The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-07
Dangerous widows.

Mr.. Moore, a Republican member of
Congress from Tennessee, gives to the Re-
publican party the words of warning once
made immortal by the elder Weller, "Be-
ware of vidders." They are sapping the
foundations of the glorious old party and
threaten II with speedy ruin. Unless the
party ar0uses itsel6 it is lost. Like Samson,
if 1t sits in the laps of widows, or rather il
it let's the widows sit in its lap. its strength
and virtue will vanish, and it will fall into
the hands of the Philistines. 1t must
awake, arise, let The widows fall out of its
lap, or be forever fallen itsely.
Mrs. Wilcox, who is taken as the text of
this eloquent bot ungallant appeal TO his
party, is widow. She enjoys the rare dis
tinction of having been born in the White
House, her grandfather, Andrew Jackson
Donelson, having been at the time the Pri-
vate Secretary and adopted son of the Presi-
dentwhose name he bore. She was appointed
by General Grant to a clerkship in the Treas
ury Department. Her conduct in the office
has been scandalous and outrageous. She
has done her work faithfully, and credita-
bly,, but this does not compensate for
nor excuse, the offenses of which she is
guilty. She is not Republican, and SYM
patbizes with the Democratic party She has
even dared to talk of the time when the
Democrats come into power. This her
their minds the foundation of things, and
makes them distrust the goodness of Provi-
dence and the stability of the universe.
This was more" says Moore, than Judge
Houk and T. could stand, and Judge
Houk knew the widow of a Union SOL
der "who was in every respect equally
worth, and Judge Houk and 1" agreed
that she should have place in preference
to Democratic sympathizer." 81 do not
believe" remarked Moore with much SOL
emnity, lin this sentimental appointment
to Office OF Democratic widows. Republican
widows are appointed for practical reasons
If the Democrats come into power" Moore
adds, they ought to turn out every Repub-
lican Office holder and put Democrats in
their places. If they do not do this they
are fools
One swallow, however, does not make
summer, and one widow does not make a
fall-of the pillars of the Constitution. But
Moore knows of another widow in the Mem
phis PostOffice who has another pier or but
tress of the Constitution, and who. by a pull
altogether with Andrew Jackson's great
granddaughter, can turn the party and the
country topsy-turvey. In place of this be-
reaved political torpedo at Memphis, Con-
gresham Moore knows an entirely safe
and trustworthy person who. ought
to have her Office. His appointment
would restore the edifce to plumb and the
people to confidence. The fact that this
trustworthy person happens to be Moore's
brother-in-law has nothing whatever to do
with it. The question is solely whether OF
not he sympathizes with the Republican
party. If he does, that ends the contro-
versy. To give al Office to Union soldiers
widow, who sympathizes with the Demo
cratic party, and afford her thereby
means for providing for her chill
dren, when Moore has a brother-in.
law that fits the place like an umbrella
in an umbrella case is sentimental bit
of politics which profoundly disgusts Moore.
He is practical politician who believes,
like Flanagan, that parties exist for the
offices and the Republicans as well as Demo
Gratis are ''fools'' if they do not act on that
principle. So long as widows are in office
and Congressmen's brother-in-laws are out,
our political institutions are in danger.
Moore's superiority over other Congressman
is his frankness. Most of them believe as be
does about it, but are more hypocritical,
and instead of proclaiming it from the house
tons hide il under specious phrases.