Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1892-10-14
NOT i TURNCOAT.

last tuesday evening chairman Lyon,
took occasion to state that Judge
Cooley, Of Michigan, was a recent
convert from Repuhlicanism to
Democracy It is not SO. The
following from the Chicago Inter-
Ocean completely refutes the
charge that Judge Cooley. is, Or ever
was turncont:
The venerable Judge Cooley, of
Michigan is out in fiat denial of the
slanderous rumor set afoat, by the
New York Times that he had gone
over to the Democracy. The only
ground for the report is the personal
regard the Judge has for Mr.. Cleve-
land. It was during the Cleveland
administration that the Interstate
Commerce Commission was created.
By the limit Of the statute it was to
DO as nearly non-partisan as possible.
Judge Cooley and Colonel Aldace F.
Walker; now Of Chica 70, were the
Republicans appointed. Both had
reason to feel grateful to the Presi-
dent, and it is known that the latter
took quite an interest in the work of
the commission. Judge Cooley was
made chairman in Difference to his
age and reputation. He has since
retired, and this is what he has to say
in reply to the charge of political
desertion: .igs .,...
am too old and too feeble man to take any
active part In politics. and while have great
personal regard for the Democratic nominee
principles OF the platform for which he stands
BY casting my vote for him. More than this
do not think it necessary for me to say.
1t may be set down as one of the
common rights of citizenship to
change ones party affiliations, but
there may be circumstances which
render such change impossible with
out dishonor, In this instance the
change. if made, would be due to
personal esteem, which is far from
being a sufficient excuse. Some
offices are remote in their duties from,
the issues of National politics, but
Congressman and Presidents are
certainly not in that category. Much
will be forgiven to personal good
feeling, however, far more than to
personal animosity. The bolt from
the Democracy of 1848, led by
Van Buren,, was wholly a case Of
grudge and malice, and Van Buren, s
reputation will never be cleared of
the stain Of dishonor. Even those
who pTo6ted by his hatred of Cass
despised his course and condemned
his motive.
There are Van Burens on a large
or small scale at every National
election, some men who are sour and
malicious enough to trample their
principles in the mud to crafty their
anlmosity. General Buffers cam
didacy of eight years ago was case
point. His excuse for boiling a
ticket he helped to make was friviIous.
| Nobody paid any attention to it. It
was known that he disliked Cleveland
and gave way to his malice He
thought to defeat the candidate of his
party by being candidate himself,
but in this he failed. He was not a
Van Buren,. Both Van Buren, and
Butler had been greatly honored by
their party, and as the recipients of
such honors may be said to have
served upon themselves injunctions
of honor restraining them from any
change in party allegiance, especially
if the circumstances of the case should
justify the charge that the motive
was personal envy, jealousy and
malice. No man, however high his
standing, can expect to retain the
respect of those who know him if he
places upon the lapel of his reputation
this badge: "A Turn coat from
Malice"