, 1889-06-01

signed to oblivion-1icialy; not so in the
public mind. But where should public
sentiment find u~tterance, after the treat
ment undergone at the hands of the dele.
gates, elected by the people, to express their
opinions and views. That under these cir
cumstances I should have been more than
once and from different quarters asked, in
consideration OF my peculiarly independent
personal position, to express in the local
organ Of publicity my well known views
not to be wondered at, the less 80, as at the
scented to me, | had said, that If called
upon by any one competent for my opinion,
l should not for q moment hesitate to
state in the most decided manner, that |
considered the measure proposed as not
only advisable, but urgently required. I
cannot say, that I felt much inclined to
comply with what was asked of me, but on
the other hand to refuse on the plea, that
it was no business of mine, would be a
very poor pretext for what was in reality
nothing else than unwillingness to be
reused from a placid state of quiet, blessed.
dolce far miente; for with what shadow Of
decency could such a plea be advanced by
q man, who had passed nearly fifty years
contentedly and satisfied in the cOmmuni-
tT, whose interests in a very important
respect we're under question.
But there were other reasons for my re-
naming inactive. First of all, if ] was to-
make use of pen and paper in this
cause, | could not aud would not write in
any other way than my own, that is out
spoken aud without reserve, which does
not please every One-and sufficiently i'll
detail TO justify the assertions by facts,
alth Ongh at the risk of becoming tireSome,
which | would wish to avoid, if possible.
| read once, long ago, a remark, which
struck me us so both true and original, that
/ must beg leave to reproduce it here !:
Controversy Is the salt of civilized life ;
were there nothing to dispute about, or
were there not persons to dispute among
each other about the diSputable matter,
intellectual life would subside into a stag.
nant pool like the Dead Sea, where neither
beast, fowl, fish nor insect can exist.
Another consideration making me less
disposed to occupy myself with the sub
jpct is the remembrance OF my dismissal
from the Office of President and the reason
assigned for it. / have beeu asked, more
than once, what had been the real. cause
OF that measure, and aS it is easily i'm
agined, that it is not Indifferent tonne,
what rumOurS. what suspicious, there may
he in circulation about me lnrthat RESPECT,
| will grasp this opportunity to. give ID
concise aS well as sufficiently explanatory
statement of the case. If this il. locked
upon as coming rather late in the day, my
only excuse tx. that without being in son
nection with some other matter, that iSD-
lated subject would be of too little i'm
portance to anybody but myself TO obtrn'ie
it on the public. AS it is, and az | am
not writing for tho great world or for
future generations, but for the very mar
row circle, in which | move, | hope it may
he allowed TO pass as not inopport uhe. 1t
will also have the advantage OF letting the
reader know beforehand to what cause he
has to ascribe whatever unsatisfactory he
may find in this communication.