St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-13
THE ALGER EPISODE.

THE ALGER EPISODE.
Nothing could be more delicious than
this AIGER episode. whether it is really
based ON fact or is simply what the
great mans admirers would call cruel
mistake. There is Il story told about a
terrible fight during the late war in
which some We're killed and many
wounded. Suddenly rifle ball came
and took oft finger or two of one of the
soldiers, who, dropping his musket, began
toyell loudly with the eXcruciating pain.
Let up. you coward cried the cor
poral i'll righteous indignation. "You
have lost only finger. and yet you are
making more noise about it than that
man at the other end of the line whose
whole head has been blown off," This
man ALGER has been bowling in this
fashion about his war record during the
past quarter century with an infinitely
larger volume of sound than if he had
been Killed in battle. He is q vulgar,
low-bred sort OF creature, who has
made a fabulous fortune in lumber
operations in Michigan. On the basis
of his wealth he stood for the governor
ship, and was elected because the can
dldate who ran against him was not as
rich as he was. Instead of developing
up to the requirements of his position,
as has our own Gov. MERRIAM, who be-
gan his political career under the faint
OF plutocracy, but has proved himself
man of character and ability. ALGER
discharged his duties in perfume
tory and colorless style. When he
got through his term he had the
amazing effroptery to aspire to still
higher honorS. He actually dreamed
that he might be presidentof the United
States. His civil record, of course, en-
titled him to no consideration above
that myriads of other millionaires might
receive. But he plotted with the aid Of
lot of hireiings to figure before the
country as soldier. lie has sought
to attract attention to himself as
a military hero. and has been con-
Spicuous at the annual encampments
of the Grand Army of the Republic.
where his health has bee drunk
with ostentatious enthusiasm by his le-
tainers, and he has prated in public
he fought and bled for the dear old flag.
With the spirit of forger OF counter
felter, he has inflated himself to giants
stature, and has claimed the right to
wear the robe Of GRANT and SHERMAN
and SHERIDAN. He went into the Chi
cag0 convention of 1888 as the
soldiers representative, and hoped to
TO itvo
HARRISON, DEPEw, JOHN SHERM
or GRESHAM OH this account. When
BLAINE's withdrawal opened the path
again he came forward once more in
the same guise.
AT the very best this ALGER is an ar
rant humbug. Even if what he says of
himself is true, he is in no position to
claim prominence for his services dur
ing the Rebellion He was not a bit
Drawer soldier than a half-million other
men who. in the ranks or at the head
of their regiments, stormed the enemy's
batteries. The bones of hosts of
men better than he are lying in un,
known graves on Southern battlefields
and thousands of his superiors are labor
ing honestly and quietly in the coun
try's shops and counting rooms and say
ing never word about what they did
in war times. If what CHARLES A.
DANA says IS true, lie is not only a
~humbug. but fraud of the blacklist
dye. DANA says that he was cash
Tered for conduct unworthy of an
officer, and that the records at
Washington show it. The cheap
play actor does not dare deny
his, sbut he says that the records
are wrong and do him serious injus-
tice. Perhaps they are. The GLOBE
hopes so, but it rejoices that he has
been thrown on the defensive, and that
his shallow prctensions have been pre-
sented to the world in this glarIng
light. This paper loves and honors a
brave soldier. 1t has never yet spoken
with disreSpect of any candidate for
public Office who has been able
to point to a meritorious military
career as reason why he should re-
ceive his fellow citizens suffrages.
Such a career ought to be considered in
mans favor, because it is an evidence
of bravery, patriotism and character.
But nothing is more contemplate than
hypocrite, and fifty per cent of these
seedy individuals who are blowing hard
about what they did to save the Upion
were drafted against their sauealing
protests, and were rank towards
on the battle field. 1t is not
mentioned by the biographers of
GRANT. or SHERMAN, or SHERIDAN,
or HANCOCK OF MCCLELLAN, that any
Of these men praised themselves in pub
lie or private after the war was ended
for what they had done during it, or
passed the hat for their associates con-
tributions of gratitude or support on ac-
count of their deeds at the front. 1t is
always some absurd gilt and tinsel pop
Inlay Ike ALGER who does this sort of
thing, and the chances are ten TO one that
the man who is guilty of such egregiously
bad taste is stalking over a volcano,
and that some day he will be over
whelmed by the smoke and lava of some
discreditable episode in his life which
he has striyen to keep secret. If there
are any men who combine civic virtues
with the prestige OF a clean military
record. they deserve 10 be numbered
among the nations leaders to-day, and
If either party wants to put such at the
head of its ticket, we'll and good But
the sooner all liars. all pretenders, all
Pharisees, are eviscerated and their
self-glorifications shown up in their dis
gushing hollowness. the better. Let us
have no ALGERs OIL either ticket. Let us
have clean, simple, honest men. Then.
10 matter which party wins, the ship of
state will be safe. What an unutter-
able calamity it would be to have liar
at its helm.
MAY BE CUT OFF.