Evening journal., 1908-10-03

WIN are 10 appoint ana confirm the Ju-
dietary are OF supreme Importance to
the maintenance OF free and stable
government and the protection and
welfare Of every citizen.
Every candidate must submit his
character. career and qualifications to
public scrutiny, discussion and deter
mination. The result may--and 1 trust
will-be decisively determined by that
invaluable body Of thoughtful public
spirited incorruptible and courageous
citizens who dare to do their duty re-
gardless Of party Affiliations. selfish
considerations, or personal conse-
quences.
Such .Ssizens, Irrespective Of party,
are entitled TO the esteem and co-op-
GRAFTON of all manly men and true
friends Of good government Believ-
ing that you are one OF these, / have
written this response to your inquiry.
although ] am unable TO furnish the
facts you desire. yet I hope my views
and attitude may help you and others
TO reach a just and right result, pro-
mote the public welfare and preserve
the good name of our native state
AS / do not deliberately say under
cover what I am not willing to make
good in the open, /, Of course comply
with your wishes and do not object to
your making any just and proper use
of this letter.
Very truly yours
Inatius c. Grubb.
September "a. 1905.
Robert H. Richards, Esq, Wilmington
Delaware.
My Dear Sir: The receipt Of your
letter Of the 18th instant is aoknowl-
edged.
The passing Of public judgment on
the qualifications ana attainments Of
professional brother is not to be
commended. Personal regard may
cause unmerited praise Of mediocre
accomplishments, as calculating self
interest or overweening seif-arrogated
superiority born of vanity, egotism or
oonceit, may lead to the underestimate
ing Of great ability or the belittling Of
average qualifications.
Incompetency imposes its own PEN
alties Notwithstanding the favor Of
friend or event, and ability brings its
own reward in spite Of adverse criti-
csm or circumstances.
Fortuitous circumstances. influential
friendship or favor Of political party
may accelerate the early success Of
mediocre ability, 80 also, an expression
Of contempt for the competency and
qualification OF another, coming even
from those who have been thus ele-
waited and have thus succeeded. may
increase the burden and temporarily
retard the professional progress Of the
victim. Neither your utterance Of
scathing and scalding scorn of the
qualification for the Office Of attorney
general OF him whom you characterize
as friend" nor my expression of con-
fidence In his integrity and ability to
discharge the duties of such Office with
fidelity and credit can add to or de-
tract from the fact that as lawyer he
possesses all of the qualifications pre-
scribed by the Constitution and laws
Of our State. and that as man his
character, competency and Republi-
canism have been determined by the
regular convention Of our party
These general considerations should
make me hesitate to comply with your
request, but my sympathy for the VIC
tim Of your cruel. If not vicious attack
and my indignation at the manner and
circumstances under which it was
press my reprobation OF It,
You ask whether I agree or disagree
with what you call your position" I
answer mo" It is both ungenerous
and unfair, and as lacking Of consider
alton for anothers welfare as 1t is de-
void Of the sense of propriety and of
gratitude TO party and man. con-
slider it neither fair nor generous under
the profession Of friendship TO stab i'm
the vitals the object of that friendship.
Consummate disregard for the welfare
OF a friend is disclosed by publicly at
tacking his competency in the trade or
profession by which his daily bread is
made. II Is an obtuse sense Of pro-
priety that publicly arrogates TO itself
the function OF passing on the quail
fcations Of a successor 70 office The
man Of gratitude, who has been ele-
waited to secure position In his pro-
fession by favor Of party and friends
would pause long before denouncing
the choice Of his party as his successor
and insulting his friends responsible
for the nomination
should not the sense Of obligation TO
party and appreciation for the effective and
faithful services rendered to you by your
able assistant have called you from the
falls OF Niagara TO the floor OF the con-
vention, there 20 stand with me and his
friends to seek his nomination, for by so
doing. possibly the debt Of friendship could
have been paid in the manner you seem
20 discharge such obligations, and you
could have been relieved OF the embar-
rassment incident to passing upon the
qualifications OF the man chosen by the
party that eelvated you.
You ask whether 7 consider his pro-
fessional atainments such as to qualify
him 10 hold and perform the duties Of the
office of attorney-general." My affirma-
tive answer must be based on limited per-
sonal observation. but the opinion OF those
who have known him since his admission
10 the bar confirm Il. Ten years OF Grim
inal practice should 10 some reasonable
degree At one 70 become a prosecuting
officer. Comparisons are both insidious
and odious, but did you go into office with
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