New-York tribune., 1894-10-24
PETTY TRICK AND 4 GREAT URONG.

4 PETTY TRICK And 4 GREI! UhON"'
It is generally assumed that the special Board
Of Inquiry appointed by Secretary Carlisle 10
investigate the case OF Mr.. Morton's domestic
servant Howard will report that he is justly
entitled to remain in this country If he plea>cs.
and that the Secretary Of the Treasury VIII
thcreupon order his release. The inquiry was
secretly made. and those who took part III II
have not forecast the result: hut it Is natural
10 suppose that Mr.. Carlisle. having discovered
that his shabby trick was a colossal blunder,
Will seize the opportunity 10 reverse himself
To think otherwise would be To- credit his stub
bornness with an even larger admixture Of stu
pdty than IL has been known 10 carry hereto
fore Possibly the Sccrciary's vanity IS fan
tastc enough To stand the strain OF universal
contempt but we doubt IL. The execrationS of
his party have probably brought him 10 Il
realizing sense Of what the country thinks about
his performances and this is not time when
Democratic statesmen can 3c permitted To keep
on cultvating unpopulariiy for their personal
qualification.
Compassion for n poor man abomlnably NAL
treated while pursuing an honest vocation In
Il strictly lawful manner does not obscure the
compensations Of this cXasperaiinc incident
OUP bI iHt>' tbIIll''lI~iil'HN - HliH '''''i
knowledge of the character of Il constitutional
adviser Of the President than he had previously
succeeded in mparting by numerous official
acts Of folly and offence. II is an advantage.
though n trial 10 the country 10 realize that a
man occupying great office is untitled for his
duties by feeble judgment, low sense of
right and Il mean spirit An accurate estimate
of such a public servant may prevent serious
misapprchcns.ons hereafter. and even avert
calamity II is also extremely desirable that the
people should become aware of the immense
and anomalous power which Congress has
placed in the hands II the Secretary II the
Treasury. BY the decision of Judge lacOmhr.
and Il prior decision ~ The Supreme Court. it Is
made evident that the Secretary is authorized
virtually 10 annul the writ of hab"aS corpus M
his discretion. Though legally declared to b. a
domestic servant. and therefore as absolutely
exempted from the operation "f the Contract
Labor law rs if h" were nativc-born citizen
Of the United States. he astounding fact ap-
pears that Howard has 10 appeal from the
whim of Mr. Carlisle. II hc j. released from
custody and permitted 20 exercise the liberty ~
action Of which the Law expressly declares it,
purpose not 10 deprive him. he VIII ow" The
restoration If his ascrriainci and 10 longer
disputed rights not Ia any constitutional guar
antcc but to the reluctant and Sucn concession
Of an individual
This is certainly monSirouS prrycrSion OF
the laws intent and n gross invasion Of what
American citizens have called their fundamental
rights For the present the chief feeling which
the incident aror~cs * contempt for officials
who are small and mean and silly enough 10
devise such scheme for annoying a former
Vicc-PrcSidcnt Of the United States and iniur-
Ing the political party which h. represents In
this State rs A candidate for Governor But
after the election there Will be time 10 impress
upon Congress the necessity Of preventing such
tricks in the future