Idaho tri-weekly world. (Idaho City, Idaho) 1875-1875, 1875-05-02

THEN AND NOW.
A Government Frolic Of Long ago, for which
the People Did Not Pay-How Cobb "Came
II over tho Old Squire"

It over tho Old squire"
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE kite
en- organ Of the White House Col
tanned the following editorial para
graph this morning:
There was vessel of the Unite
States Navy at one time known a
the Harriet Lane. She was named il
honor of the niece of James Buchanan
who was then the Democratic Presi
dent Of the United States. She wa
used as pleasure yacht by members
ofMr. Buchanan's administration; but
strange to say, her use in that way
did not suggest to the Democratic ed
itors of the day that military and ma
val power threatened the country with
unexampled tyranny. 1t is within the
memory Of many of our readers that
the Government was called upon
to pay all the expenses incident to her
pleasure trip, including champagne
lunches; but that was before the De-
tective press came into existence.
Now, all that is necessary to arouse
storm Of Indignation on the part of
the Detective journalists and their fee
BILE array Of followers, is a suspicion
that while Government vessel is in
commission she may be used, all the
expenses incident to her use being de-
frayed by private parties, for purposes
similar to that to which the Harriet
Lane was devoted when the Govern
anent footed all the bills. Surely, we
live in technically honest times; but
there are some people who seek and
admire consistency.
There is bare modicum of truth in
the foregoing statements in regard to
the revenue cutter Harriet Lane. 1t
is true that there was such a vessel,
and that she was named in honor of
the niece of James Buchanan. 1t is
srlso true that she was on one memora-
bile occasion used by certain members
of Mr.. Buchanan's administration as
pleasure yacht. But it is not true that
she was "a vessel Of the United States
Navy or that the government was
ever called upon to pay all or any of
the expenses incident to her pleasure
trips. The Harriet Lane was a reve-
nue. cutter, and was built, as all YES ;,
sells for the revenue marine are, under :
the direction Of the Secretary of the '
Treasury. She was upon the occa- :"
sion OF her trial trip used by certain =
of'the Buchanan administra- :
ion to convey pleasure party down :
ne Potomac river, and l have no doubt =
here were several champagne lunches :.
consumed during that voyage. The '"
circumstances attending that "pleas- =.
re party" were such as to render it y"
memorable occasion, and take pleas
ire in relating them now, because it :"
nab'es me to contrast the conduct of )"
tr. Buchanan in dealing with a qnes- :"
ion of official ethics with that of Gen -
raj Grant and his secretary Of the Ma nc
y. The trial trip Of the Harriet Lane ~
ccurred during the summer season Id
hen the President and his Cabinet std
ere OF course suffering from the cf- '''
cts of the oppressive heat of this lat. wa
ude, and sail on the Potomac river ''i
ould afford brief but pleasant in ''o1
Rude in their daily routine of Off No.
al life. For it must be remembered -,
At during Mr.. Buchanan's admins ,,.,,
alton neither he nor any one of his 49,.
'Dlnet Ministers were absent from his
st OF duty single day on pleas -
excursion. There was no seaside ;,
pltal then, and no annual hegira Of ~
President and his Cabinet on the ., III
proach Of the heated term from ~, ,re'
ashington to cottages by the sea" W."
hen the weather became very Oh INC
,ee;vo NJ R,ohoI. W excl