The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-02-21
Ex-Consul Macrum's Statement.

EX-Consul Macrum'S effort to pose as q
martyr at the hands of the state depart
ment will not prove successful unless he
has some better basis upon which to rest
his claims for sympathy than his state
ment given to the public.
Here was a man assigned to a position
in the consulor service which suddenly
became ofthe utmost importance through
circumstances quite unforeseen at the
time of the appointment. 1t was to have
been expected of him that he would re-
main at his post and, to the best of his
ability, discharge the duties devolving
upon him. But did Mr.. Macrum do this? ?
No sooner had war been declared than he
began to lombard Washington with
cablegrams requesting that he be given
leave OF absense to return home. To
this the state department. not wishing
that the interests of this country and
those of Great Britain W, ich had been
placed in charge of the American consul,
should De without representation, de-
INJURED, but Mr.. Macrum insisting, it
was finally decided to recall him and he
was so notified and his successor selected.
Mr.. Macium left for the United States
at once upon receipt of Secretary Hays
message and in due time arrived in
Washington. After calling at the state
department, he went to his home in East
liverpool, o., from which place he now
gives out a lengthy statement, abusing
the state department and attempting to
justify his own course. Nowhere in this
remarkable document, however, is there
to be found among the reasons assigned
single valid excuse for his desertion of
his post. His statement neither justifies
nor excuses his singular procedure, but
shows that he WAS totally unfit for the
position he held and that he failed utterly
at the first test ofhis ability. The post
which he will best grace in the future
will be strictly private one.
One effect of Mr.. Macrums statement
will be to furnish the Democratic | arty
with little cheap campaign material,
and it is plain to be seen from the reso-
lutions introduced by Representative
Wheeler of Kentucky that the opportuni-
ty to make the most of the incident will
not be permitted to go unaccepted. 1t
should be added in this connec ion, how
ever, hat the consuls reference to Sc
cret Anglo-American alliance is no hing
more nor less than poor attempt to be
sarcastic at the expense ofthe administra-
ton. No such treaty arrangement exists
nor is there any likelihood that one is
even contemplated TituSvilte Herald
1t would seem this man Macrum, when
the war broke out, was in somewhat the
same state of mind Of the fellow who had
enlisted for the war of the rebellion. His
regiment had been quartered at Camp
Curtin for some time awaiting orders to
start for the front, and the boys were get.
ting un asy at the delay. One day Gov.
ernor Curtin went out TO cheer them W
with little speech. The good Governor
asked them to be as patient as possible
in few days their guns would arrive
and they would be permitted to march tC
the front and do battle for their country
and that while many of them would nevel
return to their loved homes they mus
remember that they were going to figh
for great cause, and il needs be, to spill
their last drop of blood ON the field o
battle for the old flag, etc. Whereupor
one teutonic friend shouted, "Goofner
Goofner! We ton't want any guns! W
want to go homer