Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-07

made by Louisiana Republicans of high
standing who also have shown that he
is as disreputable In private life as in
public refusing to pay bills for merchan-
disc and for the tuition of his children in
school, and ignoring all financial obliga-
tons more thorough exposure of a
rascal by trustworthy members of his
own party was never made in the history
OF our politics than the detailed record Of
Demas' shameful history, which was sent
to Mckinley when his appointment was
first mooted.
Presidents have sometimes been de-
celved into making bad appointments Men
of their own party. upon whom they had
q right 10 rely have endorsed dsreput-
able office-seekers, or. at least have kept
silence when they should have spoken the
truth. This was not the case regarding
Demas. The most conspicuous Republi-
cans in Louisiana. headed by the last
Republican candidate for Governor and
supported by the entire Republican press
exposed the mans record and protested
to Mr. Mckinley against his nomination
A newspaper friendly to the administra-
ton summed UP the case against Demas
thus:
~ AtitliA lAt utIS vi the state II Is
impossible TO find a single human being
who has contributed 1.-THE as much as
the malodorous Demas to disrupt the Re
publican party and to bring It into dis
favor and contempt. A jobber, corrup
zionist, emhezzler, and bribe-taker he
has done no less to smirch his private
character than to render his public career
dishonorable
Nevertheless and in spite of all pro-
tests Mckinley, at the behest of
Hanna, appointed Demas, who has
held office for nearly half year
Mckinley pursued his usual waiting
tactics, hoping that the storm of pub
lie indignation would blow over before
sending Demas' name in and since
then the whole power of the admins
tration and Hanna have been exerted
to have this infamous nomination
confirmed. Our New York contempor-
airy adds:
1t is difficult to preserve patience in
commenting upon the Presidents conduct
i'm this matter. There is not one word in
defense to be said Mr.. Mckinley knew
what a rascal Demas is: he knew that
the only claim" for the appointment was
treachery in deserving Reed to support
himself in the St. Louis convention; he
knew that the appointment would be the
worst possible blow TO his party in a
State where opposition TO the Democracy
had been gaining in strength and hopeful
ness Yet he dishonored himself and in
jured the Republican for no other reason
than to keep an ante-convention contract
entered into by the managers of his can
vass. for the nomination.
The President has made an excellent
record during the emergency created by
the explosion Of the Maine in the harbor
of Havana. There has been nothing to
crticise. but everything to commend. not
only in his action, but in his spirit and
bearing. II is a great misfortune that a
man VINO has thus shown qualities worthy
OF the executive of a great nation should
have blotted the record of his administra-
ton by such disgraceful appointments as
those of Demas for Naval Officer at New
Orleans: Saylor. the swindfng member of
the Pennsylvania Senate. for Consul at
Matanzas. Cuba: Goodnow. the Minnesota
politician of dsreputable private life, for
Consul al Shanghai. China and others
made like these, after full exposure of
the mems shameful records. for no other
reason than TO pay personal obligations
at the cost Of the national honor.