Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-12-26
MINISTER MANNING'S DENIAL.
What u New Orleans Paper Has to sa,
About His Habits.

AbOut His Habits.
New YORK, December 25.-A Washing
ton special to the Star says Minister
Mannings letter to Mr. Percy Roberts, OF
New Orleans, contains an explicit denial OF
the report that he has been intoxicated. 1t
seems to have been written for publication,
having been promptly given to the Asso,
ciated Press, and was no doubt intended as
Mr. Manning's reply to the published ac'
cusatiOns in question. OF course, the issue
the issue made is one upon which mel
will divide. those who know Judge Man
ming personally accepting his positive and
emphatic denial rs final, and those who
know him only by reputation prelerring u
believe q story so entirely in harmony Will
the probabilities Of the case In Louisi
ana, where Judge Manning is recognized
as gentleman of high character and OF
polite though moderate attainments, there
will be few who will discredit his solemn
declaration that on the special occasion in
question he was guiltless of the charges
made against him. Yet it is in Louisiana
more than elsewhere that public opinion
will always be prepared for repetition OF
those same charges, and from Louisiana,
less than than from any other quarter, are
we likely to hear on Judge Manning's be-
half the complaint OF injustice in the
premises. For he is known there by long
years OF acquaintance, and, while he is re-
spected for his many good qualities and
beloved for his many endearing traits OF
character and temperament, it is equally
notorious that his habits furnish every
warrant for these accusations.
Here is an editorial from the New Or.
leans Erening Chronicle of November 26:
HUMILIATING AND LAMENTABLE
A grave responsibility attaches to those
who urged upon the President the appoint
ment of ex-Ju3tice Manning to the import
ant post of Minister to Mexico, with the
knowledge of an infrmity known to them
to be uncOnquerable. This indiscretion
or infidelity to duty might have been re-
paire after the appointment by informa'
ton which would have induced the revo
cation of the appointment before the Judge
had reached the Mexican capital and
brought upon the republic and the admin
istration the shame of an exposure Of his
weakness by 4 repetition Of the same un'
seemly and undignitied conduct that
marked his travel to this city in the sleep
ing cars and during his sojourn here.
All this must have been known to the
prominent gentlemen of the party rs well
as TO the conductors Of the press. 1t was a
misdirected charity, especially in federal
officials and friends of the administration,
when they failed to warn the Government
of the danger by which the national digui
ty was exposed, by intrustlng this most
important of our foreign missions to q
gentleman of so many brilliant traits o.
intellect and character, and of SO imposing
an address, but, alas! affected with wha'
would seem, from long experience, to be
an incurable trailty and unconquerable
and disqualifying infrmity.
1t painful duty of true friends Of the
administration, of honest journalism anC
of the afflicted gentleman that we feel
bound to make this humiliating confes
sion.
The editor of the Chronicle is judge
Alexander Walker, one of the most prom
inent men in journalism. He has known
Judge Manning all his life, and knows
whereof he speaks when he blames thosC
who connived at the deception which mus
have preceded Judge Manning's appoint
ment
The question, therefore, is not so mucl
whether Minister Manning has beer
wronged as to one special occasion a:
whether all the facts and probabilities o
the case do not promise a constant repeti
ton of the scandal and whether those whC
| importuued the President 10 make the ap
pointment have not been guilty of gros
and objectionable breach of confidence.