New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-02
PLAIN QUESTION AND PLAIN ANSWER

Our neighbor. "The New-York Sum-" which
shines for Mr.. Cleveland, prints conspicnously
a letter properly resenting and repeling the
gross abuse of Mr.. Cleveland's nominee Tor the
Italian Embassy. with which papers OF his own
PARTY have been teeming We have alfeady
expressed similar view OF these lampoons'
and are glad to see so spirited statement OF Mi.
Van Aliens excellent personal character ana
antecedents in Democratic journal
"The Suns" correspondent then proceeds to
the serious point-the abrupt nomination OF
this newcomer in politics TO high Office.
following close upon his gift of $4,000 to the
fund for promoting Mr.. Clevelands election.
The correspondent asserts in substance that
Republicans have habitaally done the same
thing and asks number of questions about
Republican appointments-the following beng
one:
VIII Mr. Whtelaw Reid or Mr.. Levi F. Morton
conscientiously inform the public the amount OF
their respective contributions TO the campaign fund
of their party In the Presidential elections before
they received their appointments as Minister 10
France?
Mr.. Reid will gladly promote such an lnves-
tigation and unreservedly give proper Con-
gressional Committee full replies as to himself
and he has no doubt that Mr.. Morton will be
equally prompt and frank Mr.. Reid has been
three times offered Grst-class foreign missions
by successive Republican Administrations only
one of which he was able to accept. lie may,
perhaps, with propriety, say at once, in advance
of any investigation, that his total money con-
tributions to the campaign funds OF his party
in all three of the Presidential elections before
those several offers, did not equal one-fiith
of the sum Mr. Van Allen gave last year. 1t
NAV be added that he has never either
promised penny in advance for a nomination
or claimed a nomination afterward on account
of what he had given.
Throughout the last Administration Mr..
Cleveland's party and personal organs main
tanned constant and bitter assault upon Mr.
Harrison and Senator Quay for the appointment
of Mr.. Wanamalxer to the Cabinet after an
alleged extraordinary subscription to the cam
uaign fund. We have been told that Mr..
Wanamaker's contributions to the campaign
funds of his party in the two Presidential
elections-wben Mr.. Harrison was elected and
when he was candidate for re-electon-put
together did not greatly exceed one-hfth OF
what Mr.. Van Allen gave last year.
On the first of November last, after Mr..
Van Aliens princely contribution to the Demo-
cratic campaign fund.- Mr.. Cleveland in care
fully prepared speech at Lenox Lyceum
denounced the Republicans for raising large
sums of money to influence the election, and
said:
It's n confession most humiliating TO American cit
izenship that with a cause thoroughly intrenched
in reason and commencing itself so clearly to the
intelligence OF patriotic Americans, we daily near
predictions Of Republican success, based upon the
ability of that party purchase the votes OF the
people A little reflection. II seems to me- can
no. fail to arouse the American conscience to the
wickedness as well as the peril OF debauched
suffrage
We feel sure that Mr.. Cleveland was then
at least as ignorant about what the Republi-
cans were doing As he must have been about
what Mr.. Van Allen had just done. But we
concur heartily in his general reprobaton OF
enormous campaign subscriptions b! people
who hope thereby to gain something personal
from officials thus elected and we cordially
invite Mr.. Cleveland now to seize the present
admirable opportunity to give his judlcous
sentiments practical form. His party is in
full power VIII he not promptly recommend
and endeavor to secure the appointment OF a
fair committee to make a sweeping and thorough
investigation of the campaign funds raised by
the National and State Committees Of both
parties in the late Presid ential election. with
power to send for persons and papers?