St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-07
A POSTAL WRONG.

While Republicans are taking the
place of Democrats in number of the
most prominent poStotfices of this Sec
ton, there is some satisfaction in believ
ing that in all cases they are men of
breadth enough not to fall into the I'M
fortunate habit of many such officials in
the South and elsewhere. The latter
have been making trouble for the good
man above them by their delusive inn
preston that he would have them serve
the party before the public. The special
illustrative incident is brought out in
the experience of the Voice, the am
bilious New York organ of the Prohibi-
tioniStS. Devotion to the cause and bust
ness interests have probably combined
to induce il to try to reach many new
readers over the country. 1t has been
aided in the missionary feature by the
generous contributions of friends of the
cause. The names of leading farmers
in large numbers had been obtained in
various states. and packages of the pa
per sent out tothe offices, to be opened
and distributed to the persons named
on the papers, as is frequently done in
conformity to the postal regimen. After
little the bundles began to come back
to the Voice Office with the statement
stamped on them that the farmers re-
fused to receive them. 1t seemed UNI
reasonable to the publishers that farm
erS should refuse to accept publica-
ton of attractive appearance that was
entirely gratuitous. SO they commenced
writing to the persons who we re alleged
to be rejecting gratuity. Unhapplly the
envelopes used had the printed card of
the paper on them, and no answers came
to them. This excited more suspicion,
and the eXpedient was tried of plain
envelopes and mailing them at offices
outside of the city where the paper is
published. The ruse justified their sus-
picionS. The pOStmaSterS had sup
pressed the papers and the letters had
not been delivered. Hundreds Of the
farmers got on their ear over the matter,
probably not so much on acc cunt of
their sympathy with the cause as the
affrOnt to their intelligence shown by
the officials. Their letters are published.
and even when Republicans they have
the sense to see that the postoffice should
not be operated in the interest of
the Republican party and at the eX-
pense of the Prohibition or any other
party. In the seething slavery times,
little before the war, it was charged
that there was high federation in the
postal department to similar treatment
of an obnoxious New York paper of
that day. Indignation ran high, and
r hn off aia 10 In
regarded as tolerabIe precedent for
pacific times. The facts and evidence
in many of these recent cases have been
gathered and laid before Postmaster
General WANAMAKER, with demand
for the punishment of the unworthy
officials. srheir offense is a fragrant
violation Of the poStoffice law, and
even the Republican postmasters
cannot plead ignorance. 1t has been
the high claim of the postal department
that it was operated OH business prin-
ciples, with fidelity to the rights of all.
1t may seem, however, to the good man
at the head, that devotion to the party
should go far to condone the offenses
against law committed in its interest.
The Prohibitionists will do all they can
against the party in any event, and do
not deserve Republican consideration.
But their cause is . common one with
all fair-minded people. The D emocrats
or the Peoples party might be the vic
Tins in the coming campaign. 1t is i'm
material. however, who are affected by
the acts OF unfaithful officials. The
hands that go into the mail bags must
be open and free from trickery or parti-
san obllviouSnesS of official duty.