St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-06-28
cHIEFJUsTICE lDE ATTACKED.

\ " Washington speClal III ouuudE ;
issue of the New York Tribune gives
the substance of a rather remarkable
letter written by Consul General
Muligan, recently of Samoa, which
found its way into the batch OF
documents of the last Congress
known as the Senate Executive Doe
ument No. 81. 1t embraced some
official correspondence regarding
Samoa, which has but just found its
way into print. 1t seems that Null
lgan had hardly got well settled
into his consu-generaIship when he
wrote private letter to Secretary
Gresham, in which that diplomatic
novice volunteered his opinion of
the worthlessness OF the Sa-
moan islands, and then made
a most wanton and outrageous at
tack upon Chief Justice Ide, with
whom contessedly his relations were
pleasant and whose very position
would debar him from replying if
the attacks should ever reach him.
Here is a specimen of the language
used by Mnlllgan in his savage at
tack on Mr.. Ide: This so called
Chief Justice is a very pleasant and
agreeable gentleman. Nature has
not been very lavish with him in her
gifts, and he is not up to the gauge
of Daniel Webster. He is violently
impressed with his own Importance
and authority, and the most mean-
choly feature about him is that he
labors under the impression that he
is very smart. He is pulled up, con-
sequential and devoted to the inter
ests of Ide."
After referring to some matters of
legislation and stepping aside to fire
shot at this Vermont attorney, who
spoke of having consented to accept
his present position" Mulligan tes-
titles to the courteous treatment he
always received at the hands of the
Vermont attorney" II protest"
he SAYS, II have no rupture with
Mr.. Ide-he has been all courtesy to
me; but" he continues, 1.-THE grasp.
ing, petty ambition is so acute, the
humbug so apparent, that | feel it
a duty in this way to convey to
your eye alone, for your correct
understanding, the impressions of
mere stranger, free Of all friction or
ENHANCEMENT. have no personal
end to serve, for would not remain
in this sweltering solitude, where a
10 cent lunch costs more than Del
monico dinner, for all these islands"
Doubtless it was offensive to Mr..
MuIligan to have the most impor-
tant position on the islands occu-
pied by gentleman of culture and
dignity, who is not a democrat or
Southerner, or of the same race or
religion as himself, and whom he
doubtless thinks he has annihi-
lated by calling him a Vermont
attorney" He is a Vermont LAWYER,
to be sure, and all reports from that
state agree that he is an honor to
the profession. Those who remember
that George F. Edmunds and Edward
]. Phelos are also Vermont LAWYERS
will fail to see reproach in the epithet,
unless they happen to be townsmen
OF w. c. P, Breckenridge.
1t is difficult to say which is the
more unwse, injudicious and ungen-
tlemanly, the writing Of such letter
in the nrst place, or the printing of it
in public document in the second.
Lack fspace prevents the reprint
ing OF the entire despatch, which con.
tains an interesting statement Of
diplomatic and commercial questions,
but it is pleasing to note, in conclu-
sion, the marked contrast between
Mr. CIevelands appointee and Vice
Consul Blackjack, a longtime resi-.
dent, who acted AS consul after Mr..
SewalPs resignation and until Mr..
Mulligan's arrival. In his letter to
Assistant Secretary of State Uhl,
dated May %, 1894, are these pas.
sages:
"Thecourse pursued by Chief Justice
lde in all his dealings with native
troubles has been most conservativ,
and careful. He mas consulted freely
with the three consuls and presiden,
tot the municipa counciO at all time,
and has listened to their suggestions.
Referring to newspaper articl
which had falsely charged the Chic
Justice with sentencing some chiefs t,