Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-05-17

witness, but viii rely on the evidence
Of an eminent Republican, thoroughly
conyersant with the facts-to wit, Gov
ernor Russell of North Carolina. Sure
ly even Republicans ought to believe
him. Here is what he says:
'"The truth is" added Governor Rus
sell, Pearson was fairly beaten by
Mr.. Crawford. His real complaint is
that he did not have votes enough.
There are other Republicans In the
state who think as I do about it. among
them Colonel Lusk and Mr. Smathers.
They say that Mr.. Crawford ought to
want Mr.. Pearson to be seated because
it means sweep for Crawford next
November. They think it worse than
that-it means the loss to us Of many
seats in the legislature. What is the
use Of our making the great issue as
to honesty in our elections if our own
party should perpehate such fraud
as this? Why, just think of it. The
whole city of AsheyiIle is to be flung
was arrested for perjury committed
during the contest, long after the cleo
ton. Why not throw out the whole
vote of Buncombe eountyy
Bearing bitter Fruit.
Government by proconsuIs is bearing
its natural and inevitable fruit in Cuba
and elsewhere. That fruit is bitter
and nauseating. For a week or two
the papers have been full of the scan
dals touching the wonderful and ex-
traordinary allowances to our officials
in Cuba. The question as to them has
not been definitely settled, whether
these allowances were made with any
shadow of legal authority or were
made as "a military necessity"
phrase which, like the mantle of chart
ty, is made to cover a multitude Of
sins. The country had scarcely had
time to catch its breath after these
startling revelations before the press
notified US that a high Republican Off
cial over there had got down to plain
stealing. His name is Mr.. G. f. NeeIy.
For novice he started out strong, as
at his first grab he appears to have
cabbaged willfully and feloniously
some $4,000 of somebody else's money
Uncle Sans money or the Cubans'
money. While c. f. NeeIy will not
be name for Republican spelIbinders
to conjure with this year, it must be
said for Mr.. Neely that he took his
nerve with him when he went to Cuba
have not been introduced to Mr.. Nee
ly and have no chance to study his
psychological processes at short range,
but judge that, seeing other no mere
meritorious proconsuls in the enjoy
ment of fat allowances" on the side,
he concluded he would make himself
an allowance and proceeded to do so
without any unnecessary red tape.
That he "allowanced' himself at an
inopportune season for the Republican
spellbinders is patent. He, as a matter
Of ordinary gratitude to the McHan-
Mates, ought to have postponed feath-
ering his nest until after the election,
but his impatience hurried him into
doing an untimely piece of business.
What the poor. benighted Cubans,
who fought Spain so long to rid them
selves of Spanish plunderers and
thieves, will think of American plum
derers and thieves is a question which
Is liable to cause some trouble to Mark
Hanna, the apostle of Republican puri-
ty and sweetness. The Cubans may
kick. Then what?
Hitherto l have frequently quoted
the Washington Post AS to Mr.. Nee
", that great organ Of goIdbuggery,
Imperialism and high tariff says caus-
ticalIy:
OPEN THE BOOKS IN CUBAi
A former treasurer Of the postofice department
in Cuba has Just been arrested on a charge of en-
bezzlement Of the public funds The amount
specified is $s6 0o0-not enough to endow a college
or erect monastery, but quite sufficient for
modest robber ready to retire from the madding
crowd and lead a life of simple ease and plenty
after. The story further goes on to show that
the prisoner. Mr.. G. F. Neely. when arrested,
had some $1,000 concealed in his trunk What
became OF the remaining $50 Ooo il it be true that
he embezzled that amount, does not appear. No
doubt the criminal proceedings viii enlighten US,
but for that we must contain our souls in pa
tienee
We have already advised the administration to
inaugurate inquiry into our regime in Cuba.
This advice was offered in full knowledge Of the
facts-not all of them, perhaps-and in pro-
found conviction of its imperative Importance.
For months past we have been hearing sinister
and abhorrent rumors from the island. We have
been told, on what seemed to be good authority,
Of prohigate and ofttimes corrupt wastefulness
in the dispensation OF the public funds. 1t has
not always seemed to US that called upon
to ventilate these scandals, and it happens thus
that many of them have been ignored, but, in
opinion, the time has coma for searching, deter
mined and relentless investigation. The admins
hation is imperatiyely required for its own honor
and renown, to sift these disgraceful rumors to
the bottom. For part. we need no assurance
whatsoever. We believe absolutely in the integ
rity and high purpose of the government, but
these shocking revelations following fast upon
each others heels, require explanation, and if
the administration would free itself Of shame and
disrepute-ss We believe it TO be free in truth-it
should waste no time in turning on the light.
The American people justified in their demand
for an accounting. To deny them this viii be to
make confession OF recreancy and to envelop the
administration in popular suspicion and contempt.
A Democratic BattIecry.
/ apprehend that the title of that
Post editorial. "Open the Books In
Cubar' viii cause the cold chills to
chase each other up and down the
spinal columns of the McHannaites,
for "Open the Booksp' was the slogan
of that immortal Democrat Thomas A.
Hendricks of Indiana in 1884. and it
had much to do with the Democratic
victory of that year. "Open the Books
In Cuba!" will have much to do with
the Democratic victory this year.
The Post has rendered Democracy q
good service by giving it tiptop bat
tlecry. 1t win not do to underrate the
force of happy phrase. Lord Whar-
ton always claimed that he whistled
King James II out of three Kingdoms,
and everybody knows what a marvel
Gus part few iingly sentences, some
of them wen nigh idiotie, cut in the
famous campaign of 1910. But open
the Books In Cubar' is not idiotic. 1t is
full of meat and founded on wisdom.
The quicker they are opened the better
In the following words Senator Hoar
tears the jingoes and their fantastic
arguments into tatters, or, IN ring par
lance, cuts them into ribbons.
Why, Mr.. President is it credible that any
American statesman, that any American senator,
that any intelligent American citizen anywhere
two years ago could have been found to affirm