National Republican., 1880-08-04
The Moss and Russell Affair.

Mr.. Spofrord the librarian of congress. Is
undoubtedly very valuable officer so far as
arranging and cataloguing vast number Of
volumes for convenience Is concerned but
these high qualifications should not be
dimmed by an act Of rank injustice, which In
wolves a rarabe wrong. Somo time since
| THE REPUBLICAN made bare reference o an
affair which occurred IN the congressional
| library between two employes-one white
democrat named Lowell Russell and the other
| a colored republican named John A. Moss.
| The facts and circumstances connected with
the affair are substantially these Moss, who
is great admirer of General Garfield, had
placed over his desk likencsses Of Garfield and
Arthur. tho republican candidates for prcsi-
dent and vice-prGsident This representation
was pulled down by Russell and stamped
under his feet on the floor to its
ruin. When Moss discovered the outrage
ae replaced it with another, aud soon
Russell treated this as he had the former
one. Moss then nsccrtainod to his full satisfac.
tion that Russell had destroyed his pictures,
aud went to him and Dked If he had done the
act. Russell replied that he had aud asked IN.
sOlcntly "What do you propose to dOabout 1t ~
! 70 this ins0ent remark Moss very promptly
aud properly replied II can only say that it
| was very cowRIdly act in you 10 destroy my
property while absent from my desk SO that
could not defend it," This was very truth.
ful remark, for tho act was one Of marked
wrong aud sncNking cowardcc. In reply to
| this remark Russell struck Moss and lively
scrmmage ensued, in which Russell il said TO
| have got the worst Of IL. Uore Mr. SpoHord
| interposed his authority In q very arbitrary
aud unjust manner, as appears IN the sequel.
| IIc at once dismissed Moss, the wrongcl party,
| from service and continued Russell for the
! time instead of dismissing both, no should
| have been the case if either was to have
| been punished. lie subsequently gave Russell
| % leave OF absence for the month Of July, and
! II is understood with pay. On the LIST OF
| August Russell, ut the end of his leave, re.
! turacd TO duty, whilo Moss is thrown out Of
| his situation entirely, and without redress.
| II Is said by those conveIsuut with the library
that Moss is by far tue most efficient aud
valuable cmploye of the two, but he is unfor.
| tunately colored republican, whilO the
aggrcssor is white democrat. This would
! indicate the direction of Mr. SpoAo.d's politi-
cal sympathies at this time, for the rank est
democrat would scarcely be guilty of an act
| of equal injustice under the circumsta uccs
This is the tale briefly and correctly told in
accordance with the strict facts Of the case,
| Mr. SpOtford was appointed by President lin
coin, at a period when democrats were not
| hOuored with civil places under republican
administration, aud has hold his position uu-
disturbed through all succeeding republican
administrations. Nevertheless he cannot sub.
stautiats his Worthiness to bo retaiued by the
occurrence here narrated 1t IS very doubt.
! ful if rauk injustice in the exercise of power
can be covered from responsibility by other
excelences of ohicia, character. No man, nc
matter how elevated his position, eau sGord IA
do a papaba wrong, for sooner or later all
wrong must moto judgment.