The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-16
The PRESIDENTS PLUCK.
willing to Correct . Mistake When It i
shown to BE One.

| shown to BE One.
He is a plucky man who dares ac-
knowledge an error in the face of the
whole world. and equally plucky who
can not be driven from a correct de-
cision, however misunderstood and mis-
represented that decision may be. Yet
President Cleveland possesses pluck of
this sort in remarkable degree. Mis-
takes he may make, but if these be
clearly pointed out he acknowledges
and rectifies them; commendable acts
NAV be twisted into exhibitions of in
tent on his part to fall short Of duty,
/ yet he is not swerved from his course.
Take few cases in point. His latest
exhibition of pluck in acknowledging
an error comes in the form of revoca-
ton of an unfit appointment in Copiah
| County, Miss. After the commission
had been issued, President Cleveland
learned on good authority that the ap-
pOintee had been in some way con-
nected with the troubles of two years
| ago, and the appointment was prompt
| ly rescinded. That was a manly,
straightforward Acknowledgement of
error. Not long ago a similar frank
admission of mistake was made in re-
calling the appointment of Meirere.
And it is noticeable that in neither case
did the President attempt to lessen his
own responsibility by any insinuations
| of carelessness on the part of his Cab
met advisers.
A sample of pluck illustrative of his
determination TO stick to right action,
despite of all the forces which political
hatred, Misrepresentation and ignorance
could bring to bear, has been shown
right here in New England, in MS course
| on the appointment of Hon. Eben +.
Pillsbury. Every one knows what a
storm the Republicans made against the
appointee, and every one knows how
readily some of the Presidents friends
fell into the trap and joined the cry that
the appointment was not a good one Mr..
Blaine's friends detested Mr. Pillsbury
because he had been a lifelong and
troublesome political opponent; but
they were Shrewd enough not to give
this as reason, but to throw out insin-
uatiOns. that he was not politically hon
est Many men and papers which would
not willfully injure any man were taken
off their feet and through ignorance of
facts denounced the appointee most I'M
sparingly, and attempted with remarka-
bic officiousness to dictate Presidential
revocation of the appointment. Presi-
dent Cleveland had previously, how
ever, inquired with care into Mr. Pills
| bury's record and during the turmoil
! consequent upon the announcement of
his choice he made renewed inquiry,
and the more he inquired the better he
was satisfied that he had made no mis-
| take. His designation of Mr.. Pillsbury
to bear an additional responsibility was
sufficient answer to those who had
through lack of knowledge attempted
to force him into acknowledging as
wrong an act which he knew to be
right.
This pluck is not without its compen-
sationS, though for time some must
be offended in all the cases cited.
Those who witnessed acknowledge
ments of error as in the case OF Meirere,
and who have knowledge of the case,
will be apt to say in cases where they
are not acquainted with the facts. as in
that of Collector Pillsbury, that con-
tinued approval by the President may
be taken as ample evidence that the
case is mertoriOus One.-BOSt0n