and confirmed, to fill the high of.
flee of Minister Plenipotcntiary tc
England, with dignity and honor
Reference was made to Senator Cam.
eron, and the President declared thai
not for single moment had he enter
tained the thought Of nominating thu
ex-senator for the office and he an.
nounced his firm determination to
appoint
NONE BUT THE VERY BEST CLASS OF
for positions of trust, in pursuance OF
his plan for the reformation Of the
Civil Service. Mr.. Welsh was invit.
ed to Washington yesterday. 1t il
understood here that Secy. Sherman
telegraphed to Mr.. Welsh that he
would be pleased to see him at the
capitol, and that gentleman arrived
late last evenin-. There were con.
ferences between him and the Cabi
net officers, and the result is his be.
ing named rs Minister to the Court
of st. James.
Mr.. WELSH
is a native of Philadelphia and is Z;
years Of age. He has been many
years member of large house In
the India trade. They are largely in.
terested in the West India trade, i'm.
porting for others on commission but
not on their own account. They pay
. heavy amount of duties into the
custom-house, perhaps moro than any
other firm in this city. Mr.. Welsh il
best known as the president of the
Centennial Board of finance, and tc
his efforts Philadelphians largely at.
tribute the success of the great exhi.
bition. His services were recognized
by subscription Of $4,000 for
A TESTIMONIAL FROM HIS FELLOW
CITIZENS,
and this testimonial, ut his suggestion
took the shape of the endowment OF
the John Welsh Professorship, in the
University Of Pennsylvania. lie is q
prominent member of the Protestant
Episcopal church, and is one of the
founders and largest contributors to
the Protestant Episcopal Hospital in
this city. He is not the Welsh who
was SO prominent in connection with
Indian affairs during Grants admin
istration. He has never before held
any appointment under the Federal
or State Government, and has such
an aversion to public life that he will
not accept the mission to England il
there is serious opposition to his con.
tirmation.