The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-10
Wednesday, October 10, 1888.
j, AItheus Johnson.

BY letter from Mr.. ]. Altheus johnson o.
the First Comptroller's office of the Treasury
Department at Washington, it will be seer
that certain class Of Republican officials are
trying to strike down an honest and efficient
officer. This act, no doubt, is prompted for nc
other reason than that he has faithfully
guarded the treasury In adhering to the plain
meaning of the statutes, in allowing none o.
the liberal, or loose constructions OF the law
which had previously characterized the First
Comptroller's Office under Republican rule
and which had permitted the payment, out o.
the public treasury, of many unjust claims
against the government OF course all thai
class Of petty officers, whose chief income
may have been from the payment Of unjust
claims, feel aggrieved at Mr.. Johnson's proper
enforcement of the law.
Where Mr.. johnson is known 1t would seem
to Jus, that to make formal denial OF the
charge that he is Republican would be to
treat ridiculous matter with too much seri'
ousneas. Everybody In Washington must
know that he is Democrat OF the truest and
most pronounced type, and his friends and
neighbors in Abbevllle county, among whom
he was born and educated will never enter
tain any other thought than that they have
in Mr.. johnson at the National capital, an
officer whose personal character and political
afiliations would be all that the most ultra
South Carolinian could wish. The fact H.
reared and educated as he was, and, until he
went to Washington, surrounded by people
who are q unit In political sentiment, he could
be nothing else than Democrat, and any
story which impeaches his loyalty to the peo
pie Of South Carolina could only be believed
where his real character Is totally unknown
tits evident TO rs that the real opposition io
Mr.. johnson arises from the fact, that he wen,
70 Washington imbued with old fashioned
notions Of personal integrity while being
impressed with the Importance and the need
for an honest administration OF the govern.
ment His changed management OF the
Treasury Department has, as q matter ol
course, given cause Of complaint from all that
class OF persons who may seek easy ingress to
the vaults of the National Treasury. and 1t Is
not surprising to us that the liar has been
abroad in the land, and that he seeks to make
Mr.. Johnson victim OF his nefarious ways.
As long as Mr. Johnson is in office petty OH
GERS cannot run riot over the property and
rights OF the private citizen, while unjustly
drawing immense sums from the public treas
ury.
Upright in character, loyal in principle, and
conscientious and honest in the discharge Of
his Official duties Mr.. johnson is sinvulnerable
to the ATTACKS OF political enemies, and all
that class Of people who have unjust and un'
lawful claims against the public treasury
may % we'll direct their maledictions against
other objects OF their hatred. Those who seek
to rob the public treasury may disabuse their
minds Of any hope that Mr.. johnson can be
successfully assailed on either his POLITICAL
his official, or his personal character.
South Carolina will ever have reason to be
proud Of Mr.. Johnson's record, and he may
be sure that the people Of his native county
have the fullest confidence in him.