National Republican., 1883-11-01
A sInnder on tho Presldent.


Common slandorors like Charles Il. Smith
arc always tho most sensitive to little truth.
He has hired himself out to throw vitriol at
other mon at price that would be spurned
by an Italian bravo, and has boon for some
time luxuriating in the havoc he was making.
He has taken delight in the service of men
he had affected to dcspise, and has rioted in
tho work Of assailing tho men who had always
been his friends. Ho made love to the business
of defamation, and abandoned himself to
the task of increasing tho efficiency of tho
newspaper of which he was hireling in
tho vile mission TO which its proprietor had
dedicated it. lie had been Now York
stalwart by profession, but in his now
sphere he exhibited all the virulence toward
old friends that over characterizos tho de-
serter who sells himself for price. 1t has
been his delight to study how he could
wound the feelings of those WHOM ho had
betrayed, and nothing has ho done with
greater relish than to attack his former
friend, the President. When he wanted to
aid his en- poyer in vending his wares, and
needed government money to do it with, he
laid aside his reform picty and hied him to
Washington. Ho found in the then post
master general ready friend. 1t was not
unreasonable that there should he q fast
morning train west from Philadelphia ahead
of the fast morning train from New York.
The request for such an order was made
by the postmaster general. The cost of it
would have been but SIG 900 if the service had
been secured in an ordinary manner. But
there was no appropriation to meet it, and
two months wo uld intervene before congress
would meet, and be able to make an appro.
priaton. The accomm odating postmaster
general bethought himself of method
whereby, at a loss to the government of more
than three quarters of million of dollars,
he could get the $4,000 worth Of extra
service done to serve his "(riend Charlie"
and he settled it in that way. The govern
mcnt pays over $sOO,OOO for sending the
Philadelphia Press west ahead of the New
York papers, when by waiting few weeks
it could have been done for $4,000. Brought
face to face with this conspiracy to rob the
treasury for private purposes, of which ho was
the instigator and center, and of which his
paper was he beneficiary, this craven flies to
cover and whines like q belabored cur.
Admitting the facts, he swears they are
bameess, and pressed to the wall with the
enormity of the public robbery he has en-
gnoered, he seeks to take shelter behind the
President, and to justify his rascalty by q
false pretense that that dignitary had in
some manner advised tho action of the de-
partmcnt. We say false pretense advisedly,
and that it is false one will be abundantly
proven whenever it is brought to the test of
evidence before committee. of congress.
The earth contains no meauer object nor
more abject wretch than one who, caught in
corrupt practices from which he is reforming
tho world, pleads the name Of some man
whose contempt he has earned, and attempts
to escape punishment because he has been
allowed to make to him furtive remark.
The lash applied by THE REPUBLICAN to
Smiths back has made him howl with pain,
but it has not as yet extorted from him any
denial of the damning facts which constitute
his offense. The rack awaits him when con-
gress meets. Till then he may rail as he
plcases.