The sun., 1879-05-04
Smart Mr.. Merritt.


Mr.. Collector MERRITT, not content with
having his nephew in an unpleasant posi-
tion. has thought It worth while to get into
O little trouble, on his own account, with
The SUN.
Being In an accommodating mood we will
oblige Mr.. MERRITT 10y affording him an OPP
portunity TO have all the difficulty he wants
-and perhaps n little more-with THE SUN
In the management Of Mr. CLIFTON MER-
RITT's ease it seems to us several grave
mistakes have been made.
1t was n mistake for Mr. RICE to volun-
seer to identify the young man SO thorough
ly with the Metropolitan Hotel, or, rather,
to.undertake to identity the hotel with him.
To his own self he standeth or ialleth. What
has the Metropolitan Hotel to do with
him2 Is Judge HILTON TO be affected.
h standing, in popularity, by the conduct
OF every one Of the thousand clerks he en-
ploys2 Mr.. RICE made a concession alto
gethcr uncallcd for, and seemed to mix up
the hotel In the case in most unwarrant-
able manner.
Then what right had Collector MERRITT
30 strut upon the scene like IA red-headed,
gobblng turkey cock, such as may be seen
III u ldiiltl . oai hAuIh az thlS spring Alilt
Of the year Gobble, gobble, gobblc, says
the Collector; this is my nephew; touch
him II YOU darel
We thought Collector MERRITT was a
native OF the United States; II he is he
ought To know that the law In this country
Is no respecter OF persons. There was a
time when to be n nephew of his uncle was
accounted something in France; but then
the uncle was NAPOLEON, and not Collector
MERRITT.
Collector MERRITr's pompous appearance
In the Justices court was at all events i'll
advised. His subsequent conduct was most
damaging TO his unfortunate nephew.
First he sent his own stenographer over
10 the colored woman In Brooklyn who, un-
der such extraordinary circumstances after
the stonugrapher had been there, found a
ffty-dollar bill. We say the Collector sent
him; the stenographer went, and we assume
the Collector sent him because he WAS un-
der the Collectors CONTROL and it is alto
gether improbable that he went OF his own
accord.
Aud here we take occasion TO remark the
cant and hypocrisy Of this pretended civil
service rcformer, who occupies subordinate
In the pay OF the United States in remark
able attempt to eXtricate one Of his kindred
from criminal charge. Is it for
such uses that public officers nre paid by the
Government under an apostle OF civil service
- TefaEsn.2 Is iO,0 0sayC~eAt,-fces,Sof criminal
lawyers in behalf OF his family that Gen.
MERRIrr occupies the Office OF Collector Of
this port
Collector MERRITT had no right 10 have a
itenographer whose time belongs 10 the
Government over at that old colored
woman's attending to the interests OF his
accused nephew. We invite the attention
Of the civil service reformers particularly
10 this operation.
But the fifty dollar bill was no temptation
10 the colored man. who swore 1t was not
the bill he had had.
Not content with the blunders already
made, Collector MERRITT felt called upon
10 make q fresh exhibition Of himself at
the closing scene on Friday. Referring
10 report Of some remarks Of his at prior
hearing which had appeared In Inn Sun,
be pronounced it false"
Now we wish 10 say. once for all, that no
untrue report, no report and no statement
doing the slightest injustice TO any human
being, shall ever be knowingly countenanccd
Dr tolerated by us. Above all other things,
We believe in the truth. We detest and
hbhor all untruths. We strive always to be
right; and II we ever unwttingly get
wrong, we desire earnestly and above every
thing else 10 be set right.
Now in regard to Gen. MERRIrr's re-
marks. they were reported by an educated,
Accomplished gentleman, whom we have
In, 4 la
report, there may possibly DO some ver-