Evening journal., 1899-02-03
FRIDAY. FEB. 3. 1899
DE soro's POLITICAL RECORD.

the imputation that it was through
his influence that Ralph De Soto was
appointed an inspector OF customs at
Havana. His resentment does him
credit. He declares that he did not
recommend the appointment and knew
nothing about 1t until he read OF il
in the newspapers. We are glad to
know that he repudiates a selec,ion
which is so repugnant to every Della
warean who knows Of the cowardly
and inconsistent conduct of thls man
during the war with spain-of TINS
cuban. this friend Of Cuba Ldbre; this
screamer for war; this man who prom
,sea TO leave everything near and dear
and march to the front, and who Mhen
.ha test came. turned his back to the
o,nressor.s Of his native land and the
enemies of the country Of his adop-
tion. and snealSed out OF sight uiilii
aaar the clouds OF war had rolled by
and peace once more preValieu'
colonel DUPONT could not anord 10
recommend such an appointment
carrying with 1T, as It does, so much
publ5c disapproval. But the appoint
nent has been made. This man De
soto has been preferred 20 every Del
aware volunteer by someone. and the
question on the lips OF everyone IS;
"Who made the recommendation
Colonel DUPONT is the recognized dis
penser of Federal patronage coming
10 Delaware. We have his word that
he did not recommend the appoint
ment Of De Soto. He Is a truthful
man, and his reputation OF the APP
pointment must be accepted. This be-
ing true, 1t is apparent that someone
has gone over his head or under his
feet and secured the appointment with
out his consent. There has been Moth
ing in the conduct OF Ralph De Soto
70 bring him beneath the immediate
attention Of President MeKin!ey. In
fact, we do not believe that the pvssi-
dent knew that there was such a per-
son on the face Of the earth until
someone went to him and called his
attention TO the fact and asked for his
appointment to this lucrative and re-
sponsihle position. VIII e2yone father
this thing and relieve the presidents
by publicly admitting that he wilfully
deceived Mr. Mckinley to serve an
unworthy friend. President Mckinley
was soldier In the civil war. In ous
fight with Spain he was commander
in-chief OF the American forces. It il
20 be presumed thathewouldprefer for
places Of trust IN our newly-acquired
possessions, men who stood mandliy
by him in the contest, arl not pase
over them to confer favors upon men
who had every incentive 10 60 to tn,
front and yet lacked the courage 10 dc
so. Colonel Dupont should make %
his business to acQuaint President Me.
Kinley Of the grave mistake which
someone, by deception. has led him tl
make, for the Delaware volunteers
and especially the hundreds Of youns
Republican soldiers and their friend.
IN this state. are too deeply insulse,
and incensed to abide by such an ap
pointment. The Regular Republican
party Of Delaware is in too precarlou
a position 10 permit this appointment
70 go unchallenged. To reinetate h
self in the regard Of these hundreds Ct
voters IL must act. ana do 1t quickly
The country owed Ralph De Soto noth
ing but its contempt, and whoeve
recommended him to the presiden
shares that contempt So much fo
what the country owes Ra,ph De Soto
Now let us see what the Republican
party owes him. Ralph De SOTO live,
in the Fifty-ffth election d.strict
Firth ward, this city. He professa
to be a Republican. IN reality h
was the same sort Of a Republica,
that he was a patriot. He turned hi
back on the enemy and kept cut Of tn
fight. AT the last general election h
neither registered nor voted. II wa
not because he forgot il. for he wa
not permitted to forget t. The re
publican leaders OF the district wen
10 him time after time and imp3rmne
him to register and quality nimsef [
vote. He refused to spend the dola
necessary for the exercise Of the dutie
Of American citizenship ard stayed q
home while this fight was in progress
Thousands Of Republicans paid theI
dollar and went into the fight and wo
a signal victory. They are left ,
home to earn their bread by the swe;
Of their brow. while this man-th
natiye-born Cuban who fad from II
fight with Spain as he would froi
a pessilence; this American by ado1
tion and Republican by pretensio
who fed from the fight with the DEM
crats-is sent to Havana TO hold a Fl
Office Is it to be wondered that II
people Of the state, and especially l..
Republicans Of the state. are shocki