New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-30
pdyJNG THOMPSON.

"NOne so blind as tii0se WIN "oh 'oN'
even the blindest of the Pharsees pegih W
realize that Mr.. Cleveland does not mean re-
form. He shows that he knew Mr.. burt quar-
ifcatons. lie hoped that MIR. Burts KNOWN
fitness and zeal for reform in the Custom house
would make bis selection tor subordinate
office n cloak to cover multitude OF SINS but
if Mr.. Cleveland wanted reform in the custom
House. why did he not make Mr.. Burt Collector
Why did he pass by such man to appoint
mere tool of Hubert o. Thompson
This cannot be excused on the ground OF Mr.
Hedden's political services. Even Ihe "o''a
sneers at the idea that Mr.. Hedden hau ever
merited any place by services to his party.
The whole Democratic party would be enrageu
as such selection but for the belief that III Is
a rich reward for the services OF nuDer1 We
Thompson, and in that belief the friends OF MI
Thompson are happy and his foes unhappy
To pass by man known to be jealous lor
reform. and to put in man known only as
Thompson's dummy, may be politically shrewd'
but it is not reform.
To discuss Mr.. Hedden as business man Is
ridiculous. Had Mr.. Cleveland really wanted
man of that sort, his own personal knowieuee
must have suggested to his mind several nun
dred who were far better qualified Tor RESPONSE
BILE executive positions, and Infinitely Det'er
entitled to be regarded as representatives OF
the business interests of New-Iork, than ME-
Edward L. Hedden. 1t appears that, as partner
i'm a respectable but unmportant hrm' WHICH
came to a natural end to all appearances
through the gradual departure of Its business
Mr.. Hedden discharged with fidelity the duties
which many firms get performed by custom
House broker for one or two thousand dollars
q year. In this service, not more respohsloIe
or difficult than that performed by many Pl,ooo
clerks, Mr. Hedden acquired whatever knowi-
edre of Custom House affairs he possesses.
The Ne,c- York Times observes that he
"has those attributes and distinctions
switch pertain to every third elderly
@gentleman whom one meets on broad-
away on any day when it is not too not
"or too wet" This is triile contemptuous,
and vet it does gross injustice to "every thlrd
elderly gentleman" for very few of them, 1t Is
safe to say, have passed through many years OF
active business life without becoming better
known as business men, or attaining more re-
sponsiblc positions, than the gentleman whom
Mr.. Cleveland has selected at the request of his
friend Thompson. 1t is said that Mr.. Hcddcn
was strongly recommended by business men, and
il will be noticed that there is very unusual care
taken in this instance to print some OF the
recommendations at the very outset, which only
shows that Mr.. Cleveland and his advisers
were quite well aware that the appointment
would need a quantity of whiiewashing New
York has great reason to know by this time
with what facility recommendations by bnsl-
ness men can be obtained, and how often the
persons who get such recommendations turn out
to be more unworthy scamps or more lncompe-
tent noodles than any politician would have
dared to suggest.
But men say ave grant this appointment
looks badly but must assume that Mr.. Cleve-
land means WE'LL THE TRIBUNE started with
that idea. How many tines is n President to
be tried and found wanting before 1t shall be
said of him that he lacks either the needed
capacity or the requisite integrity of purpose
The best men are sometimes mistaken, 1t Is
said. But this President makes his worst mis-
takes on purpose. He shows that he wants to
keep I'D appearances as a reformer. But ne
also shows at the same time, that he is far
more anxious to satisfy the political scoundrels
whose favor, secured by pledges when he was
| Governor. have lifted him TO his present posi-
|