Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-11
Criticising the Political Methods Of
M. A. Hanna.

N. A. Hanna.
The PLAIN DEALER is getting roas-
ted TO finish for It's denunciation of
the late Mark Hanna. 1t IS right that
1T should. We are glad that all edl-
tors are not so narrow minded as to
follow man to the grave with their |
abuse. A man with a thimble full Of
brains will let his political opponents |
rest in peace. The Cresco rag is al
most alone in the stand 1T has taken,
as influential and prominents speak
highly Of the late senator. Bryan,
himself, pays the deceased senator d
fine tribute that is not in keeping |
with the PLAIN DEALER $50 abuse. Such |
puSillanimOus conduct should react ON |
Its aathor-and it probably will
Lime Springs Sun.
Does the Sun approve OF the meth |
DDS of Mr.. Hanna?
Dare 1t give its readers an oppor-
tunity to read the PLAIN DEALER
article in the Sun?
From our exchanges We might I'LL
the PLAIN DEALER with criticism of
MI. Hanna's methods compared with
which our article is mild as the cooling
OF . dove. :.
The Boston Herald, republican
paper that supported the republican
candidate that Mr.. Hanna gave his
support, in recent editorial gave
cordial and hearty endorsemenGor the
personal and private character of Mr..
Hanna, and said that 'sin all private
virtues Mr.. Hanna was exemplary and
admirable, and in this regard his
memory is sacred,
But the Boston Herald was not
willing to dismiss the subject of its
sketch with tribute and feels called
upon to make its position clearly un-
derstood, and SO IL said: a..
"But when We are asked to commend
the example Of his political course and
methods, that Is another matter.
There Is reason to believe that ne was
deliberately a corrupter of pubic
morals in the use he made Of money
and of pubic Offices u secure personal
and party Victories. HIS tirsJ requlr-
menu IN campaign was vast fund
Ut money, and MS second was author
iJy To distribute official rewards in
case Of success. BuLh these means OF
4 Influencing voters he used Iavjshly,
with no apparent regard for the neceS-
Sarily debaslng Influence Of SUCH Cam
lpaigniDg. Men whom In his private
business he would surely have no com.
! merce with he willingly employed al
political agents, aud fuisted upon the
government as penSluner Of the treas
ury, although their holding Office wa:
a scandal and degradation of The
honor OF the nation. He cared not
for this, provided they had delivered
The votes for which they received Suct
payment.
These are things which may moi
wisely be buried III misunderstanding
Ienlogy, now that he is no more. Tt
condole them is to praise them, or, al
least, to make them appear unlmport.
ant and 1nnocuous. The evil that
men do more certainly lives after them
II it is accounted good and inferred
with their bones. When a public mar
dies and SO becomes for the momen,
more conspicuous than the living, ii
i Is meet to exalu his virtues for imita
zion and to name his errors for warn.
Ing"
Was Mr.. Hanna as this republican
paper charges deliberately acorrupt-
ier of public morals in the use he
made Of money and or public offices
to secure personal and party victories:
Did Mr.. Hanna as the Herald con.
fesses used immense campaign funds
"lavishlv and with no apparent re,
gard for the debasing influence OF
such campaien?"
4 II Nr Hanna as the Herald charg.
rs. "foisted upon the government as
pensioners OF the treasury, men whose
appointment was scandal and deg
relation Of the honor of the nation. ,
Was the Herald asleep in the watch
tower Of liberty, or, in giving.its sup
!. port tn the political cause that made
it possible for Mr.. Hanna to do these
!, things, did it then think "the enc
justified the means.''
The Boston Herald, republican as II
is, could not persuade itself to bury
these revelations in the presence o.
death, in which since that great ane
able paper differs from the PLAIN
J DEALERS who critics so far as we know
: stands almost alone in it's criticism
Let it do so. We stand by what w
said of Mr.. Hanna.
:. IL REPLY TO INQUIRIES we hav'