Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-06-16
A Cartons Presideo,.

One of the most remarkable and
anomalous things In the whole
history of American administra'
tions IL the appointment of Mr.. A.
M. Gibson. lately the Washington
correspondent of the New York
Sun, to an important position in
Attorney General McVeagh's Of
fee ct Washington. Gibson's his.
tory can be quickly summarized.
In 1871 he was an obscure attorney
in either Fayette or Washington
county, Pennsylvania. In that
year An attempt was made to start
. Democratic daily in Pittsburgh,
in opposition to the Pittsburgh
Daily Post, the hitherto recognized
organ of the Democracy Of West
srn Pennsylvania, and the only
Democratic daily west Of the Allie
gheny mountains. The men who
put up the money for the new
plant selected, for some inseruta-
BILE reason, Mr.. A. NJ. Gibson as Its
manager. That rustic worthy,
with . presumption which recalls
the scriptural aphorism that pride
ever goeth before a fall, called the
new journalistic bantling The
Paper, an instaLcs OF arrogant
pretension probably without a pre-
cedent. Every detail of the office
was on the most dilettdnte model,
even the composing cases being Of
mahogany. The editorial plant,
however, was decidedly poor. Mr..
BARLEY Campbell, since q famous
American dramatist, was the prin.
cipal writing editor. The stats of
reporters of the New York Herald
and Times were drawn upon for the
several local departments of the
paper; the Messrs. Norris B. Cloves,
Of the Herald, aud Finn, of the
Times, going on to Pittsburgh to add
eclat to the venture. 1t is hardly
necessary to say that the conceited
enterprise went up like rocket
and came down like stick. The
Democratic Post sailed on under
reefed CANVASS and weathered the
gale, INDUCING in smile Of serene
disdain when the more pretentious
craft careened and went under.
The next that we heard of the
pretentious Gibson be turned up as
y Washington correspondent of the
New York Sun. Year in and year
out, he pursued all the leading Re.
publicans with vim and remorse-
lesaness really remarkable for per.
severing malignity. During his
whole connection with The Paper
he gave not the slightest evidence
OF ability of any kind. Perhaps
his failure to achieve newspaper
success in Pittsburgh gave him a
sort OF intellectual jaundice. At
all events, be settled down to his
new work with a deadly virus that
would discount an ordinary rattle
snake, and with an eager ardor
that would do honor to a ferret. 1t
IL safe to say that three-fourths Of
the violent attacks upon James A.
Garfield, which were circulated in
the press Of the United States,
originated with A. III. Gibson's
correspondence with the New York
Sun. His Credit Mobiller and Do
Golyer diatribes in that journal
were memorable for their vigor, in
tense personal animus and proba-
BILE truth. 1t was an humble role
but it was faithfully discharged.
Latterly Gibson has been connect.
ed with the New Yori. Times.
AS q result, we find the Garfield
administration appointing A. NJ.
Gibson to high and responsible
post In the judicial department Of
the government Of the United
States.
The Washington City Capital,
whoee editor, Dom Piatt, also an
Ohio man, has been for years per.
sonal friend of President Garfield,
IL following that gentleman up in
his tergiversatlons in courteous
but remorseIess way. Comment.
ing upon this appointment OF Glib.
son, the Capital says:
In order to make the antiths sis
perfect We will say again that we
have always believed, and now be.
lieve, that when A. M. Gibson as
serted In the columns of the New
York Sun that you, Mr.. President,
were Bribe.taKer, a Thief, q Per.
jurer, q Liar and q Euborner of
Perjury and Forgery, MIR. Gibson
He'd and libeled you grossly, ma.
liciously and criminally.
Do you believe that A. M. Glib
son lied and libeled you when he
aid in the columns OF the New
York Sun that you were Brihe.
taksr, . Liar, q Perjursr and Sub.
orner Of Perjury and Forgery?
Hyou believe that, are you aware
Of any subsequent reformation In
his character that would warrant
you In certifying to his regenera.
ton, by approving his retainer''
In = capacity requiring the most
exalted attributes of honor, homes.
ty and integrity-the most grave
and delicate trust that can be re-
posed In q citizen?
NJ Mr.. nresident5 these are serious
quest 1s. They are questions thai
are Jon the tongues OF many mil.