New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-30
THE PRESIDENTS MAIL.
A FLOOD OF PRAYERS FOR MASON.
POSTAL CARDS POURING IN AFTER THE PARDON WAS
ANNoUNCED-wHAT PETITIONERS SAID.

POSTAL CARDS POURING IN AFTER THE PARDON WAS |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PETITIONERS SAID.
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUsEl
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-One of the news
papers played what amounted practical joke upon
the President the other day. though was not intended
as one In an evil hour the thought struck one OF Hs
editors that postal cards only cent apiece ana that
was thus within the power OF every citizen to exercise
the right OF petition to the President for small sum IN
behalf Of Sergeant Mason and Betty and the BABY IL
may not be true that the President saw the paragraph
and paroned Mason the spot but 1t fact that tne
postal cards only BEGAN to in when the pardon mad
already been announced They came In hundreds and
continued for two or three days How many there woud
have been II the President had not pardoned Mason 1t
would he hard TO guess
The cards made an interesting collection as they were
stacked in bundles the desk Of Private Secretary
Phillips. great many from women educated ana
uneducated; number from soldiers. Some handwrtnes
showed extreme age others from children, or
signed by whole families. Many showed singular IDEAS
OF etiquette in addressing the President and said With
out word of preface pOlteness, Pardon sergeant
Mason" Scores OF cards said not word more Perhaps
nine out Of ten contained request that Sergeant Mason
should be allowed TO eat his Thanksgiving turkey with
Betty the Baby One writer evidently felt that the
President likely to grow tired OF this reiran ana
summarized 1t thus; Sir Mercy-Pardon-M Mason
Thanksgiving. BE just and fear not" This was signed
ny lOuI m0mDerB OF family, tno asJ "So"nb
boy one card Portals description OF mercy one
card unsigned bore this rather pathetic inscription in
trembling hand Please liberate Sergeant Mason and
| answer the prayers OF gray headed mother"
ANNE" evidently a little girl. wrote 4" Mr. Pres
dent Please pardon Sergeant Mason Blessed are the
mercful, for they shall obtain mercy" philadelphia
boys card was more practical perhaps If you want
70 lie the winner IN "a you will have let the Sergeant
brave eat Bcty's turkey dinner" Many cards ad
dressed the President Us C. A. Arthur, esq Dear Sir
one Of these in this sharp fashion, "When do you
propose to give Mason his liberty aud have people think
| there f. some good III you 7" .
please, pardon Sergeant Mason. Let him serve his fn
Tune II i' healthy discipline Its effect pro or con- NJ, Is
very far reaching. Newspaper sentmentiiy ana self
appointed censorshp needs some iGonn N, iO OUT
This may reach your eye and doubtless VIII
not. siil have satisfied my conscience"
These Of the more sinking or mo carns :;
"O any good let the first be the pardon OF Sergeant
Mason. For the sake OF humanity yOI own credit ana
an that Is pure In the administration Of justice, pardon
Sergeant Mason at lie that knoweh aud Judges
al our actions holding you responsible loI your delay
"pcar President Won't You please pardon Sergeant
Mason, that has long been imprisoned Tor crime
am sorry he Odd not accomplish" o.. ,.o,,
ut will he duty and charity 10 all S athCfs lOt you
TO consider the matter Of pardOhng sergeant Mason De-
You desire another four years lease OF tho White
House you viii heaTken to the prayers OF ths uee anu
enlightened nation and pardon sergeant Mas0n.' 49,,
ado please let Sergeant Mason have MS thanksgiving
dinner with Betty aud the baby ..
atel happier - his imprisonment IS heightened ana hl'
. misery thereby utcn,llcdi'
I
ncfuu Thanksgiving Betty and the baby VIII th'h nave
something thank you AMI at the same tne TO llihA
t,uI for -,
- Hope you will read this. In all homcs, where M
fltIcr ~ the household cruces festive board on ihahas
.,lug uay, Oh. don't let sergeant MaaOus tibe nave
vacant clrr lie stu In prison when our KIND hearted
Precedent can !ct captive nee ana 80 HLdtn hei'S
vi r and children "a, wen thousands Ui others IN TIM
Republican city. one OF your strong firm lady almrrs
president Arthur: Make Two vOto7 10y letting up oi
e. | Mason BLANK a Bro" II h not known what b.h'
and i,ro will do with their now tnat they see ta
tie PRESIDENT paldOnrd Mason before uCr Po''"' ''
% | reached the White House. ,,..,
q From this -uowing would seem that the President
Iu.ii muy under some circumstance, become a Dhide
= Yes n j. not large many might expect II OIh ha
" "A. low IA my letters day and seldom exceeds lVu
uur-, some specially important appointment Oh W''7u
/, pending Siuccntus OF these u n sdd' are app 10 ~
. ! on Dcpnrtmcnt majors and ought properly To, d
1dIr -.d To ne departments Almost every man DING
some letter from "Cr4uks which are duly hIed uhHel 'n
q hc,d uf Eccentric "a subdivision about rs laIHc
/ any la the White House files. ~, ,.,.
Occasonally letter. come from lunlilc ay lun'
ono of the Interesting features or the clerical "uA
. M, White House Is tuat the entire time 1I one vi t
N sryCn clerks occupied in reading the hnhtrd' gu W."
p paptr, received Tuis l. done simply to keep Tue run
it..ial opinions which ella ,~ilcd IN 0claoophi y
- tAer subjects aud preserved, thus making history
. | one WAY oil an administrations Iul- system wac U.Eu
a under President Hayes TIE clerical work oi lle VIZ
" House II 50 well syscmatizcd that President mas III,
- labor With his letters and papers. Inc great u'h W"
= nj, ;hy steal powers IL in the stream OF Ci'Ht u'
, whom come glth affairs with which he - not concern,
. Al an and hc lac obi -rd TO Itlcr TO the OtpIAl4'n