New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-07
tNDEpENDFNT SPOJJS

Port Townsend is one of the most important
ports on the Pacific Coast. 1t has an excellent
harbor, rapidly growing commerce and n
promising Custom House One Of Mr.. Beechers
sons has been appointed Collector of Port
Townsend. 1t is one of the best offices on the
coast at the disposal of the President.
Democrats in their practical, matter Of fact
way set down this appointment to the account
of the Independents. ave do not suppose"
remarks The Sun, q that there Is a reasonable
abeing In the United States who will doubt that
athe appointment of the son to this Office was
smade in return for the real or supposed
apolitical services of the father" As Mr..
Beecher was chaplain-in- ordinary to those
engaged in campaign of defamation in the in
terest of the Democratic party, it Is only natural
to infer that the office is given in recognition OF
their political services.
Mr.. Beecher himself insists that the appoint
ment must not be regarded as reward for per-
sonal services. lie resents the imputation that
either he or his family have asked for anything
at the Presidents hands and maintains that
neither he nor they have had anything TO do
with it. And it will only be ordinary justice to
Nr. Beecher to admit that in his speeches last
fall he took pains to assure his new political
allies that it was with him labor of love and
that he expected nothing in return for his
speeches. For example, he exclaimed in the
Brooklyn Rink; IL have never fed on official
@pap have never asked favor for myself nor
acould one be given me- And oh another Oc-
casion he sad
When I was travelling In the West some years ago. my
manager was approached IN ST. Louis by several eminent
politicians with the question: what does Becchor
want :" They couldn't Imagine that anybody should
take the trouble at his expense 20 all tho
land leoturing subjects pertaining 10 the political
condition of the country unless he wanted 10 90 10
ercss or 10 get some other favor Of tho party or the
Administration. Il have been In this OF politics at
my own charges ever since remember. and expect to
be I'm the same relation the welfare OF the community
to the day cease to be-
Clearly, then, the services which are rewarded
by the appointment of the younger Beecher to
the Collecturship of Port Townsend are not
personal Nh. Beecher is too old stager In
| theology to have a mouth watering for political
| pap either for self or son. 1t is the lndepend-
cnt section of the present Administration party
whose claims have at last been officially recog-
nized in this Executive act.
We congratulate the Independents upon
securing so gratifying an appointment. And II
any one nsinuates that the favor is granted by
the President on Mrs. Beecher's account, we arc
prepared to take up the cudgels for them. In q
critical moment of the campaign he acknowl-
edged with sympathetic fervor that her literary
style appealed to- his iilial instincts, but that
was only momcntary outburst of sentiment
The Office was not conferred because the new
Collectors mother happened to write like the
Presidents mother. The Independents have
the right to claim the Office as their own partc.
| Mar sDos