Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-11-15
PA. November Is. 1889.
a strange Explanation.

A very remarkable explanation IL
made of the cause Of the trouble between
the postmaster general and Senator
Hampton, which effectually relieves the
former Of the senator's charge Of false
hood to him, but at the expense of
the president and with an expo
sure Of q disorderly method prevailing
In the making Of appointments TO
once which reflects the greatest discredit
upon the administration. II is said
that the president made the South
Carolina appointment, Of which Senator
Hampton complains, without consult
ing the postmaster general or even
advising him of what he had done. The
strange tale is told that's son of the man
whom the South Carolina Republicans
wanted to fill the Columbia postofiiee
visited the president and secured that
ofIice for a friend and another post
once for himself on the plea that
he would thus be strengthened to build
IN Q white mans Republican party In
the South /; and the president is repre-.
sented rs having been so impressed by
his representations that he gave him the
Offices he asked for out of hand, and
without thinking 1t worth while to adj
wise with the postmaster general where
by that functionary was put In the at
titude in which Senator Hampton
pilloried him.
The president has given us, on divers
occasions, reasons to believe that he was
willing to act precipitately and without
proper consultation with his cabinet
officers; the Montana case being one
notably In point but still there is
that In the latest tale of his going
or at half-cock, which induces us
TO question its entire accuracy.
There is so great ignorance of
the political conditions in South Caro-
lima implied in his thus making ap-
pointments which were not there asked
for by the body Of the Carolina Repub-
licans, and so great forgetfulness Of the
proprieties In failing to advise with
the postmaster generals Office, where
certainly all the papers necessary for
the presidential information would
be on file, that we do not find it to be q
very creditable story, that the president
made the appointments in the uncere'
monious and out-of-hand way attributed
to him. He has moreover been away
from the capitol on a ducking excursion
ever since the postmaster general re-
ceived Senator Hampton's letter, and
the explanation now made can hardly
be with his authority.
Whatever the facts may be in the
. --atter, the exposition brings discredi,
upon some part Of the administration
II shows that 1t has n postmaster genera
who fails in veracity or in the proper
control Of his office and violently
suggests the need of a reform that viii
enable the postmaster generals state
ment to senators about the business o
his office to be accepted as reliable.
There is evidently to he music in th'
air when Congress meets and senator
and representatives get within hailinl
distance of the administration. Their
hns been 80 much friction aud tumul
between Republican representatives ant
Republican executive at the long rang
1 at which they have been apart during
the recess of Congress as to warrant tn
belief that there will be heavy firm
when they come close together.