Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-22

and pass upon a large number of &C
counts and claims against the govern
ment, and while, of course, an as
sault upon woman might not
render hlm inefficient as a judicial Off
cial, vet it certainly does not speak very
highly for his gentlemanly qualities.
BEsMIRCHING THE ERMINE
If there is a class of officials that
ought to receive the careful scrutiny Of
the president it is those who are called
upon to act in a judicial capacity. Let
me give few illustrations to show the
character of the judicial officers which
the president has appointed.
ID. j. Dawne was appointed chief JUS
tice of Alaska. He ran away from Ore
gon with debts of 100000 on loans and
notes, and was finally suspended from
Office and Lafayette Dawson, of Mis-
souri,, appointed in his place. But this
second appointment was more unfor-
tunate than the first, as the party was en-
tirely unfit and relieved by the president
by commicting serious offense. The
president excused himself by saying: 81
have been deceived and misled by lying
and treacherous Misrepresentation"
pointed justice of the supreme court of
Utah territory. Charges were presented
against him, which were sworn to,
charging him with having robbed his
clients; and he also secured the recon-
mendations of Judge Cooley and
Judge Sherwood, of Michigan,
through Misrepresentation. and
these judges afterwards wrote letter to
the president withdrawing all recon-
mendations for his appointment. After
wards letters were written by two of the
judges of the supreme court, saying that
they made a personal investigation and
that they were satisfied that the charges
made against this man were substan-
TALLY true. But notwithstanding all this
information that came to the ears of the
president prior to the appointment, he
made it, which was about to be rejected
in the senate when the name was with
drawn.
James C. Shields was appointed justice
of Arizona. A protest signed by nearly
all the members of the bar of that terri
tory, joining in charges against him as
incompetent and a subject of ridicule.
and also complaining of his personal
character. His appointment was rejected
by the senate.
One more illustration of this class and
then | will close upon this point for fear
that it becomes mOnotonous: w. A
Vincent was appointed chief justice Of
the territory Of New Mexico. This man
Vincent had been the agent of a Scottish
loan association which had covered the
territory with mortgages. Large num-
bers of these mortgages were contested
and were at the time Of his appointment
being contested i'll the courts, and he was
appointed chief justice Of the court that
must sit upon a large number of the
claims for an association Of which he
was the attorney and agent. But this
was not all against this man. Prior to
his appointment he had melted and or
ganized a mob to forcibly take posses
sion of a mine against an injunction
that had been granted by the supreme
court of the territory of New Mexico.
For his contempt Of the order of the
court he was sent TO jail and while in
jail was appointed chief justice of the
very court which he had outraged.
Bear in mind, my friends, that this is
a reform administration, and, in one
sense, it well deserves the name. The
man who made these appointments is
the same who declared that "a public
office is a public trust" 1t may be he
was sincere in that declaration, but if so,
he has very queer way of showing it.
Let us sum up the list of appointments
he has made, a few illustrations of
which | have given you, in few brief
words, SO that you may be better able to
Judge of his ideas Of reform.
His list of Judicial appointments in
cludes two murderers, and the tools
Of two others: five notorious duel
lists; three rioters and inci,ers of mobS,
one To be judge of the very court by
which be was imprisoned. His appoint
mentS i'll connection with the inter-
nalrevenue for the purpose of collect
ing the revenues of the government,
in this one branch, include five
persons who have been indicted or
CONVICTED FOR FRAUDS
against the revenue laws. His list of
pension agents includes some who have
oeen indicted for violating the pension
laws. His list of postmasters includes
numbers who have been indicted for
Tobbing the mails. one of whom, when
appointed was in Jail for robbing the very
Office to which he was appointed. His
other appointments include one inn
peached state treasurer, several defraud
ing county or town treasurers, seven
forgers. one of whom has served two
terms for that offense.
All these are chosen instruments of his
great reform. | have not included i'll
any of the illustrations | have given any
persons appointed, who have been guilty
of political crimes, such as treason
against the government, or who have
been the recipients of office through the
means of tissue ballots, or who have
publicly advised murders for party sake,
or those who have justified assassina-
ton for the same reason. The
list is damnable enough without
adding any more. Any respectable
lover of his country must turn from the
contemplation of this vile record with
disgust, and must feel deep down in his
heart, even though he may not express
it, that if this is Cleveland reform, then
we have enough of it. How Will Demo
cratic orators and speakers explain away
these awful charges: How can they
eXtol the virtue and craftsmanship of
their candidate for president in the face of
this record? There is but reasonable and
philosophical excuse that can be given
for the presidents action, and that is,
that portion, nj least, of his official life
has been spent in such close association
with criminals that he has become a
living example of the truth expressed III
the poetic verse;
"Nice is a monster. of such frightful mien !
'As to be hated need to but TO be seen.
But seen too oft,-fannliar with its face |
I'VE first endure, then pity, then EN- |
brace
Ringing in my ear, coming over from |