St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-17
VERY GKEATINJusTIuE.
LIE Canadien, St. Paul, Aug. IL.

LIE Canadien, st. Paul, Aug L.
A dispatch from Washington brings the
news that the senate has refused to confirm
the nomination of DR.. Guernon as collector
of customs at st. Vincent.
That nomination, made eight months ago
upon the recommendation of Messrs. Kelly
and Doran, was but loyal act of justice
towards one of our countrymen and the
whole French element of Minnesota,
worthily represented in this case by Dr.
Guernon.
In fact DR.. Guernon was highly qualified
to I'LL that office by stability of character,
capacity, integrity. An instance of the
efficacy of his work is that during the eight
months he has been in office he collected
twice the amount his predecessor collected
i'll whole year. Besides, every inspection
of the Office and books by his superiors
brings proofs that the government had in
the person of DR.. Guernon an able, ntelli-
gent, honest and competent chief collector
of customs. When DR.. Guernon accepted
the office, vacant then,. he had
to do away with his profession in Morrison
county, Mimi, and the refusal of the SEN
ate to confirm his appointment without any
valid cause whatever, constitutes very
great injustice and entails personal damage
to him. Then we do not hesitate to qualify
that act of the senate as the most fragrant
injustice done to our nationality, DR.. Guer-
non, and the French element of Minnesota
a grievance the redress of which can only
be found in the denomination of the victim
of such an ostracism. Our appeal may be
lost in the political rumblings. but we do
| protest, anyhow, and theoretically, against
such an act so derogatory to any principle
OF governmental equity. The day may
come when the French Canadian electorate
OF this state may be called upon to speak
! on that question. Upon what ground did
| the senate base its refusal to ratify Dr.
Guernon's nomination? We don't know
of any plausible one. Did Senator
Sabin of Saltwater, who bears the respon-
sibility OF that act, bow to race prejudices
in causing the senate to act in so hostile
manner with the French Canadians? We
don't believe so. On the contrary, we
we think we would do him injustice in en-
| tertaining the least doubt on the subject.
1t is quite possible he acted on false repre-
| sensations, but for all that he has alienated
| from him the sympathy of the French Ca
nadians and got the blame of almost all cit
! izen of Minnesota, irrespective OF national
ity or political shade, Republicans and
| Democrats.
We die HdppY W SeG SUCH an occasion 10
publicly state the recognition due to Messrs.
Kelly and Doran. particularly to MIR. Kelly,
| to whom DR.. GuernORs nomination as chief
collector of customs at st. Vincent last
fall. is due. Their high political influence
! literally exercised in favor of one of our
countrymen, is a proof of their equity and
justice toward the French element on the
| question of distribution of official patron
age as well as on any other, and we are
proud to proclaim it. The warm sympathy
and influence of Mr.. Kelly to-day is yet as
sured to DR.. Guernon and shall be to the
end. We know, too, that Mr.. Kelly is not
man to stay unmoved in the face of such
manifest injustice as the one done as
much to himself, as chief of the Demo-
cratic party of the state, as to Dr.. Guer-
non.
Therefore we hope that new applica-
ton from DR.. Guernon shall be sent soon
to the treasury department at Washington,
asking anew his nomination at st. Vincent:
that Messrs. Kelly and Doran will use again
all their high influence with the govern
ment. and that this time justice shall be
done to whom it is due.