Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-05-24

the core, but latest developments snow
| that such a hope was destined to dis
appointment 1t nowappears that many
besides the greedy Neely We're 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, .
or, in this case, a beggar in the post
office department.
If we had recognized the independ-
ence of the Cuban republic, as 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 a '.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 ] am afraid that Republicans
would accuse me of drawing the long
bow II, In my own language, | gave
an account, even plain and unvarnish-
ed, Of his imperial goings on and do
ings. But Republicans ought to be-
lieye Republicans. as nobody else will
believe them. So quote Republican
papers for the edifcation of Republic
an readers-those doubling Thomases
who still hug the deIusion that there is
anything good in the G. o. P. Here is
an excerpt from the Washington cor
respondence of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial Tribune, a thick and thin Repub-
lican organ:
own Importance as government official in Cuba
and his personal extravaganza are the subjects OF
innumerabe stories here
These stories are chiefly related By civilians.
army officers and government employees who have
returned from the island. They include anecdotes
OF Major Rathbone's fashionable residence, furnish
ed and fitted out from the Cuban revenues and the
somewhat regal manner in which he lives and en-
tertains.
Among the expenses paid out of these revenues
was item OF Chinese lanterns with which the
grounds Of Rathbone's residence were illuminated
upon the occasion Of fashionable gathering
Some Of his social functions entaiIed an outlay Of
hundreds Of dollars, but Rathbone's personal In
come did not suffer thereby. Boats and yachts
were freely placed at the disposal Of Major Rzth-
bones friends and guests Upon these boats there
were merry excursions. and the Cuban revenues
paid the bill One instance is related where wo-
man correspondent who announced that she in
tended to print an article lsudatory OF Major
Rathbone had boat placed at her disposal for
11od lot Ill
the important seaeoast towns. It is said upon au-
thority here that Rathbone made four visits to the
United States. accompanied by his family, and
for each Of these visits turned in an expense bill
Of $1,000, which paid. None Of these bills
found its way to the postofhce department at
Washington. The Cuban system since the outset
has been practically independent Of the service
here
A FIagrant Scandal.
That mark you. is an excerpt from
Republican paper.
If it win not be considered as rub
bing it in, l hereby commend to Re
publicans this rich editorial from the
Philadelphia North American, Re
publican paper from away back:
OUR THIEVES IN CUBA
It is extremely unfortunate for the policy OF
ment Of the Cuban postal system by American Of
icials should have put fortune into the pockets
of a thief 1t is unfortunate for It's effect upon
wards, for its influence upon public opinion in
the United States and for what il forebodes as to
the future course Of our colonial administration.
Cuba is 100 miles from the mainland Of the
United States. 1t is overrun with American vis-
itors. Delegations Of business men and politicians
both American and Cuban, circulate in both d.
rections. Yet this aagrant scandal, which ought
TO have been discovered within month. was al
lowed to for nearly year under cur eyes.
The Philippines are 5000 miles away. Nobody
goes there who stay away. II takes three
months to send a letter and get an answer. If
the chief financial agent Of our postal department
in Cuba has been able to steal IN amount various
ly estimated at from $4,000 70 s50o.oo0, what
may happen at Manila?
Some things are certain. One is that wherever
the technical legal liability may rest the United
States ought to make this theft good to the peo-
pie Of Cuba and recover whatever It can from
Neely and his bondsmen. We are running the Gu
ban government on the ground that the Cuban
people not yet capable Of running it for them
selves. We assumed the responsibility without be-
ing asked, and we do nothing less than live up
10 it.
Another certainty is that We must make such
an example Of the thief that the news of it viii
echo wherever the American flag flies over a de-
pendent NSeAy CfttiAe MAS AoA uheHe4s
larceny, but treason. II tends directly to aid the
enemies OF the United States in the Philippines
and elsewhere. AS has been charged against anti
imperialist agitation it will 'cost good American
lives
The North American is eminently
correct in denominating these plunder
ers in Cuba "our thieves" They are
Republican thieves, and it is proper
that the world understand it clearly.
They are all Hannaites pets and IA
vorites of the administration.
BIackmaiI In Philadelphia.
The public had not ceased to wonder
at that colossal piece of Republican
thievery before John Wanamaker-
'Pious' John-startles the country by
cireumstantiaI account of how one
Abraham L. English. q high Repub-
lican official of Philadelphia, undertook
to blackmail him into silence in The
North American by threatening to run
amuck on Johns private character.
John now poses as a martyr and is re-
ceiving lots of encouragement.
So that In quick succession we have
as manifestations of Republican purity
and light assassination in the dark and
bloody ground, grand larceny in Cuba
and blaekmail in the City of Brotherly
Love.
Senator Benjamin r. TilIman. like
Collins ram, is a man of his own head.
A great character is Benjamin. Honest
as the day is long, plain as an old shoe,
with a head full of common sense
which, after all, is the best sort of
sense-with a lions heart in his breast,
with perfect confidence In and deep
sympathy with the masses. he is the
inevitable foe of jobbery and hates a
sham as he hates his satanic majesty.
A most useful public servant is Benja-
min, and most valuable instrument
for prodding and killing unsavory
schemes is his famous pitehfork. Late
ly Tillman has brought down on his
defiant head the hatred of jobbers of
every degree by exposing the huge
armor plate frauds. He has blunt,
almost brutal. way of stating the
truth, and be made 1t redhot for the
armor plate agents In the galleries and
the armor plated senators On the floor.
What Tillman lacks In grace he makes
up in emphasis. He could not write so
good handbook on rhetoric as Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge. but no man Of
this generation can send a fact
e4rofrI,fas. ~, 4ha f,.arl- than fhix great