Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-03-26
Thursday, March 26, 1855.


HIGGINS.
Higgins Eugene Higgins of Maryland, is
| getting national reputation. but not exact
| ly such reputation as he would like to have
| the benefit of just now. He was compare
lively unknown before Senator German
| drew attention to him by getting him ap-
pointed to an important position in the
Treasury department. Now he is very well
known, and his elevation bids fair to prove
his ruin.
There seems to be no sufficient reason to
doubt that Higgins is bad man and unfit
to have an important place in an administra-
tion whose watchwords are Purity and Re-
form. Ever since Higgins was appointed
revelation after revelation has been made
showing that he has not been much of
Civil Service reformer or even gentleman
in politics" The Civil Service Reform as
sociation of Maryland has been Investigating
Higgins record. The committee upon whom
this pleasant duty was placed consisted of
two well known and highly respectable cit
liens of Baltimore. They report that Mr..
Higgins has been accused with the utmost
publicity and by well known citizens of
Howard county of completely in criminal
frauds at the election held in that county in
the autumn of 1879. It is alleged that he
sought to promote the election of the present
Senator from Maryland, then candidate for
the State senate, by forgery of names on the
poll books, fraudulent personation by hired
repeaters of absent voters and ruffianly in
timidation of decent and orderly citizens at
the polls. The committee also say that
Higgins is generally believed to be
professional lobbyist. He is also reported
to be a gambler and to have been interest
ed in the profits of gambling house. tMany
other allegations and reports injuriously
affecting the private life and character of
Mr.. Higgins, which are matters of general
currency and belief, establish for him repu-
tation incompatible with any sound and hon
est principles which should govern the selec-
ton of men for public Office, and especially
with that cardinal rule communicated by the
President and Endorsed by the people, that
Public Office is a public trust"
All this looks bad for Higgins. AS the
New York Times says of him: He is con-
spicuous example of the Organizer" who has
been regarded as indispensable to the sue
cessful management of political parties. His
merits and his services have been and are of
exactly the sort which, under the spoils sys-
tenn, it has been customary, and has been
deemed proper and necessary, to reward
with patronage and especially with an
office in which his usefulness would be in
creased to his backer. He is complete and
shameful representative of the system Mr..
Cleveland was elected to put an end to, and
he was feisted on MI. Cleveland's administra-
| tion by believer and adept in that system.
This hearty protest against Higgins is one
of the most cheering signs of the times. 1t
| indicates that Civil Service reform has real
| 'fgrip." 1t is difficult to see how Higgins
| can be kept in office. He is mistake, and
the President ought to lose no time in remov
ing him. He cannot afford to let him stay
avan tn ohIioa Sanator Gorman