The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-03
GOVERNOR ALTGELD.
TX Journal.

From the New York Journal
No public man in the United States Il
more widely misunderstood than Gov
ernor John p. Altgeld of Illinois. Per
haps none has given so much reason To-
misrepresentation of his character In tn,
prescribed and official duties of the exec
utive office he holds Governor Altgeld ha.
| compelled admiration and applause. III,
! has passion for detail, and has super.
vised the many public Institutions main.
| tanned by the state of Illinois so effect.
lively that their expenditures have beer
very largely decreased, while their stand.
ard of efficacy has been greatly raised
His veto defeated every corrupt bill which
passed the last general assembly of I'LL
nois; his infuence-which curiously
enough, is very powerful in the republi-
can party-forced to passage many laws
OF humanitarian character. No intelli-
gent plan of legislation for the uplifting
of the lives and habits of the laboring
classes, for lessening the abuses which
attach to the labor of women and chill
dren, for mitigating the horrors of tene-
ment house life and sweat shop industry
ever failed TO enlist his hearty and eff
fective support With greed, extortion
and the evasion Of duty to society prac-
ticed by corporations, wealthy tax
dodgers and tenants of public lands In IL
linois he has no patience. These facts are
admitted by his foes equally with his
friends. The very newspapers in Illinois
which now oppose his efforts to secure a
free coinage delegation to the Chicago
convention commend his administration
and implore him to stick to state is
sues.
These facts about a picturesque and
sturdy character in American politics are
little understood outside the state of ILL
nois. In the East Altgeld is known chiefly
through his persistent habit of writing q
letter, apparently with a red-hot dagger
dipped in birthstone, whenever his views
are attacked or emissaries of the Cleve-
land administration invade Illinois. Sec
rotary Carlisle's recent speech on the
money question in Chicago furnished OPP
portunity for one of these missives
which is given over principally to exec
Ration of the Kentuckian for his sugges-
tive conversion to the gold theory syn
enormously with requirement of a cabinet
office. The letter was impolitic and unnec-
essary. of course. but Governor Altgeld is
too much in earnest to be polite. To
that school IF politics which has for its
maxim Don't write; send a man." he
gives no adhesion. Quay's motto, Don't
talk" he spurns with contempt. He'd
rather write than be governor; he'll talk
whenever anybody cares to ask his views,
and neither in writing nor in talking does
he show concern lest what he utters shall
prove unpopular in any quarter.
There are many sturdy and admirable
characteristics about the present gov
ernor of Illinois. but his latest contribu-
ton to epistolary literature is a waste Of
good controversial ammunition. Whether
Carlisle was once a free silverite or not
is of no Importance Men may show wis
dom by altering their opinions. Men may
even sell their convictions for office, as
Altgeld roundly charges Carlisle with do
ing. But in either case the opinion,
rather than the change, or the reason for
the change, is the thing of Importance.
If Secretary Carlisle is right now, what
boots II what he thought 10 years ago. or
how is the advantage of the free coinage
of silver demonstrated by charging, or
even by proving. that the secretary of the
treasury abandoned it as the price of
his office?