The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-08-21

oSH''lS has just IL JSNtSu III tiiat pool-
ton. But outside of the question of
the indignity to the Senate that such an
implies, the facts of the
case show that this appointment was
purely personal one and that it was
made in direct violation of every pledge
that the President had made the people
that appointments would not be made by
him as reward for political or personal
service. Matthews is an active Demo-
cratic politician of Albany. He is a
shrewd and cunning fellow, as the par
ticular act which endears him to the
President shows him to be. When Mr..
Cleveland was nominated for the Pres
idency, the news very naturally excited
a deal of enthusiasm at the capitol city
of New York. Governor Cleveland was
there, and his personal admirers i'm
mediately improvised torch light pro-
cession and the inevitable brass band
to serenade the next President of the
United States. Matthews knew that
Mr.. Cleveland would be properly ex-
pected to make speech, and rightly
guessed that he was not prepared for
such an emergency. But Matthews was
equal to it, colored man that he is. He
shrewdly piloted the boisterous Bour
bons to his own house where he piled
them with "liquid" hospitality, and thus
spared MIR. Cleveland the modification
of public failure as an impromptu
speaker. While the racket was on
hand at Matthews's house, he quietly
slipped out, and hurrying to the Gov
ernor's residence informed him that he
had stopped the crowd" and that no
speech would be required. The re-
leved Governor grasped his colored
brother warmly by the hand, compli
mented him for his considerate shrewd-
ness, and pledged him eternal friend
ship for this additional mark of Mat
thews consideration. The black man
made his point, and when he asked the
President to turn that other black
brother Erred Douglass) out of the
Recordership at Washington and put
him in, the Presidential bosom heaved
with grateful emotion, at the reCo'lec-
ton of the great service this, man had
rendered him, and Matthews name was
sent to the Senate. Now the President
knew the stuff that Democratic Senators
were made of. He knew that they would
never consent to put ''nigger' lawyer
from Albany in an important local office
of the District of Columbia, and which
office at least score of rebel officers
were expecting to get. Week after
week passed, the nomination hanging
fire, the President in the meantime forget
ting his digrity enough to send for Sen
ators and importune them in Matthews
behalf, and employing lobbyists to work
up sentiment for him. But all to no
purpose. When finally the case came
up for decision, but four Democratic
Senators could be found willing to be
cajoled into voting for Matthews, while
nearly every Republican Senator also
voted against him, not because he was
black man, but because it was an I'M
fit appoint ent to be made, and one
not in the interest of the people of the
district. But the Presidential "dander''
was up, and with that bull dog obstinacy
that distinguishes him, he determined
that his pet "coon,'' (using the Bour-
bon nickname that Matthews had earned
at Washington) should have the crib
he had intended for him. Tom O'Shan-
ter like the President nursed his wrath
to keep it warm, and when the Senators
had shaken the dust of Washington
from their feet, Mr.. Cleveland quietly
ordered a commission to be made out
for Matthews, and the cunning darkey
received his reward.
Matthews is h'ppy, and the Presi-
dental wrath is assuaged. Whether
the happy darkey will get chill when
the Senate meets next winter, time only
will answer. Reasonably, fun may be
expected.