The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-23
IT WILL NOT WORK.

The attempt or RepuDlicanS, ana some of them in high places, to show that the hideohs scandals connected with the Postoffice Department are but the results of Democratic action or non-action years ago Is a ridiculous as well as discredit- able effort to whitewash officials who are either guilty. or are responsible for the guilt of others. Platt. of New York. makes the charge that the Democrats are primarily responsible for the thievery and corruption, because Machen and some others implicated were originally appointed during MT. Cleveland's admin istration.
 Such style of defense is both weak and wicked. Admitting that Machen and some of the other rascals were appointed by MT Cleveland or by some one under him, what does it prove? Only that men who were honest when they held subord- mate positions under a Democratic ad- ministration became rascals when they. found better opportunities under a Re- publican administration. Republican rule in Washington. as elsewhere. is a great developer and promoter of dishonesty.
 But there Is another view of it which these expert side-steppers apparently fail to grasp. Admitting, for sake of argu- meht. that some Democratic rascals were appointed to minor positions during Cleve- lands last administration, and what then? That administration retired more than six years ago. During that time the Republicans have had control of the gov ernment. If these untrustworthy em- ployes were taken over from Demo- cratic administration why have they not been exposed and punished before now? Does it require six years for Republi-
 can official to learn that he was saddled
 with dishonest clerks by an employe? Either this is the case or else these em- ployes were honest when MT. Cleveland
 went out and their dishonesty has been | developed under Republican rule. One or the other of these propositions must be | true and those now in office are welcome | to choice of the two.
 But there is another view of the mat | ter that should not be lost sight of. MT. Mckinley was President more than four
 years after Cleveland went out. and to |
 much trouble are chargeable to Cleve- | land appointees is to make the Mckinley administration responsible for continuing
 rascals in office. The Republicans in this
 instance can only strike Cleveland
 through Mckinley. and the friends of the
 latter should resent any attempt to clear Roosevelt by aspersing the dead
 This style of defense will not work nor will 1t deceive the American people. Des- perate SIses require desperate remedies,
 and this is a desperate case. "Oh, my | offence is rank, it smells to heaven" said l the worried King of Denmark, and the l same can be said of this postoffice scan- dal. It certainly has mal-odorous scent, | and the more 1t is stirred the worse 1t
 smells. Perhaps the administration is
 not to be blamed for trying to blunt the
 edge of criticism, but no explanations | and no line of defence can relieve the Re-
 publican party and the Republican ad- | ministration of the odium resting on it,
 and Roosevelt and his appointees must answer for 1t. They cannot defend them
 selves before the American people by l trying to throw the blame on MT. Cleve- l land and his administration.