Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-24
Reformer Cleveland.


The shameful showing Of the Tribune
with It's names, dates and facts, sets forth
that 2lS appointees of the reformer Presi-
dent have been directly connected with
the criminal classes. The disgraceful list
includes two murderers and two hirelinps
OF assassns. seven forgers. three rioters
one appointed 10 be Judge OF the
court by which he had been imprisoned;
hVe indicted for frauds against the reye.
nue. anu others Tor violating the pension
laws many guilty of robbing the mails
appointed mail'agenis or postmasters: and
one VINO when appointed was in jai for
roDblng the identical office 10 which he
was appointed; an impeached State
Treasurer. defrauding county treasurers:
men guilty Of robbery. theft. embezzle.
ment grand larceny, bribery. wife. beat.
ing, black-mailing keepers of gambling.
houses and houses of il.fame. and MANY
others guilty of scarcely less heinous
onenses. To come down to few speci.
hcatlons: A deserter from the Union 10
the confederate service was appointed an
indian inspector in August, 1885. The |
person appointed pension agent at Col. |
umDus, Ohio, deserted in the face of the |
enemy, was court martialed and sentenc- |
eu TO DC cashlered. Another. appointed |
as clerk OF railway mails. had been in
dlcted three times for forgery. arrested
three times in Cincinnati for obtaining
money under false pretenses. once in
Texas for robbery, twice for theft in
kentucky, and who stole money order
before be was one month in office. and
who is now awaiting trial. The person
appointed as postmaster at Newark, Ohio.
was short $4,000 in his accounts as
sherlu OF Licking county The foreman
OF Norfolk navy yard was the leader Of
MOB mat broke up "A Republican meeting
at portsmouth during the last campaign:
was arrested, tried and fined. One in.
lernal revenue collector, appointed bv The
resident was active in the Maine Gar I
celon frauds The "pernicious partisan ,
appointed statistical agent for the Ohio '
agricultural Department was in Jail =
or three months for stealing a promissory r
lote but escaped the penitentiary on n q
echnlcalltY. One person, appointed q
nail agent, was sentenced 10 the pen. :
tentlarv FOR two years for grand larceny. S
wo years Tor robbery, and was also in 4
lcted for riot, for robbery, and for as n
ault and battery. We cannot. Of course. o
Undertake to vouch for the strict accuracy a
l every charge made by the Tribune
gainst these and other appointees; but I
ne evidence upon which the charges are q,
lade is regarded by that journal as con.
uslye, and, as TO many of them. is &C. .,
esslble TO all inquirers. Can the adj. %
lnistratiOn afford TO stand mute. or re-. a.
Use TO plead guilty or not guilty. 70 -
ich formidable and seemingly fatal =;
dlctmenty 1t Is idle for Mr.. Cleveland -,
ld his supporters to pretend that he is -
1t responsible. He entered upon the 10
'ecutve Office with distinct and positive u,
edges that the public service should be II,
vorced as far as possible from partisan ~,
Up; that in certain of its departments W.
anges should be made only according ~,
the personal character or fitness Of the ,h
hclals lie promised that the "rascals 20
ould be turned out" and that the 10
rvice should be cleansed and elevated 20
the appointment OF capable and honest 81
IN to positions Of trust and RESPONSE 7,
ity. lie has not kept his promise. 1t r;c
indeed possible that he may have been ~
W and then deceived, but it is absurd 70
pretend that, with the exercise of ,he
iinary care on his part he could have 90,
en- imposed upon in all or one-quarter en-,
the cases cited by the Tribune. The Dai
" possible conclusion is that he has -
,pdoned deliberately the policy pro. no,
lined by him when candidate, and he
1 the integrity Of the public service is Tho
De henceforth secondary TO partisan che
siderations. The country may well nm,
nd amazed at such an exhibition of in.
erence TO official obligations and the
81 solemn personal engagements