Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-03
A Card.
HARR1soNBURa, VA, June "a, 1889

HARRIsoNBURG, VA, June "a, 1889.
Editor Spirit of The Valley.
DEAR SIR:-In your issue of last week,
in speaking of the appointment of a post
master at Harrisonburg, you say:
'Some very sneaking, dirty, undetermined
work was done to prevent Mr.. Sullivan from
getting his commission, but it all amounted
to nothing.
Sullivan was charged with being drunk
ard when it is matter known to our whole
community that he never touches whiskey-
in fact, is ga teetotaler."
The examination of the records in the
Postofice Department at Washington,
shows that the only references to Postmaster
Sullivan in any way in connection with liz
uor is the following, which is an extract
from letter written by Mr.. j. w. Jones:
Furthermore we desire good temperance
man as our postmaster, and not one who is
in favor of open licensed barrooms as is Mr..
Sullivan"
AS understand, my action in connection
with this appointment has been very freely
and unfsvorably commented on by some
persons in this community, enclose you a
copy of letter which wrote to the Presi-
dent before the appointment was made, but
sent to him afterwards. AS it is now part
of the public records of the country, Access
sible to any and all persons, you are at lib
erty to publish it in your columns, and thus
let an intelligent and discriminating public,
in view of the statements it contains, judge
how far the language above quoted from
your paper is justifable.
Very Respectfully,
JOHN PAUL.
The following ia a copy of the letter
which John Paul encloses:
HARhIsoNBURe, VA, May 90, 1880
To Hon. Benjamin Harrison, President of
the United States:
Sir:-I am informed that James Sullivan
is an applicant for the Office of Postmaster
at this place, Harrisonburg, Va. AS citi-
zen of this town and patron of the Office,
do most respectfully, speaking for myself
and numerous other patrons, enter an earn
est protest against the appointment Of this
man to this responsible and honorable posi-
ton.
This is an Office in which every man, wo-
men and child in the community Is interest
ed in having it filed by respectable aud
decent person. This applicant Sullivan,
who is notorionsly common wife-beater,
cannot meet this requirement.
do not make this charge unsustained by
facts. / give you the statement of his own
wife as evidence of his cruelty and brutal
ity.
In che month of August or September,
1887, I received message, one even
ing, from Mrs. Sullivan, the wife of this ap.
plicant, asking me to come to her house: as
she wished to see me on important business.
The next morning on my way down to my
Office, stopped to see her. She asked me
if I could give her some writing or copying
to do, in order to help her to make living
for herself and children. expressed some
surprise at such q request, and told her l
thought her husband able to support her.
She said her husband had left her, declar-
ing his purpose never to return. That the
day before he had taken his clothes out of
the wash tub and had left. That on the
Sunday previous she had allowed her little
girl to go the Baptist Sunday school, that
her husband being a Catholic, wished to
whip the child for this, and she, Mrs. Sulli-
van protested. That thereupon he beat
her, Mrs. Sullivan, in most cruel and out
rageous manner. That the marks .of his
blows were there upon her body aud could
be plainly seen. That this was not the first
time he had beaten her, but had done it
often before. That he had promised her
mother on her dying bed that he wonld not
beat her again; that her mother had not
been dead four mouths when he beat her as
cruelty as ever.
The statement l here make will rot be
called in question. The same facts are
known to other persons, and 10 the general
community by common rumor. The people
of this town are as intelligent and refined as
any that can be found in this or any other
State. l submit if it is right that they,
their wives and daughters. and little chill
dreu should be compelled to receive their
msil at the hands of man who is known
to be cruel wife, heater. These people de
serve higher example of official purity,
and the Administration owes it to itself to
see that no such wrong is done them.
Respectfully,
JOHN PAUL,