New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-24
nuE pArENr OFFICE cLERK.

THE PATENT OFFICE CLERK.
Tho c.so of the Patent Office clerk is forcing
itself upon public attention at a time when all
of rs would like to think as pleasantly Of Mr.
Cleveland az possible. He is President Of the
| Irn;+od States and he is in the very last days
If his term. The natural tendency, under such
circumstances would be to soften the voice OF
criticism. Then. too, the story seemed almost
Incredible. but il remains uncontracicted, al
| though in matters where Mr.. Cleveland has felt
himself aggrieved, the denials and explanations
have usually been promptly forthcoming
Tho story is short and simple. This young
vuonan was n clerk in the Patent Office, and
No intimation has been made that there was any
dissatisfaction with her performance Of her
duties. She was at her home in Massachusetts
when MIR. Cleveands personality was under
discussion. She expressed her opinion that he
was "pic.v Some man present, with an in
efal,le meanness-the male gossip is always the
r,oanest-vyrote TO Mr.. Cleveland about it, and
he directed that her resignation be requested,
Tins deriving her Of her livelihood. Now, no
one will deny that the young woman's offence
was absolutely inexcusable. No one will deny
that il was a rude utterance, coming from any
woman and applied to any man. Coming from
an employee of the Government and applied to
the President, it was in the highest degree
improper II it had been spoken in the pres
ence of her fellow-emplOyes while they were
engaged in their official duties it would have
been a good ground for her dismissal for in
subordinatlon. But the remark was made in
the privacy of social intercourse, in a place
distant from the capital, and reached the Pres
ident's ears only through the officiousness of
some spiteful gossip 1t would have been easy
to ignore it.. II would have been natural TO
pass it by, as the foolish remark of girl, whose
mind had been heated, as so many other strong
er minds are, by the excitement of Presi-
Dental campaign. II she needed lesson in
the prophecies Of official life-and no one will
deny that she did-it would not have been
difficult to see that she got 1t, without taking
the bread out Of her mouth.
1t is the fashion among certain class Of Mr..
ClevelandS hatteTers-a small but faithful
band whose fulsomeneSs increases as the num-
Der Of his friends diminishes-to compare him
to Lincoln, though il would be difficult for an
impartial person TO discover that they had a
single trait in common. IL is interesting TO
speculate what Lincoln, with his gentleness,
his tenderness OF heart, his long Sufi ering pa
tience, his sympathetic regard for women. and
his whimsical humor, would have done in such
a case. Suppose that Lincoln, engrossed with
the concerns Of a great Government had re-
ceived letter from a man in Ohio, saying that
a foolish young woman, clerk in the Treas
ury while on a visit there, had said one
evening after the church sociablc in the hear
ing OF Deacon Crabapple and the second cousin
Of Elder Alaumees first wife. that the Presi-
dent was :" a pig" Probably his first feeling
would have been one Of vexation that so silly
and trivial an incident should have been
brought to his attention at ALL to distract it
from matters OF real weight and moment. Then
he would doubtless have thought with con-
tempt Of the person who wrote the letter. Lin
coin hated meanuesS and cowardce, and he
would have despised such q tale-bearer, above
all, against a woman. Perhaps II would have
Saddened him a little 10 think that while he
was giving his best efforts to the service Of
his country, he should have been subjected TO
such misconstruction. Then we are inclined
TO think that his sense Of hum0r would have
asserted itself. II would not have been pos
sible for him 10 avoid being amused at the
thought that a vivacious young woman, who
was his subordinate, was exercising her prvi-
leges of criticism as a free-bon American
woman in this way. We feel sure that he
would have felt more compassion for her error
than resentment at it. 1t may be that he would
have called her to account for IL, but II he had
done So il would have been with such dignity,
such gentleness, such kindly leniency for her
rashness and inexperience, that she would have
been ashamed of her fault, touched by his
delicacy, and overcome by his forbearance. 1t
is in some such fashion as this, we believe, that
Mr.. Lincoln would have dealt with such case
as this, il he had paid the least attention to it.
But he would not have taken the bread out of
her mouth.