The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-05
MRS. DE Ia HUNT.
A story Which "Carries It's Owz Patio.
and It's Own Indignation"


N. Y. Evening Post.l
On the 10th OF March, 1886 Benjamin Harri-
son. then U. S senator from Indiana, delivered
in the senate q long speech, arraigning Grover
Cleveland for breach of his pledges in the mat.
ter of civil service reform. One of the chief
counts in this indictment was what Gen. Har-
rison called "the story of Mrs. De la Hunt"
his telling of which occupies the greater part
OF one of the large pages of the Congressional
Record, vol. xvii, part g. page 2,794.
II have another case" Gen. Harrison began;
81 do not know how it may seem TO the senate
but to me it is infinitely full of pathOs and in
dignation." He proceeded to describe the
military career OF Maj. De la Hunt Of the
brought down by wound entirely through
the body, at Prairie Grove, Ark, and, after re-
covering from this desperate wound, rejoined
his command and received a bullet through his
arm. Disabled by these two wounds received
in his country's service, he was compelled 10
leave the army and return TO Perry county In
diana. But his days were few. His vital forces
had been so sapped by the wounds which he
had received that it was not long until sOr-
rowing widow and one only child followed the
remains OF as brave soldier as ever went out
from Indiana to his last resting.place in the
Maj. De la Hunt left his widow with small
means and she entered upon the work of main
tanning herself and her boy. Her old father
was postmaster at Cannelton, and she became
his deputy in which capacity Gen. Harrison
testified that she was most efficient" Shortly
before the expiration of President Arthur's
term, said Gen. Harrison, Isabelle De la Hunt
the widow, was appointed, on my request, by
Gen. Hatton, then pOstmastergeneral, TO this
little office. If there was in all this country"
continued Gen. Harrison, zone person who by
reason of her sex, who by reason of her widow
hood, who by reason of the sacrifice she had
made in giving the on which she
leaned to her country's service, was entitled 70
have her reputation guarded iealously and by
all men who represented the government il
was Isabelle De la Hunt" Nevertheless, the
Cleveland administration removed Mrs. De la
Hunt on the false charge of offensive partisan
ship" and appointed democratic worker" in
her place.
The Cleveland administration having gone
out, and Gen. Harrison having become presi-
dent, Mrs. De la Hunt applied for restoration
TO her old position as postmaster. There was
no doubt as to her fitness. The present presi.
dent publicly testified three years ago 10 the
fact that she had been most efficient" There
was no doubt as 10 her title to the Office The
present. president on the same occasion
bore witness TO his belief that ''if there
was in all this country one person who
by reason of her sex, who by reason
of her widowhood, who by reason of the
sacrifice she had made In giving the arm on
which she leaned 70 nef c0untry'S service, was
entitled to be kept in office'-much more to be
restored to an Office OF which she had been de-
frauded-"it was Isabelle De la Hunt" There
was no doubt as TO the local sentiment demand.
ing the restoration of this most efficient and
worthy person to her old Office. She presented
a petition more numerously signed than that
of any other applicant, and representing an
overwhelming majority of the patrons Of the
Office.
OF course Mrs. De la Hunt was reappointed
TO her old position as soon as her old champion
Benjamin Harrison, became president? On the
contrary, the Office has been given To John
Zimmerman, who has been chairman of the re
publican county committee, and whose only
claim TO the place is party service.
On the Goth of March, 1886, Benjamin Harri-
son told the story of Mrs. De la Hunt down to
that date. The EreniRg Post to-day adds an.
other chapter, bringing the story down to the
present time. Benjamin Harrison made GER
tain comments upon the story three years ago
In preference to any comments OF its own to-
| day, the EUening Post simply reprints the com
ments of Benjamin Harrison:
"Now, Mr.. President, perhaps my distin
guished friend from Kansas, whose command
of language so far surpasses my own, might
characterize this transaction, perhaps ne could
touch it up little; but to me that work is i'm
possible. The story of Mrs. De la Hunt carries
its own pathOs and its own indignation"