The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-26
Cui Rono2

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Cui bono2 Which is short Latin phrase used
by college boys when they want to ask What
good will it do2 The Journal did WE'LL the other
day, to tell of the appointment of Barney Con-
roy to the responsible place in the postal SERVICE
and the removal of Fred Steinhauer, an honor
blydischarged Union soldier, to make place
for Barney; and as everybody would want to
know what distinguished service Barney had
rendered his country to justify such a change, it
was we'll enough to say that he had served his
country twice in the penitentiary, and times in
Vulnerable in the Jail and station house; but
what good will it do? Did not the
people want change2 Did not Mr.
Hendricks promise changeP Did not Barney
manipulate his ward in the interest of change?
And did not everybody know that the universal
sweep that was promised could be had only by
turning out tried and good men like Steinhauer
and running the risk of supplying their places
by thieves? Several months ago the Journal
called attention to the turning out of the post
master at Bridgeport, and. failing to find Dem
ocrat in Bridgeport suitable. Mr.. Bynum had to
60 three miles in the country, and away beyond
the next postofice, to find man who had been
sent to the penitentiary to take the place. Did
not the people of Bridgeport vote for a
change? And have they not got chaugel
Now what good does it do to call attention to
these rhingsl Every man who voted for Cleve-
land would vote the Democratic ticket to-mor
row if there was an election Did they not vote
to put the city under the control of this same
element only few months ago?
You seem not to understand it, Mr.. Journal
Mr. Creelman gives the true inwardness of the
affair when he says, in Mondays Journal, that
the appointment twas made upon the indorse-
ment of leading Democrats in Barney's ward
just so. And who are the leading Democrats
of his ward? Everyone of them knew that
Barney had been twice in the penitentary
and deserved to be twice more; but it is impor
tant that ward workers, such as Barney, should
be cared for, whether the hundreds of thousands
of dollars in the mail, which passes through his
hands, is or not
my God" said Congressman Wise, of Vir-
ginia few days ago, In the House, when dis.
cussing the question of the removal of wounded
Union soldiers at the Norfolk navy-yard and the
appointment of ex-rebels to take their places,
my Goo! Has it come to this, that the fact that
a man has served in the confederate army rem
ders him ineligible to federal Officer Well hard
ly would say but it does look little hard
to see a wounded Union soldier displaced by
man who boasts to-day of his unchanged con
vctions OF the righteousness of the 'lost cause
He is eligible, of course and it is highly proper
that an administration that owes its existence to
the solid vote of such class should displaee
every Union soldier, and fill the places with these
men, and it was proper in Mr.. Wise to say, in his
place in the House. that that is just what is in
tended by this administration.
Just so here. Two terms in the penitentary
and dozen terms in the station house and Jail
do not dsqualify man for an Office under this
administration, and Mr.. Bynum has observed the
fitness of things in appointing Barney Conroy
He is one of the hest workers" in his ward 1t
may seem little hard on the Democrats of the
city who have never served their country in the
penitentiary, and who would love to be in Bar
ney's official shoes to-day, but they will get over
it. In sly way the rivals of Mr.. Bynum are
trying to use the affair against Bynum's renom-
ination. but there is not man among them that
dares openly denounce the appointment. There
are too many Barney Conroys in the city to risk
such a proceeding. It would floor any
Democrat who would dare to attempt it.
Even the goody-goody Republicans who
would not vote for Mr.. Blaine dare not open
their mouths. They wanted change, you
know, and they have got it. So, Mr.. Editor,
beyond stating the fact as an item of news, it is
hardly worth while to say much about this affair.
Barney Conroy is representative Democrat,
and Mr.. Bynum did the right thing in appoint
ing him, for he could have no more been
elected without the aid of the Barney Conroys
of the district than Cleveland could have been
elected without the aid of the rebel soldiers who
voted for him; and in each case that element of
political power should be recognized.
U. L. SEE.