Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-19
In Which Collector s. p. MCGOr.
mic and
C, BURDETTE HART ARE PRINCIPALS.
SOiled Republican Linen Which Had to Be
Aired and fumigated' Before Peace
Could Again Reign in the
HOUSE OF BLAINE AND ARTHUR.
.Ediior Of hs RndisfeT .

you herewith copy Of letter sent by me
70 the editor of the Inteligencer the l4th
INST, which he in paragraph in the Intel
Egencer of the 10th inst. declined to pub
Esh, after having in an editorial on the 18th
inst in the same paper declared that he had
offered me the columns Of the InteligeueeE.
to expose him, which statement his refusal
to publish the following letter Of vindica-
Gon, contradicts Will you please publishH
Very respectfully,
S. P. MCCORMICK.
GRAFTON, W. VA, February II, 1885.
Editor htelfgeRcer:
SIR-In the Intelligencer of the 18th
inst, in an article headed, "To Whom Il
May Concern, I find the following: "Mr.
Hart was aware that Mr. Mccormick was
loaded" A year ago when he reached for
Collector Peirpoint's place, then for Gen.
eral Duvars, he burnt his fingers on the In.
telligencer. At that time he threat
eued to expose" Mr.. Hart who offered
him the columns Of the Intelligencer
to do it." l now ask to say through the
columns Of the Intelligencer that ! did nor
year, or two years ago, threaten to lex
pose" Mr. Hart, nor am aware Of the fact
if it be fact that was ever offered the
columns of the Intelligencer to "expose"
MIR. Hart, or even to defend myself against
his uncalled for attacks. Your first attack
was made on me as early as January or
FEBRUARY, 1883, and again in April and
May Of the same year; again when you
were advocating your conference idea;"
again last month, during all of which time,
until the last, held my peace. l never,
until within the past sixty days, investigated
your past political record, With it all, l
previously made no threats to expose you,
and until the last | treated you courteously
and gentlemanly. If the columns of the
IAtelligencer are open to my "expose,"
please publish the articles relating to you
in the Eagle OF January 30, 1885, and the
editorial headed &C Burdette Hart in the
Eagle of February e, IS, that your readers
may know exactly what has been said.
In your article Of the 18th inst you say
"the petulaut chronic Office hunter whose
selt-seeking schemes have been laid bare in
these columns, cannot prove Mr.. Hart to
have been Democrat 1t matters moth
ing to me wether you were or are Demo
crst; the Republicans of the State, however,
may be interested in knowing | am not
OF those who would ostracise, or denouce a
man who may have changed his party re-
lstions by reason of an honest change OF
political views gladly welcome such.
The fact OF you being Democrat in 1876
and 1880 and later, hut now a Republican
if it be a fact matters little; the trouble isin
your denying it; more than one of your
associates and acquaintance say that
you were recognized and believed TO be
Democrat Suppose YOU werea Republican, =
You do not deny being the managing edi-
tor of the Baltimore Gazette in 1876, a
Bourbon Democratic newspaper, and also
an editor on the editorial staff Of the Phila-
delphia Chronicle Herald in 1880, strongly
Democratic, and the author of many edi-
torials, which for malignancy and bitterness
against the Republican party and its lead
ers can scarcely be excelled. During these
wears you claim to have been Republican
and say you have mo apology to make to
ANYBODY" for your course. | challenge
YOU to find any inconsistency in my politi-
cal record, You attack me for much less
reason, if indeed you have any, than YOU
might be attacked or criticised for |
scarcely know what you mean by the term
"pay dirt" but to me it seems that
the nan who, being Republican
would tor hire, write such articles against
the Republican party aud its trusted lead
ers as have been republished in the Eagle
from the Baltimore Gazette and Chronicle
Herald would be properly remunerated with
pay dirt" am not that man. ] never
sought but one Federal Office, though |
have thrice held the Office Of prosecuting at
torney in this State, and as often declined a
denomination. My record as a Republican
is fully known to thousands in this State
| gave my time and best efforts for Republi-
can success while you were writing Demo
cratic editorials for pay dirt" In all that
have said and done have attacked and
abused no one. Though ] may have asked
for the collectorship which / suppose any
citizen would have a right to do, said not
a word against the character or integrity ot
any man, nor did l apply for Gen. Duvals
place until after he had resigned.
S. P. MCCoRNICE.