Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-17
la1lraster fnteIligencer.
"WEDNESDAY EvE'a, MARCH II, 1890.
Noble Senators.

"WEDNESDAY EvE'a, MARCH II, 1880.
Noble Senators.
The statement of Senators Garland
and Mcdonald, made to Senator Wallace
at his request, concerning the confirma-
tion of Marshal Kerns's appointment,
makes that matter profoundly obscure,
instead of illuminatingit. Senator Wal
lace, being charged with first opposing
and subsequently favoring Kerns's con-
firmation, secures from the sub-commit-
tee of the judiciary committee, which
had this appointment in charge, a letter
which says, if it is fairly construed,
that Senator Wallace did not in any way,
at any time, orally or verbally, favor
Kerns's confirmation, but on the other
hand, on January 9, January 10, and as
late as February 8, wrote to them urging
his rejection as "not fit man for the
place " and "a representative of the very
worst elements of Philadelphia Republi-
can politics." If this certificate certifies,
as we read it to certify, that Senator
Wallace did not, subsequently to Feb
ruary 2, indicate to the judiciary
committee that he had changed his mind
in re Kerns, and give it to understand
that he no longer opposed his confirma-
tiOn, then the basis of the charge against
Senator Wallace that he did reverse his
action in this matter, depends solely on
the vote which he gave in the Senate for
Kerns' confirmation, and leaves him only
this to explain to his constituents. Did
he vote for the confirmation of man
whom he believed and declared to be
unfit and if so, why
We have further to say of the letter of
Senators Mcdonald and Garland that it
leaves us in a very bewildered state of
mind as to the senatorial state of mind
that is brought to bear upon the subject
of appointments. In the first place it
disabuses us of the preconceived opinion
that senator has any influence with his
brother senators to move them to vote to
reject, for political considerations or any
other mean consideration, a fit man nom-
mated to fill an office in his own state.
The contrary impression is generally
prevalent, and the country will be de-
lighted to find that the only question
asked of a candidate for office by the
Democratic senators, members of the
sub-judiciary committee, is, d" Are you
honest, are you capable The
representation of our brother, Sen
atOr Wallace is to the contrary
but if you tell us you are innocent and
good, he shall not strike you down. ,
Noble senator's!
Then it occurs to us to note-in view OF
the fact that Senators Mcdonald and Gar
land say they were on the investigating
committee which inquired into Kerns':
conduct, and which reported in unspar
ing condemnation of it, having
Senator Wallace for its mouth
piece-that Senator Mcdonald and
Garland did shockingly violate the trutl
when they assented to that report or thai
they do so now when they adopt other and
totally different conclusions. For it is
to be observed that their present conclu-
sion was based, as they say, solely upol
the testimony taken and considered
by them in the investigation, supple
mented only by later statement made
to them by the accused marshal.
And we take occasion to say that we are
shocked at the declaration made by Sen
ators Mcdonald and Garland, if it is a.
we understand it to be. that the denun
citation of kerns by them as an investi
eating committee was animated only b.
political considerations, and that all th'
time they were holding this marshal VI
to the scorn of the country fo
the appointment of hundreds of Re
publican strikers to stuff the Philadelphi;
ballot boxes, in reality they believed
then, as they assert now, that Kerns
conduct on that election day was no
censurable. What strange senator's
And what magnanimous, yet inconsist
ent senators for, shortly after they de
clare that Kerns was not censurable, the,
say that he was censurable for appoint
ing deputies whose character was yer,
bad, on the endorsement of his politica
friends as to their character. Th'
inconsistency is obvious, and so i
the magnanimity which led these tw'
Democratic senators to forget to poin
out to Mr.. Kerns how very simple h
was, if he was not very wicked, to ap
point only Republican watchers at tn
instance of his "political friends" an,
to remain calmly serene throughout tn
day of election that they were doin,
their duty justly, and to avoid inquirin.
into their conduct, and to remain ignor
ant of their remarkable proceedings
So good was Kerns!
1t almost seems to us as if we woult
like to have the portraits of these tw,
Democratic senators, who thought S,
much of Kerns and so little of Wallace
to hang them up in our Office and gaz'
upon them, that we might grow good il
the contemplation. But there is ont
thing in their letter which causes us t.
forbear. We have reverence for Georg'
Washington, because of his expertnes
with the hatchet, and we dare not pu
alongside him any face that would dis
turb our gaze upon his truthful counte
nance.
And so when Senator Mcdonald and
Garland fbaf nm mn 70 coo %I,or,