The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-20
The LIE Nard Letters.
Trepidation in the Treasurer's ofice--
Tribute to Gen. spinner--Tan-
talizing Testimony about
Tox,a1 chs ,.ikv

Since Mr.. John G. New was made treas
urer of the United States by Senator Nor
ton, that gentleman has been more or less
busy, trying to fit himself for the task be- e
fore him by inquiring infinitely into the v
machinery of the Office. During one Of his $
visits Gen. Spinner remarked that the
only regret he felt at leaving his position !
was the fact of so many of his clerks being Is
thrown out of employment; upon which L
that amiable gentleman fastened to assure
him that he should certainly not make any
changes in that direction. A promise
which caused the hearts of many tremolers
to sing for joy. l.I
We'll. the events of last week taught
these same tremblers lesson or two IN
tactics. changing the song of joy, in some
instances, D. to the wall of sorrow, the victims
selected being weaker vessels )and leaving
a good many more to hang on the ragged
edge of apprehension, till the world seems
a bowling wilderness, and official fine
speeches delusion and snare to them.
For during these last days ominous white
envelopes, the contents of which politely in
formed the recipients that their services
would no longer be required after certain
date, have been scattered with great llber-
atty and dispatch The dreaded changes
thus being made before the assumption OF
official duties by Mr.. New,poor kind heart |
ed Gen. Spinner is compelled to witness |
the tears and hear the pleading of his de-
capitated friends, who flock to him for sue |
cor In spite of the fact that, just now, this |
faithful servant of many years standing !
represents the old lion of the fable who, |
toothless and feeble, was exposed to all the
indignities the meaner animals chose to
infict upon him, and who could not resent
even the browning insult OF the Jackass S
kick.
There are, no doubt, more men in the
world-someWhere-w equal him IN
business capacity, sterling integrity, and
unceasing devotion to duty yet, the sight
of this, erewhile so powerful, man shorn OF
his strength, hurt in every tender feeling
and set aside as no longer available, goes
to ones heart like knife; and the only
consolation one has is the certainty that
when few successors have proved lnetfl-
cient or, as in other cases like this on rec
ord, dishonest, the people will give hun
the place he deserves in their esteem, and
utterly condemn the policy which pre-
scribed this course.
The cause of Womens Rights-the
right to fill any position she is fitted for,
and to receive something more than a
1.-THE of what man would get tor the
same work-loses with him one of its tru-
est, staunchest, and most efficient uphold
ers from the front ranks. Knowing the
great responsibility resting upon his count
ers of the Redemption Division, as we'll as
the sums they must continually make
good from their slender salaries he persist
emily urged congress to. at least, eduallze
their pay with that of the men, who run
no risk greater than that of being obliged
to erase wrongly written word. And he
would have succeeded had his appeals not
been met with the pertinent reasoning
that "t0onaen, having 40 political sigMV
cance," would be crowded out by meu, JUS
so soon as their pay would be large enough
to allow the regulation number of whisky
sings and cigars to their "chivalrou
protectors
Mr.. New expressed himself to the eff
feet that he would cheerfully give half hi
salary, for the certainly of possessing tn
esteem and genuine affection of his clerk
TO the same degree that Gen. Spinne
does, when he retires from Office. Tn
feeling is laudable, no doubt, aud he nee
only be straight forward and true in hi
actions, and follow in the footsteps of hi
predecessor, in the direction OF kindness
generosity and beneyolence, to gain hi
desire.
The department clerks are the powe
here to whom everybody goes for help
and no matter how frequent the drain
upon their purses are. they never fail t
respond literally to the pleadings of wal
and distress. Under such conditions
high official, like the u S. Treasurer, wit
reputation for tender heart and quc
sympathies, could naturally not escaI
being appealed to day after day; and
my certain knowledge more than half {
his $4,000, per annum went in the sbap
of charities.
I'll never forget one instance where
played beggar One of our lady clerk
had been burnt out during an extensiv
fire. The news came to me at 10 O'cloc
A. NJ. : half an hour later my subscriptio
list was headed by Gen. S. with a V
by o'clock p. NJ ended with anothe
V, from the chief of our division and thi
same afternoon the poor woman was
possession of SIP, in cash, besides tt
hastily made up bundles Of clothing, an
promises Of help usual on such occasion
And this reminds me of the fact thu
Rock Island also has no cause to blus
when Generosity upbraids her opponent
1t was in &c, l think, that during Wis
to my family, who had shortly before mo-
ed to that place, very sad case came
my ears, 1t was that of a soldiers wldoy
the mother Of two little girls, who throug
brooding oyer her empty larder, and in
bility to repleni3h it, had lost her min
Not being able to relieve her effectual
myself set about soliciting help for hel
and the first person | addressed on Il
subject was the editor of one of your p
pers, mot the UniOn.)
No, sir; no 'slashing" to be done her
| most earnestly request the typo wi
happens to 'set this up to heed no &c
torial marks, but follow my text even if
takes him out of the window
Well, it had been impressed upon n
mind that this gentleman was territ
''copperhead )" and, the case being that
Union soldiers widow, of course, l fl
just the least bit weak about asking
help However, | stated the facts al
my wishes, he took the list, looked at 1
quizzically, and then dutifully request
TO know what amount / wished him to D
opposite his autograph. Wasn't l 81
prised, though Why the shock was
great that actually let him off with tiV
when might just as we'll have made
twenty. l declare it makes me feel s
now when think Of it. After that ga
the other paper chance to go and
likewise :" and the amount Of go
advice received was truly overpoweriu
Well almost everyone | asked was j.
as kind as possible TILL finally, happen
into hardware store somewhere on 70
DrinclDal street where amonp others