The Washington times., 1903-12-03
A Ridiculous Attack.
Lamentable Ignorance of Recent Polit-
ical History.

ical History.
Either the Baltimore SUM- is alb
surdly ignorant of the history of the
Postoffice Department investigation
or it assumes that its readers are
Whichever the case may be, It's treat
ment of the Bristow report is funny.
On Wednesday it printed leading
article on that subject, in which these
statements are found:
The President is in a measure responsible for
the evils that flourish at the Capital, since ne
has appointed officials who incapable, it
seems. Of keeping thieving down TO a mini
mum.
Some Of the wors. offenders are practical poll
ticians who were in Tie usual way given Offices
as rewards for political services. civil service
reform President should not have permitted this
No man should be given a public function merely
because he has performed party drudgery. But
it done. and the scandal that mas ensued
cannot but injure the President and his party
The public has been made aware that the morale.
OF the departments is not at present as good as
it was some years ago-under President Clege-
land, for example.
If this article we're meant for the
perusal of the inhabitants of Tahiti.
or the inner social circles of Lhassa, it
might pass muster, being not much
more absurd than some of the state
ments about America which are Gun
rent IN foreign lands. But as reading
intended for the eyes of intelligent
Americans almost under the shadow
OF the Capitol, who have had access
tc the entire history of the postoffice
investigation, and have, presumably.
read reports which included the life
history of every discovered scamp, it
looks peculiar, to say the least
The man in the street knows that
not one of the men who have been
found cheating the department was
appointed by President Roosevelt.
His responsibility for their careers
began with investigating them He
gave none of them an Office as re-
ward for political services. What he
did was to turn the rascals out, be-
cause they were raseals-a proceeding
which no one can possibly disapproye.
Perhaps it will injure the President
and his party, if any other political
party can be found which cares TO
stand by Maehen and his associates,
and take its orders from whatever
place they may be obliged to select
for their headquarters. That is a
matter of taste.
The most ridiculous of all, however.
Is the last statement quoted, and it IS
perfectly g1atuitous piece of ash
ninity on the part of the Sun" Does
that journal suppose for a moment
that It's readers do not know that
President Cleveland appointed Mach
Ell, and that whatever injury the NOR
ale Of that enterprising scalawag has
done the department was at least
started by Mr.. Cleveland If Maehen
received his Office as a reward for po-
litical services, it Is not Mr. Roose-
welt, or even any Republican mana
ger, who has cause TO blush over the
transaction.
No: if the Baltimore Sun" eonsid-
ers pious horror Of the postoffice scan
dial to be a becoming mental makeup,
IL should at least choose the proper
people at whom to look cross-eyed.
II is not becoming to praise the Pres
ident who appointed a rascal and
blame the President who found hinr
out.