The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-15
QUINCY AND AsrWoop.

Reform Politics Make Strange BedfelIows
and Apprentices
Warrington Special IN Philadelphia Pres.
Assistant Secretary of State Quincy
has resigned, to take effect October /,
but he Is still getting in his work "loot-
ing the consulates." His latest effort
in that direction is seen in the uomina-
ton by the President Of Henry O. Asst
wood, formerly Of Louisiana, but now Of
New York, q colored man, for consul at
Calais, France.
This is one Of the most important Of
the numerous consulates, and it is one
where American travellers, particularly
ladies, frequently seek the aid OF the
United States consul, and therefore q
good deal OF surprise was expressed in
the senate that the President should
nominate q colored man for tho place,
particularly as colored men are rare in
France.
The surprise is all the greater now
that it is known that Mr.. Astwood isaR
adventurer who rests under very. severe
charges.
He was formerly United States consul
to San Domingo, which being q black
republic was, so far as race is concerned,
an appropriate appointment.
He was removed by Secretary Bayard,
and charges were filed against him of a
serious character, although Mr.. Asst
wood denied the truth Of them. When
President Harrison was elected, one Of
the applicants for a consulship under
him was this same Mr.. Astwood. Sec
Il xakonU Rlafna hnnauaH Hafu1a1 N ON.
point him because Of the charges made
against him in regard TO various money
transactions, in one Of which Mr.. Wanna
maker, of Philadelphia, is said to have
had an unpleasant experience.
Failing to get an Office from the Re-
publicans, Mr.. Astwood offered his SER
vices to the Democratic national COM
mittee in 1892 and was employed to or
ganize q "Negro Democratic League"
and he was chairman of its executive
committee. 1t now turns out that Mr..
Astwood was at one time q seaman in
the navy and that he stands on the rolls
Us deserter from the Canandaigua in
May, 1874. He'has also been charged
with bigamy and with being native Of
the West Indies who has never taken
OUT NATURALIZATION Rdp6E6s
The charges in regard to Astwood's
money transactions grew out OF his
conduct while consul in San Domingo.
A letter from Mr.. Frederick Douglass
in regard to Mr.. Astwood is very severe.
The venerable ex-minister to Hayti
saws: "Mr. Astwood's appointment to
any office under the present govern
ment would be q disgrace, and should
be resisted and defeated il possible.
His career has been such as to reflect
no credit upon himself, nor upon the
colored people. He has shown himself
to be an unmitigated trickster, politi.
clan without principle, a demagogue
pure and simple. Whoever wants to
know his history will look into the
documents now in the state department
and If he fails to find them
there he should apply to Charles R
Douglas. I certainly hope that Presi.
dent Cleveland will not allow himself to
be imposed upon by any such man as
Fl. @. Astwood. President Cleveland
has right to appoint his Democratic
friends TO office. We have no business
to question that right, but we should
do all VIC can for the good of our race
by preventing the appointment OF men
who are Democrats for revenue and
whose appointment would dishonor our
people. There are honorable men in
the Democratic party. Let them come
to the front and their success will be a
rebuke to villainy and an encourage
ment to honorable men in every other
party and everywhere else."
This letter from Mr.. Douglass was in
the hands of Mr.. Quincy before Mr.,
Astwood was appointed, hut is under
stood that Mr.. Quincy made certain
agreement with Mr.. Astwood during
the Presidential CAMPAIGN which
caused him to ignore the charges
against Mr.. Astwood, and the Presi-
dent, therefore, nominated Astwood for
this important consular office in France.
As Mr.. German is said to have been a
party to this agreement it is probable
that Mr.. Astwood may be confirmed.