New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-01
.JUSTICE TO TWO REFORMTRS.


We have observed with no little pain during
the last week the symptoms OF serious fail-
ing out among the newspapers OF this town
which only year ago were working togethcr
for the election of Mr.. Cleveland and Dem
ocratc Congress in such delightful harmony
and fraternal concert as made by comparison
tho relations of the Siamesc Twins with each
other seem remote and distant. and those of
Damon and P,thias strained and mfrendly.
There is very evident misunderstanding
among them as to the connection OF Mr. Glider
the poet and Mr.. White the political econo-
mist with the Van Allen affair. This is due,
we presume partly to the confused and APP
parently conflicting statements OF Mr. mite,
and partly b the absolute silence OF Mr. Gil
der. who might throw light on the situation Ii
he would He may Yet do it. Let us hope So
Meantime it is proper 10 say that criticism OF Mr.
Glider for pungng abruptly into politics Is i'll
timed. This is not his first entry into active
politics. In 1890 he was connected with the
Peoples Municipal League an organ za'Ion OF
Young persons which entered politics with con
siderable freshness and something like prccipl-
fancy and leaked away presently. Nlr. Glider
and one or two others promoted The hllarty
Of several strong Democratic districts during
the clmpaign by addresses on the subject Of
Reform from the tail of "a cant Ill, sincerity
on that occasion was never doubted. The
success of the campaign, however. was not 80
great as 10 change the municipal calendar INTO
n form resembling that OF the Ammo l RIBS
Conditae" of ancient Rome.
still greater injustice has been done Mr.
Horace White the political economist The
New-Yoik World has come very near what
might be called dumping on Mr. White for
recognizing oficc-buying As legitimate while
condcmning Office selling a. wrong" " The
New-Yorl sun" while critciSing Mr. Glider
somcwh1t severely a. the prospective biogra-
nhcr of the President for entertaining the 'uS-
picion that the latter would barter pubic
Office for a campaign subscription, points out
with its usual politcne'S that Mr. hite Is
equally at fault. and inimatcS that he should
have known better. But worst Of ll " The
New-Yoik Times with subtle irony recalls
the fact that Mr. Henry Willard. with whom
Mr.. White has for long time had intimate
business relations. contributed. according To
current rumor. $50, 600 to the Cleveland cam
paign fund and " it said coveted the Der
lin mission. and considered himself as good aS
nominatd to that high post And IT proceeds
TO say that, though "thcrc was much harsh
Comment on this supposed fact, the appoint
ment 4" was never deemed 10 be so imminent
as TO prompt austcrc moraliStS among the Pres
dcnts friends To raise imnd for his REM
buisement" This it is hardly necessary to
saw is a Slur upon the "anstcre mcralists,"
the poet Glider and the political economist
White-who is so intimately connected in bust
ness relations with Mr.. Henry Willard. And
all this. we undertake to say, is moi only de-
structivc of that fine cordaliy which existed
between all those newspapers for few months
nrior to the election of Mr.. Cleveland and the
dawn of the millennium, but IT is entirely
wrong 1t is unjust to Mr. White.
Mr.. White is a rigid political moralist. Prob
ALLY no other man in this country has lain
| awake so many nights over the way things are
going on no one else has shed so many bitter
fears and walked up many mornings with
his pow-caScs wringing wet oven the pos
sible degradation OF the country through some
body's being appointed or elected 10 office who
was not a proper person, a Mr.. Horace White.
| It. is n(x certain that he knew Of Nh. Wizards
| contribution Of $50, 900. CT If he did know OF
il That he knew Mr.. Willard wanted the mis-
sion 10 Berlin And even il he did know about
if il mus. at least be said that he knew Vii
| lard and had confidence in him. whereas, a
he saws in his letter to "The World" he did
| not know Van Allen and could not vouch for
| him. 1t may be said. Of course. that IN at
tribrting Mr.. Van Aliens subscription of
So 900 to mcrconary and selfish motives Mr..
| White left on; Of consideration the possibility
that he NAV have read Whites political essays
10 suoh an extent and have become 50 worked
I'M by them that he would have given 500
600 rather than have Whites hopes blasted
Mr. White may have been too modest 10 have
taken that into account. We think he was
| lie probably never stopped - think how power
fully he was operating on the minds Of men of
| great wealth. This may have been his mis-
| take And he was possibly too haSty in Jump
| ing to the conclusion that any man who would
give $50. 900 to occt Mr.. Cleveland must he
expecting TO get something for it himself. BIT
we do insist that in the whole business Mr.
| White must have been acting conscientiously
| and that while one purpose which he had in
| view was 10 save the Administration Of his
friend Mr.. Cleveland from a public scandal.
| he had much higher one in cndeayorng to
keep the United States Government right
side up.
| 1t will be sad day for this country, as in
deed for all good causes and for the human