Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-05-24
CHAMP qARE'S LETTER
A Mighty Labor Con-
fronts the People.
GUST REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Totally Depraved, It Menaces
Our Institutions.
IT scoFFs AT PUBLIC OPINION.

Hanna's MfnioRs-The Wanamalxer
Exposures In PhiIadeIphia-Hones
Senator TillmaR-Bocr sympathy.
Especial Washington Letter.J
The story of Hercules and his cleans
ing of the Augean stables is familiar to
the ears of men. Though old and
threadbare, 1t still possesses a strange
fascination for the human mind and
remains to this day a performance
with which to compare all things diff
cult of accomplishment. But greater
task than all the labors Of Hercules
confronts the American people and
that Is to rid the republic of the Re
publican party, which is riding 1t as
another Old Man Of the Sea.
1t seems determined by its capers In
this year of grace to illustrate all that
is forbidden in politics or vicious in
morals.
Early in the year the country was
startled by the fact that Kentucky Re
publicans had added assassination to
their other methods of political war
fare. Whether Governor William Goe-
bel was a paragon Of virtue and
prodigy of brains, as his eulogists as
sert, or monster In human form. as
his enemies maintain, has nothing to
do with the total depravity manifested
by Kentucky Republicans In 'the deep
damnation Of his taking off," They
murdered him in cold blood for the
base and sordid motive of holding on
to a few paltry Offices The deep and
humiliating stain upon the party which
falsely arrogates to itself all virtue, all
learning, all purity, all patriotism is
the fact that the de facto Governor
Taylor is supposed to have been parti-
ceps eriminis in the foul and cowardly
assassination of his competitor. The
Borgias never did more criminal and
abhorrent thing that that. The papers
say that Taylor has been Indicted as
an accessory before the fact. 1t has
always appeared to me that capable
and courageous prosecuting attorney
could convict him as an accessory aft
er the fact. Perhaps he was both.
For the sake of the fair fame of my
native state and the credit of human
nature, | hope he may be able TO dem
onstrate his innocence clearly
beyond the shadow of doubt Not
that l care anything for Taylor-all
his acts prove him to be poor erea-
ture, utterly unworthy of the high
place which he holds-but because his
innocence would remove a foul blot
from cur political system. If guilty,
| hope he will be hanged on gallows
40 cubits high, as an example and
warning to other evildoers-
The Postal Thieves.
Just as the country was recovering
its breath after its astonishment at the
introduction of assassination as
means for securing and holding office
came the disgusting and startling rev
elations of the thievery of Neely and
his gang in Cuba like a clap Of thunder
out of clear sky. 1t is extremely
questionable as a matter of law
whether they can be convicted. Not
that the theft is in doubt-there ap-
pears to be no cavil about that, except
the amount, which already exceeds
100000 and is still growing daily-the
trouble will arise in court on two
points: L. Whose money did they steal?
Was it Cuba's or did it belong to the
United States? 2 The question as to
Jurisdiction. What law did they yio-
late, Cuban or American? What court
has Jurisdiction over them? The
chances are ten to one that they had
studied all these questions thoroughly
before committing their series of
crimes. and that they will through
technicalities go unwhipped of justice
and in some quiet nook will enjoy the
fruits of their crimes.
In the meantime the Washington
Post discerns certain things which
make it restless. 1t is enamored Of
Mckinley and NieKinleyism. but it
warns all concerned that breakers are
ahead in the following vigorous ed
itorial:
IS THIS BLUNDER PossIBLE9
Nothing thus far, either hinted or expressed,
suggested or proclaimed, has caused US to revise
our opinion that the postofice scandal in Cuba
should be ventilated without regard to any private
or political interests. We still maintain that the
administration owes it to the eountry-to the
American people OF all classes and party athlia-
tions--to sift this matter to the bottom and to
expose and pillory the guilty, no matter what
may be their connections their influence. Put
ting the question on the lowest and most sordid
basis the fact remains that votes viii be secured
to the Republican party Just in proportion as that
party commits itself to the ways OF deeency and
the obseryances Of public virtue.
To our great uneasiness and regret We have de-
tected what seems TO be disposition the part
of the government to suppress disclosures in Ha-
vana and to enveop the whole incident in
cloud OF languid Investigation and educated nom
committalism, Under suave pretext or an
other, by some queer shutting OF authority or
transfer OF responsibility the administration has
twisted itself--unintentionally, doubt-into an
attitude Of obstruction and suppression. We note
the issuance OF order that no more arrests shall
be made and no more facts be communicated to
the press and we recognize, or think recognize,
the slowly but surely growing structure Of a pol
Icy Of secrecy and occlltation- II we be well ad-
vised in this-and We hope not-it remains to be
said only that the administration Is preparing for
itself deep humiliation and disaster.
The indianapolis Journal. one OF the most inhu-
sntial Republican organs in the country, says:
"A Washington telegram says the administra-
tion fears the scandal In the Cuban postal service
may have bad political effect in this state It
would if any disposition were shown to smother
an Investigation or shield guilty persons but NOT
otherwise. The mere discovery Of frauds. while a
matter for profound regret, ought not to hurt the
administration in this or any other state i the
situation is promptly and vigorously dealt with
and if the discovery leads to the establishment os
Z better system and service
And, indeed this is the plain, unvarnished
truth. The most bitter enemies Of the admins
tratioa could contrise for its ruin no more deadly
complication than the appearance Of desire on
its part to hide the facts aud screen the erinii-
malls in this disgraeefal and abhorrent scandal.
The American people are not dupes and fools.
They cannot>he pfacated BY the sacrifice Of one
victim when they know. in their hearts, that there
are others equally il not more guilty. The worst
thing that car happen to Mr. Mckinley IS a aus
pician that some one. acting By his authority. IL
trying to immeFse the whole episode in the Opaque
puddle 81 red tape, star chamber eonfabuiation
and intcrminabIs Inquiry. The blunder Of Porto
Rico would be rs nothing IN comparison
Imperialism In Cuba.
OF course aIl good citizens Of all par
ties had hoped that Neely's case was
ouly i sporadic case 81 tllievery and
did not indicate that The Cuban neri.
ean postal revenue system Is rotten te