The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-07-04
BAD APPOINTMENTS.
How the Grandson of His Grandfather
Keeps His Promise.


Keeps bis Promise.
"In appointments to every grade
and department, fitness and not party
service should be the essential and
discriminating test" Such was Ben
Harrison's promise when he was look
ing after votes last summer.
Here is the performance of less than
a year later: A few weeks ago Presi-
dent Harrison appointed George P.
Fisher, of Delaware, as First
Auditor of the Treasury, one of the
most important offices in the Govern
ment and one calling for scrupulous
honesty. George P. Fisher is not un-
known to fame. He was district at
torney OF the District Of Columbia
under President Grant removed, and
in 1866 nominated for Office again but
Withdrawn. The New York Tribune
on that occasion spoke of him in
these terms:
The district attorneys ONCE ia Washington
was, Tor long while under Judge Fisher, the
chief bulwark of the district ring There were
hatched tire conspiracIes to convict innocent
nesses the schemes to take burglars out Of
jail Crimes of the most dastardly character
were committed under the shelterlng caves OF
that scandalous establishment. Theft and
riot, and bribery, and perjury received there
encouragement and protection Two OF the as
sistant attorneys have been tried in the crimi-
nal court for grave offenses, and are to be tried
again. George p. Fisher, who was chief Of the
office during the period when it was disgrace
to the whole Nation, could not escape the re-
sponsibility for the actions of his subordinates.
Whether he was only foolish, inemcient ana
weak, or was answerab'e in some more direct
way for the doings of his son Charles and his
other assistant Harrington, we need not in
quire. Incompetency in prosecuting of1cer
| is bad enough ofIense even when the best in
| tentions wait upon il. At any rate, pubic
| opinion would not tolerate Fishers appearance
| in the safe conspiracy trial, and after some
| miserable revelations OF the misconduct in mis-
| office, the President was obliged to call for his
| resignation.
And now General Grant names this same
| George p. sher United States district attor-
ney for Delaware. The Senate must reject the
nomination without an hours unnecessary de-
lay No sympathy which Ssnatoes may feel
for the personal misfortunes Of the nominee,
no convection which some OF them may enter
tain that he is only the victim of his own weak
ness, should deter them from a duty which
they owe both to the country and the party
II General Grant will not think of Republican
interests, we hope Republican Senators will.
So much for Fisher, President Har-
rison's choice for position where
millions of dollars of claims must be
adjudged. Evidently the election
bargains of Harrison are not all paid
yet.
A short time ago President Harrison
appointed Paul Vandervoort superin-
tendent of mails at Omaha, Neb. The
leading Republican newspaper in Ne
braska is tho Omaha Bee. 1t spoke
of Vandervoort when he was ap-
pointed in these words:
Postmaster-General Gresham dismissed
Vandervoort because he had been insubordi-
| nate had made false reports to the depart
| ment and had been absent from his post OF
| duty two hundred aud Xty-fve days, at
Omaha, in one single year. Vandervoort is an
| invetera;e braggart and liar. Wander
| voorts associates, when he was chief clerk,
| were ward bummers, rcusta bouts and rowdies
| of the lowest degree. He often de-
| tailed railway mail clerks from the service to
| assist him in packing warl caucuses and fight
| ing at political primaries and substituted for
| these regular mail clerks irrespons bic vaga.
| bonds aud bummers, who were transported in
| the mail cars in charge OF the mails without
| even taking the oath.
| Unless Hypocrisy is stamped on
every page and line" of Harrison 5
letter of acceptance, the appointments
of Fisher and Vandervoort will be
Cancelled at once: They will not be
Cancelled. ALBANY On. W Argus