New-York tribune., 1881-08-25
POOR MR.. GLOVER.

Really, it is impossible not to feel some
sympathy with poor Mr.. Glover, who, no
doubt, is still living in Missouri, or somewhere
Mr. Glover entered public life in Washington
with distinct purpose and great ambition.
He lOnged to distinguish himself by uncover
ing fraud, provided, always, that it was Re-
publican fraud. This was an honest ambi-
ton, so far rs it went Fraud should
be exposed and punished, no matter by
whom committed, wherever it is possible
to do so, and a man who devotes himself to
the detection of corruption, even if he does so
simply us a partisan, is doing good service to the
people. But the unfortunate Glover could ONLY
discover Democratic frauds. He soon proved
himself the most unerring blunderer ever seen
among professional reformers. He ranged
through all the Departments, through both houses
OF Congress- and through the White House. and
ut almost every step the cry went up that he
had made n great discovery and usually
he had; but it was always the discovery of
some Illegal action committed by Dem
ocrat,\ or money stolen by Democrat.
or perquisites pocketed by Democrat
Poor Air. Glover went cunning every day in
the pious hope that he would bring down n
plenty OF Republicans, but when he came home
at night his bag was always stuffed full Of
Democrats. Or rather to recur TO the simile
which is indeibly associated in the public
mind with Mr. Glover, he tished all day long
for Republicans, and never got his hook into
anything but the seats of Democratic trousers.
The result was that poor Mr. Glover fell into
dlsrepute IN his party. He became the best
hated man III If, which is saying Il great deal.
He failed OF reelection, and at last fell 80 low
that he could not induce his Democratic
colleagues to print what he called his
II =.
being an account of his adventures in pcram-
bulating the Departments with hook and line.
in which, is customary in such chronicles.
he said nothing about the little fish he did
catch, while the big fish he didn't catch were
given with all their measurements and a vast
number of other fictitious and imposing details.
Then poor Mr. Glover disappeared, and il was
supposed that he had withdrawn into Missouri
or some other remote and only partially ex-
plOred region.
Imagine then what poor Mr.. Glover must
have felt when he saw the exposures of the
Star Ronte frauds made by Postmaster General
james. Imagine, also, what his emotions must
be when he reads of Captain Howgate's exploits
III drawing double vouchers and fitting up steam
yachts ut Government expense. What hinge
fish uncaught--what magnificent bites unbit-
ten! The empty pouches had been swinging
for years on the mules backs along the Star
Routes. and the contractors had for years been
cXpcditing" the flow of money from the
Treasury, and poor Mr.. Glover never knew il.
Captain Howgatc had been for years drawing
his double vouchers for Oriental rugs and
barometcrs. stationery and furniture and pock-
cting differences ut every turn, and poor Mr..
Glover never knew it. Had he known
II, le might have conyulscd the country
with his disclosures, and the State of
Missouri presenting him to the National Demo
cratic Convention the exponent Of rctrcnch-
mcnt and reform, he might have gone a-iish-
ing for the Presidency itself. In which case
may be sure that, whether elected or not,
he would have tried to take his seat"
But it may te that Glover would not have
attacked the Star Route frauds, or it may he
that he knew of and did not attack them,
which was true of numerous Democratic Con-
grcssmen. Mr. Glover was interested in n
patent mailbag fastener which the Depart
ment was induced to accept. Mr.. Glover
brought this about in spite of statute forbid
ding Congressman to hold an interest in any
patents or devices in use by Departments.
But then if he could say nothing about the Star
Routes he could have concentrated himself upon
| lIowgatc. No one knew better than Mr. Glover
what frauds to say as little about rs possible,
and doubt we should have had the welkin
ringing with Howga'e Therefore, it is that we
| pity Mr.. Glover, who sees Republican Adj
| mnstration winning all the glory that he
| missed, and no doubt sadly reflects that he
| might just as well not have gone fishing
--------------------
After all our criticism of medical mon our conf