The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-17
THE IRISH SURGEON"
John Arthur's Defense of Alder
man John P. Sweeney.
FROM DEMOCRATIC cALuMNY.

The irish Americans VIII "kememher
Limerick" ut the Coming City Eiee-
ton, Crushing Bad Government
SEATTLE. Dec. 16. 1898.
To THE EprroR: On the 9,h inst. the
Erenin1 Herald tPopuIistl contained
number OF editorials violently ABUSING
Alderman Sweeney fot having voted on
the previous (Friday) evening. with three
other aldermen. n favor OF awarding 70
the PosT-IsTELLIGEycER the contract Tor
printing city ordinances, etc., instead Oh
voting for the Democratic morning paper,
the Telegraph. whose bid was the highest.
In the principal editorial the Herald
charges. in effect. that !. IN the interest OF
the PosT-ISrEILIGEycER. induced DR..
Sweeney to vote as he did While was
entirely Indifferent to the remarks OF the
Herald concerning myself. l felt that IN
justice alike TO DIR. Sweeney and the Posi-
INTELLIGENCE il was my duty TO deny
and refute the HeraIf's charges. there
fore addressed 10 the Herald the following
. letter, which its editor on Monday morn
ing promised 10 publish. In two subse-
ouent issue. the Herald renewed this
promise. Yesterday tFridayl morning l
told It's editor that could not submit IN
silence TO an unjust attack upon DR..
Sweeney over my shoulders. whereupon
he promised again TO print the letter.
The Herald having failed to do so either
yesterday or today think / am justified
in asking you TO print 1t.
JOIN ARTHuR.
SEATTLE, Dec 9, 1898.
Editor Erening Herald: This evening
you devote ali your editorial space 10 DIR.
John p. Sweeney, agains: whom you show
great wrath. Your grievance is that on
the preceding night he, as alderman. voted
TO award the city printing 10 the Posi-
ISTElIIeEScER rather than the Telegraph.
With your tilial zeal in behalf of the Tee
graph / have no fault to find. l do. how
ever, object to your drawing me into this
controversy and publishing q series OF
falsehoods against DR.. Sweeney in connec-
ton with me. Let me take in their order
your statements affecting him and me
jointly:
sFirst-That am the chairman Of the
Republican county central committee
True.
~Second-That I have ever been the
plant tool of the ring' since my alleged
DETECTION from the Populist ranks three
years ago.
Untrue in every particular. | am not
now and never have been plant tool. nor
a tool in any respect, of any ring or com
bination whatever. | was not built for
tool, and | am not lifted for use in that
capacity committed no detection from
the Populist ranks Not having been IN
those ranks. had no occasion 20 do so.
sThird-That az that point in the pro-
r.ia 70 ha Yrrsf Rrt ~
where the EueninG Herald vas denounced'as
reflex OF the Telegraph began my work
on my 'compatrIot and iellow-country-
man. Mr.. Sweeney. in consequence OF
which he voted against the Telegraph.
Untrue in every particular. so tar as
Dr. Sweeney and | are concerned.
"Fourth-That Mr.. Arthur is in very
fair hsalth.' True.
"Fifth-That / held "a long and secret
interyieg last evening with the eminent
Irish surgeon, DIR. Sweeney.
Untrue in every particular. No inter-
view, long or short, secret or open, took
place between US.
thur winked his other eye after the inter
view showed that he had brought some
body to Limerick AS no interview took
MACE. aud no eve of mine was winked. and
I brought nobody TO Limerick, or else
where this statement IS untrue In every
part cuiar.
.Seventh-That as Q result of this IA
bled interview the treacherous deed vas
done Untrue in every particular.
Thus. OF seven statements affecting
me I'VE are absolutely untrue. II the
Erenina Herald, while yet In its swaddlIng
band, can invent lies at this rate. what
possible limit can there be 70 Its mendae-
itv when tif ever il reaches maturity
You saw that the EreaiHg Herald would
not attempt the solution Of SO deep and
intricate a problem as the motive for DR..
Sweenev's vote in favor OF the PosT-sS-
TsLLfeEScER. Try your infan,lle wills on
the question have just propounded.
LET me attempt 10 solve the problem
which battles your intellect: Although
Or Sweeney is a nstiye-born American,
and IS an eminent Irish surgeon only IN
the sense (for exampie1 that Andrew
Jackson and Phillip IL Sheridan were
eminent Irish generals, yet he Is. ike
those great Americans, strongly In sym
psthy with Ireland IN her struggle Tor po-
iitical liberty; he knows that since he frst
Rad a copy OF the Posr-fSTELLI6ENCE that
paper has been jealous and powerful
trlend OF Ireland: he knows that through
out the stirring period when American
sympathy and aid were Indispensable
TO the success OF ParneA and
Gladstone In their fight for free iom, the
learned anu eloquent editorials OF the PosT-
Ix~rIIIeYxCEg IN favor OF Ireland a.
tracted wide attention, ana were copied
extensively on both sides Of the Atlantic;
and he knows that the Telegraph Ia. rem
cered no such service to the cause OF AU-
man progress. but has on the contrary
been regarded by Irelsnd's friends In Seat
tie As indifferent or covertly hostile to the
Irish cause Add TO tais. that the object OF
advertising IS 20 resch the puoile. and
thar the Posr-ISTEILIGEScEEi is by lar the
csos: wide Y read paper ~ the staie. ana
good ground for voting a. be did a. al
events, yoa would 30 find II your parent
were NOT 50 deeply interested.
.sWhv DO yoa single oui DR.. Sweeney for
al your vshacation. and ;aciiy forgive
other Democratic aldermen sho voted
with him. Is IL because ne bears an
Irish name. and you think yoa can Tor
that reason successfully wage a hnos-
nothing campaign against hlmP IL looks
50. Your article bFea;aes the s2isii OF
Knosno;hing ism: and when that narrow