Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-09-20
President ana Corporal.

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The account given by Secretary Nos
ble's home organ of the negotiations be
tween Corporal Tanner and the admins
trstion confirm the very general impress
sion that President Harrison has occu-
pied most humliating attitude through
out the entire affair. Though Mr.. No
bile declared some months since that he
was In thorough accord with the policy
illustrated by Corporal Tanner, he I'm
doubleday became convinced later on by
the evidence Of publicly presented facts
that his own reputation for pecuniary
honesty would be seriously endangered
by the corporal's retention After reach>
ing this conclusion he has shown deter~
mination and self poise that stands out
in sharp relief against the presidents va
cillating weakness. Forced to choose
between Tanner and Noble; realizing
that Mobiles resignation would have all
the effect OF an appeal TO the country
against his administration; having every
reason TO dread sucG an appeal, he ac-
tually attempted TO bribe Tanner to re-
lieve him of his embarrassment by offer
ing him another office. though Mr.. No
BILE. his own secretary of the interior.
NV "SShitA hlul VI lhuutI COmDlete
untrustwOrthiness. This is fully devel>
oped In our own dispatches, but as re-
publican prejudice may prefer republican
testimony, we cite republicans to the ac-
count given by Mr. Mobiles home organ.
Those who will examine the Globe
democrat Of few days since, will find
from 1t that after Mr.. Noble had forced
the president into a situation where he
was Obliged To act, he called in Senator
Hiscock. of New York, and through
him offered Tanner the bribe of
another office " he would resign. cat
the same time says the Globe. Democrat
1.-The senator (Hiscock), on behalf OF the
administration, rendered to Mr.. Tanner.
In the event of his resignation, the mar,
chalship OF the eastern district Of New
York"
Mr.. Tanner laid the offers before his
wife, and that lady, with sense Of pro-
priety the president lacks, resented il In
the most spirited manner" Having re
ceived through her nicer perceptions of
the becoming some idea IL the indecency
OF the offered bible. and having also re.
ceived from Gen. Alger. commander OF
the G. A. r.. and numerous other Pres
torians, kilograms advising him against
capitulation. Corporal Tanner, the
Globe Democrat says, destroyed the
resignation he had prepared"
MIR. Noble, however, was determined,
and the president was obliged to open
further negotiations with the corporal.
Marshal Ransdall of the District of
Columbia, was sent to offer him thirty
days leave of absence with full pay" in
the event Of his accepting the presidents
Offer. and TO tell HIM that he must make |
up his mind before Monday. the 10th |
inst. Mr.. Ransdall arranged for the cor |
poral to meet the president. The meeting |
took place and, rs a result, the corporal |
concluded that it was better to be bribed |
out than kicked out. That Mr.. Tanner |
will be given another office there is no
doubt, says the Globe Democrat "He
will probably be given thirty days leave. |
and by that time his future will be deter
mined. d"
Ii would be well for the dignity of the
presidency il this statement were incred- |
ible, but unfortunately 1t is not. 1t is
only few weeks since when Tanners |
private secretary was exposed in conspir- |
- e with the agents ring, which has bud |
don, ac,a. 80, mon IN, at its head. The presi- |
ueht hctuaily brioed Nun Noe~S ~. 40
partment OF the interior by giving
him an Office in another department. In
doing so he plainly showed that. though
man might he too corrupt and unrelis.
BILE for Noble. he was not so for Harri-
son.
In Tanners case. the only excuse the
president can offer for his own weak vac
illation and sacrifice of the dignity of the
presidency is that Tanner is man OF a
low order Of intelligence, who thought it
creditable to give as much publicity as
possible to the fulfllment Of the exceed
ingly disgraceful campaign pledge made
by MIR. Harrison not to be scrupulous in
his pension policy. When Mr.. Harrison,
to get the g. A. x. vote, publicly prom
ised that he would not weigh their claims
with an apothecarY's scale, Tanner
thought IL proper to convince the G.. A .
X by open action that the scruple was
not the weight used in the pension de,
partment. He succeeded fully, but the
president. instead Of sustaining him in
acting openly on the campaign pledges
OF pr0fiigate extravaganza, deserted him
Between the two of them, Tanner is I'M
doubleday the more respectable charac-
ter. or the two. the president through
out has shown himself the more of a cor
poral. 1