Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-05-10
The Pne,. in mr. Penr.on,. Cn.e

The annual meeting Of the civil service
reform association was held in New York
city on the 1st inst, when the address Of
George William Curtis, the president of
the association, was read, The most signi
ficant portion Of the address was that de
voted to the late Postmaster Pearson, in
which Mr. Curtis said that he was a martyr
to the cause of civil service reform and a
victim 10 the spoils machine 'n both par
ties The Mail and Express takes excep
ton to this sweeping charge, and says;
During President Arthurs administration Post
master l'earsons health was excellent. W nat
ever difficulties and controversies he may have
had TO encounter, they were not serious enough
10 wear him or to affect his general health and
vigur He had substantially his own way, and
the "Spuils machine got no help from that sin
crrc, practical aud unpret-nding supporter Of
ciVil-srrvce reform, President Arthur.
It was during the era Of pretentous and phari-
Saical reform under the Cleveland administration
that Postmaster Pearson encountered the trials
that worried and wore him down and finally re-
duc-d him u the degree Of physical weakness
that made him the easy victim Of disease,
democratic House contracting the appropria
tons, and postmaster general openly fayOring
the spOils system. crippled the New York Office
10 such a degree that x-POstmasterieneral
James, after his recent examination Of affairs as
acting postmaster, said that SlpD,OU more year
d
rate efficiency.
These are facts 50 well known so indisputable,
So conclusive, that Il is astounding that Mr. Curtis
should have the audacity Ia make his indictment
against the spuils machine cover both the Ar
thur administration, during which Mr. Pearson
was the image Of health and full ut strength and
yigur, and during the Cleveland administration,
when our late postmaster wore himself out IN
couteuding against the evil pressure, the with
holding of necessary appropriations, and the vi
cuus policies of his Democratic official superiors.
4 faithful and complete record Of Mr.. Pearson 5
life during his service under Arthur and Cleveland
would be- the most efIeCtua disclosure Of the hum
bug and falss pr-tenses that have been employed
by Mr.. Curtis and Associates In palliatng the Of
f-ns,-s Of the Cleveland administration against
reform, and of the great undruiahlr eloquent
fact that Mr.. Pearson had mo- serious troubles or
annuyauces under a Republican administration.
The Mail and Express also corrects Mr..
Curtss reported assertion that Mr.. Pearson
was removed, the fact being that he was
allowed to serve out his full term, which
expired on the 81 of April, aud it was not
until the 9th of April that Mr. Van Colt
was appointed.
Every right minded man honors Mr..
Pearson's memory for his devotion TO duty
and principle, aud regrets sincerely his un-
timely DEATH which was FASTENED 10y obsta-
Giles thrown in his way by men not in sym
pathy with his high minded views. Many
Republicans, moreover, would have cor
daily welcomed his reappointmemt by Pres
ident Harrison; but with regard 10 the
facts the exceptions of the Mail and Er
press are well taken,