New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-21


In 1892 Mr.. Wayne Macveash, generally
supposed until then 10 be n Republican. pro-
claimed himself convert - the cause of ,lr
Cleveland. With great asiutcuoss Nh Mac
Vcagh chose The Irish vote IS his ncli If on
deayor, AMI laborcd L. consolidate II tor Clcyc-
land Ly frequent attacks upon thc character
Of distinguished Irish-Amcriur. upon whom
Mr. Harrison had conferred high office. Thr
debt thus created Mr. Cleveland. having SET
aside the Italian embassy for The DISCHARGE Of
campaign obligations. las mci hy nominating
Mr. MacVcagh 10 be Ambassador % Italy. To
some persons however. it VIII appear tint thc
compliment Of this selection is lc-~oncl hy the
fact that Mr. Cleveland. having previously
offered tho embassy 10 Mr. Van Allen. has
seemed 10 place more value us campaign arsu-
mcnrs on Mr. Van Aliens dollars than "a Nr
MacVcaghS cloqucncc Nevertheless. II it is
not entirely compliment 10 Mr.. NacNrash,
whose nomination was confirmed yesterday
with unusual expedition, ia order. perhaps ass
one Senator remarked, that Mr.. NacVcaah
might not be able to change Lis party
again willie it WIS pending, IT is a
pretty stroke Of policy on Tie part of Mr.
Cleveland For BE- has been able 10 Use the
Italian embassy 20 discharge his personal cam
paigu Obligations, and ~ the same time to turn
the chorus Of wild despair which arose from
Muswump throatS when he offered il for dol
lars merely. into Il chorus Of dulcct acclaim.
But the position in which the Secretary Of
State is placed by the appointment Of Mr. Mae
Vcagh must be extremely embarrassing. For
it only few years ago that Mr.. Gresham.
then n Federal Judge. rendered a decision
wherein he made some remarks concerning Mr.
MacVcagh which the President may find il diff
cult to explain 10 his " great and good FRIEND
King IIumbcrI Of Italy. \ woman had in
hcrltcd some bonds Of the city Of Ottawa. ILL.,.
purchased with The knowledge Of certain facts
relating TO their issue by which the bonds were
invallatcd. They were good in the hands Of
an innocent holder for value. bur not in the
hands of this woman She was put into com
mun;cation with Mr. WAYNE MacNcagh ana hc-
came his client in an effort 10 get the money.
Notwithstanding the fact that She was moi by
law entitled 10 it. The proceedings If Mr.. Mae
Ncagh in the matter are set forth In Judge
Grcshan's decision. whereby IT appears that
the attorney sold the boIdS 10 a client Of his.
without informing him of The facts concerning
their Issue, but, on The contrary. advising Him
that the bonds were good and would hr paid
or course they were not paid. and suit was
brought for their collection. This suit Judge
Gresham tried. rendering decision against
Mr. MacNcagh's client on the ground that the
lawyers knowledge was the clients knowl-
edge; that Mr.. MacNcaghs claim that in this
ease he was not his clients lawyer was mere
statement Of opinion and not of fact: that the
ia I'm A
Ncagh's retention in his own hands of the pro- |
cccds of the sale Of the bonds, instead of bay
Ing them over to the woman was "A plain con |
fession that they were being held 10 await the /
result of this trial, and that any other theory
would render Mr. MacVcagh unmndful of his
duties 10 somebody.
The Tribune does not at this time express |
any opinion to the moral quality of Mr. /
MacVeagh's conduct. But we cannot help won |
derng if Secretary Gresham explained To the
Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs the ac- |
cusalon of trickcry and deceit brought by
Judge Gresham against Mr. MacVcagh And |
will II now be- explained TO the King Of Italy?
May not that excellent and illlistrorIs potentate
consider that the mission 10 his court has been
sufficiently scandalized already without ac-
crediting TO him an attorney who, in the opin-
ion Of the Secretary Of State, attempted by n
shfty trick to get hold Of money not rlghtfully