New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-16
THE T17ro0ED MIN OF 1906:

The brightest name in American history Is
that of President Washington. During the lasC
wear of his Presidency he was the tattooed
man of that generation. Chief Justice Mar
shall. in his Life of Washington, says with
q eoual virulence. the military and the political
character of the President was attacked, and
he was avowed to be totally destitute OF merit
either as a soldier or statesman. Inc
"calumnies with which he was assalled were
"not confined to his public conduct; even MS
qualities as q man were the subject OF detrac-
q ton. His impeachment was publicly sug-
gested and that he had dawn from the
Treasury for his private use more than the
salary annexed to his Office was unblushlngIy
asserted Against him, as against General
Garfield, forgery was employed. Ills laSI
official letter as President addressed to the Sec
Rotary of State, puts on record Washington
"solemn declaration that the letters herein de-
.scribed are a base forgery, and that never
"saw or heard of them till they appeared III
sprint" In the first draft of Washington
Farey Address, with burning indignation he
wrote that some of the gazettes OF the
United States" by misrepresentation ana ialse-
hood, had sought to wound his reputation ana
feelings. and to weaken if not entirely destroy
the confidence" of his countrymen. Inc
President added a touching appeal to respect
u the gray hairs of man who has passed the
prime of his life III the service OF the country,
that he might be suffered to pass quietly to
his grave Even in those days, 1t seems
gazettes like The EuenHig Post and Inc Ae~-
YORK. Times were not unknown.
History has been compelled to tattoo the
sanderers, though some were men OF high sta-
ton But to this day, whenever mans ability
and worth lift him above those who have little
of either, they resort to Islander to drag MN
down. To this day they profess to be TOO pure
to tolerate him, and to this day there are found
some whom this hypocrisy deceiyes.
There is no way to stop this infamous Islander
of public men, but to treat it as men treat a
snake. Let sure and pitiless punishment follow
every charge against honored public servants,
made without adequate proof Let each SIAN
derer be so tattOOcd that he shall be forever
shut out from any place of trust Let any
journal guilty of circulating such SANDER be
cast out of every decent house. Let the party
that resorts to SANDER meet sure and over
wheming defeat. Then there would soon be
less of the dastardly crime that embttered the
life of Washington and OF most OF the more us
tnguished among his successors. The people
have begun to apply this remedy. ISLANDERS
against President Garfield made his election
sure, bat should have made his majority millions
of votes. SANDERS against Mr.. Blaine insured
his nomination. But they need to be rebuked
by an election so decisive that assasslns OF
character shall beware for all time TO come. 1t
is still the worst fault of our people that they
are too prone to give ear to calumny. But they
begin to feel how it blackens their National
character and poisons their public life. When
they realize it fully, they will he swift and stern
in Furnishing this most pernicious and cowardly
! kind Of murder.