The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-30

matter for profound regret. ought not 20 hurt TIT
; administration in this or any other state II tht
situation is pro:nptly and vigorously dealt viii
and if the discovery leads to the establishment o
better system and service
And indeed. this is the plain. uavarnishcs
trrti. The most bitter enemies OF the admins
astion could contrive for its r:in no more deadl,
emplication than the appearance OF desire or
rs part TO HIDE the facts and screen the c!in1i
ra.s in this dis.raccfr ard abhor,eat scandal
The american people are no; tiupcs and feois
i They cannot be placa:cd hy tie sacrifice CT one
vic:; when they know. il their hearts, that there
are Others equally Il rot more guilty. The worst
thing that happen 10 Mr.. Mckinney IS sus
picion that one. acting by his authority, L
trying 10 in,,,crsc the whole episode IL the opaque
! puddle OF red tape star chamber coniabulatior
and irterminabie inquiry. The blunder OF Porte
! Rico would be as nothing il comparison
imperialism In Cuba.
Of course all good citizens Of all par
ties had hoped that Neely's case was
only sporadic case cf thievery and
did rot indicate that the Cuban-Amcrl-
can postal revenue system is rotten to
the core, blt latest Developments show
that such hope was destined to dis
appointment 1t now appears that many
besides the greedy Nicely were busy COB
bling great gobs of the public money,
whether Cuban or American shall not
| undertake at this writing to say, but
| one or t'other or both. Even the be-
loved Rathbone seems to have led the
van. His desire appeared to be to DEM
onstrate the preposterous capers which
can be cut by "a beggar on horseback.
OF, in this case, beggar in the post
Office department.
# we had recognized the independ-
ence of the Cuban republic. rs we
should have done, we would have
avoided this huge and unsavory scan
dal, together with many other unpleas-
ant things, but when We went in for
establishing and maintaining "sta-
ble" government over there we got into
all sorts of trouble and at last into dis
grace.
Rathbone cut such an amazing dash
that I am afraid that Republicans
would accuse me Of drawing. the long
bow if, in my own language, l gave
an account, even plain and unyarnish-
ed, of his imperial goings on and do
ings. But Republicans ought to be-
ieve Republicans, as nobody else will
believe them. So 1 quote Republican
papers for the edifcation of Republic
an readers-those doubling Thomases
who still hug the delusioE that there is
anything good in the G. 0. 2. Here is
an excerpt from the Washington cor
respondence Of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial Tribune. a thick and thin Repub-
Gcan organ:
Major Rathbone's exaggerated estimate Of his
own importance as government oar,al in Cuba
and his personal cxtra:asa:ce are the subjects OF
innumerable stories here.
These stories are chiefly -clatc5 by civilians,
army officers and government employees who have
returned from tho island. They include anecdotes
OF Major Rathbones fashionable residence, furnish
ed and fitted out from the Cuban revenues. and the
somewhat regal manner in wEici: he lives and en-
tcrtains.
Among Tic expenses PAID OFT Of :l:2sc revenues
was an item OF Chinese lanterns with which the
grounds of Rathbonc's residence were illuminated
upon the occasion @. 4 fashionable gathering.
Some CT his social functions cHtailcd outlay OF
hundreds CT dollars. but RathbcneS personal li-
come did rot suffer thereby. Boats and yachts
were freely placed at the disposal oi Major Ra::-
bones friends and guests. Upon these boats there
were r:cr-v excursions, and The Cuba. revenues
PAID the bill Cnc instance is related where wo-
nan CORRESPONDENT. who announced that she III
tended TO print AZ article laudatory of :ajo1
Ra;h5onc. haii q boat placed at her disposal for
an extended junlet. dcriaS which she visited all
the important scacoast towns. 1t is said upon au-
thorit: here that Ra:i!boc made four visits 20 the
United States. accompanied bT his family. and
for each OF these visits turned ~ an expense bill
OF 5000. wh:ch was paid. None CT these ol.!s
toard is way 10 the rcs:officc department AZ
Washington Tic Cuban system since tie outset
llas been practically ;1dcpc2dc1; o. the scr"ice
here.
A Fla@raz.t Scandal.
That. mark you. is an excerpt from
Republican paper.
If it Will not be cors:dere.: IS rub
bing it in, hereby commend to Re
publicans this rich editorial from the
Philadelphia North american, Re
publican paper from away back:
OUR THIEVES IN =CUDA.
]. is cy.re,ac;y unfortunate for the po!:c" Of
expansion tia; TIC first ateInp: II the manage
r.cnt CT Tie Cuban postal system hy american O.
6cia,s should haze r1t a fortune ia;o The pockets
of thief il is unfortunate for its eject Upon
ou- wares. fer is Influence Upon public cp;c:' IL
tie United States and for what il iorebodes Is 10
tie fut.rc course oi our colonial administration.
Cuta is 100 rifles from tie .::..i::;ti Of tie
United S:a.cS II ;s ovcryra with American sis-
i,e;s DELEGATIONS h;.si:,css and politicians.
i,ot ,-;,rritt:i :nt Cu.la. circulate Ect O.,