New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-01
CHAT ON POLITICAL TOPICS

Tho election of Vernon II. Brown, agent Of the
cunard Line TO the Republican County Comntee rom
the XyIIIth assembly District caused surprise IN GER
tain quarters. For some unaccouhilOie roi'oh ii'
prown had come to bY&poked upon as a genuine Mug.
,,unn whose incllnatS q were toward Democracy ard
whose tastes were decidedly English Nothing would
10 moro erroneous than this view. Mr. Brown Is an
American from head to foot and staiwart hepuphcai
:, ~ his Intense Amcrcanism. In fact, together with
his nnouestioned business aDlniy, !ht 'auleu .'le
,a III neonle 10 make him the manager OF their IN
teresis mere They wanted American pusIaess; ~
was tnelr ad '', HER representative outandout
American. so Mr.. Brown was CHOSEN.
Vat II &c curious how the fact that Mr. Brown rep
rescnts British company has created Widespread
notion that he himself Is English an error 'hat mas
caused him no little trouble and annoyance speaking
ON this point the other day, one OF Mi. boWhs iehus
remarked Mr. Brown Is one OF the very lew lie
publlcans among the steamship agents Oh new iorA'
and vet he has been treated by certain representatives
- ar ,dminstration as well by the
,,b,ic as though he were an English Tory.
ri ,reo,ment began last spring when the
Government attempted TO force him to take back
some contract laborers without giving MIN proper
notice OF the intention. lie rebelled. ana set the
men ashore as lie had a perfect rsht 10 90 under
the circumstances. Immediately there went up u
how, AGAINST the defiant Brtsher, rs he was termed
A Congress investigation ordered, which only re
suited in proving that Mr.. Browns course III tIc
matter had been right Before tliat nad been vet,
some passengers escaped from ole OF ms SHIPS on
a sunday when the Barge Office was closed AGAIN
he was indicated, IL being shown that his employees
had done their best TO prevent any one leaving the
ship and that PASSENGER went away who did i not
OF Mr.. Brown than IL did year ago but that does
not prevent cranks suing his line for damages alleged
~ the Wicked fea. But Mr. Brown IS philosopher,
and all these things fail 10 shake his equanmity
Mr. Browns method OF treating erroneous reports
about hm-witl indiference-is ono that has been
practlsed by a good many public men, Dut' ~ u
questionable II it be the best. Indeed, those VINO
have enjoyed an acquaintanceshp With pOlticai
leaders and know how many absurd things about them
are accepted true by the public cannot resist TIE
conclusion that no matter how we'll intcnched he
may be- public makes mistake IN allowing
a lie about him TO pass uncontradicted II IL is pos
sibe for him TO make the correction, and it usually
is. a thousand Illustrations OF this truth might he
cited, but few Will suffice. a few years ago "lhe
Times in series of articles on the distinction oil rass
al Quarantine declared that ex-senator L. C. flatt
was partner in the alleged "ring' which was DONG
tie work. and that he was making large bnt uIlsw,
ini profits out OF the enterprise. There was ng1 ~
word OF truth in the story. and Mr. Patt prepared o.
once 10 sue the paper for libel But some OF Ms
that it vas lot worth white and That e could afford
70 ignore the charges lie Yielded to their n nil
believe that "The Times" was right and that Mr..
Plat was guilty, when, as matter OF fsct no was
entirely Innocent.
"In all the years that Mr.. Plat has been In active
life" said lifelong friend OF the ex-senator 'le
other evening, ahe has never made dollar out VI
politics, and yet suppose hundreds OF people DO
lIeve he has acquired fortune by Legitimate methods
II Is not pleasant 10 be thought Of In this way, but
a man as full of business the ex-senator hasn't
time IL he had naturalization, 10 stop and brand ~
false all the untrue stories abo1t him. lie ought 20
do So ana , 10 sIa d gr go wrong the
ages never and all that sort OF thing but man WHO
aspires 10 earthly honors cannot aoa 10 ssG no
matter what contempt he may feel Tor tlose VIM az
tempt 70 niurc him.
Another example. There exists popular bolci.
based on reports sent out by Democratic newspaper
correspondents at Washington, that deadly ehhiN
cxsts between secretary Noble and secretary Proctor
owing 10 the Indian war This Is pure houon' be.
tween the Interior and War Departments the best :"
good feeling exists Instead oi secretary NoDie beihs
turned DOWN as reported he las been the inalgaior
~ All the changes made including that which pia.sd
certain Indian agencies under tho lufsnleuon ~ w
WAR Department. The authority for TINS assertion -
Geisrl Bussy the efficient Assistant secretary Oh tie
Interior.
speeulatIon Is stIll active as TO whether MAYOR
Grant will reappont Scion u. Smith police lusu'e.
some OF the Tammany leaders say that he WIZ DO So
others assert the contrary with equal emphasis. Inc
Mayor himself will no further than 20 aseF, ,as
he never promised 70 fcsppoih' '"o AePs ~
OF the xXth District.
That talk about Chairman Patterson moving away
from the ytl TO the XIXth District Is premature.
nj ,,ty ,vonId like Ia move uptown, but the Judge
j. devotedIy attached % his old home, and II VIII TIC
hard work TO get lin to leave IL.
Secretary WINDOWS death recalled the fact that
,bere have been no less than seven secretaries OF
tho Treasury since lssi. namely. Window Foiser.
GRESHAM. McCulloch Manning. faifchild, and WIZ
oo,n Cor th. second time. For four Of these Frank
sptrry, Collector Erhardts rishtiia man. "eVe" 40
nrfvats secretary.