The Morning herald., 1876-04-03
LET THE CHANGE BE MADE.

LET THE CHANGE BE MADE.
Since the mantle of Belknap has fallen
on the shoulders Of gentleman keJudge
Taft, General Sherman is about to move
army headquarters back from st. Louis to
Washington, which is the natural place
for it. It has been semi.ofdcially an
nounsed that Secretary of War Taft has
intimatsd to General Sherman his desire
to have army headquarters returned to
Washington, and that the General has
consented to do soSecretary Taft is disposed
to correct the endorsements which -"
rounded the General Of the army u'd
Secretary Belknap The usNrr'sion OF T..
duties of the commading General Was The
cause OF driving General Scott to Wes'
Point during the secretaryship Of Jefer-
son Davis, and Sherman to st. Louis du-
ring the control of Secretary Belknap.
Secretary Taft, it is understood, will
transfer the Adjutant Generals Office to
the General of the army, which will re-
medy the clashing of authority that has
previously existed. Gen. Sherman in
making Washington his headquarters
can do honor to himself as a gentleman
and soldier and also reflect credit
and respectability on the Me-
topolis of the Nation, by refusing to pa
tronise the ostentation Of pretenders, and
refraining from entertainments which he
cannot afford even on his large salary.
It is lanentahle TACT that government
officials at Washington have become crazy
over expensive entertainments and fashion
able display, trying to outdo each other in
extravagnce and Aashiness. But why
should General Sherman or any other gov
ernment official in Washington get up
costly entertainments that he cannot afford
Instead Of making display Of e1trava.
sance, a government officer, and especially
a militrry one, an officer Of the army
should set an example Of Spartan simpli
city. His official position does not requir'
him to entertain members Of Congress
Cabinet ministers, members of the diplo
matte corps or nybody else. The custom
of high life in Washington in the last de
cade have become most mischievous an
disgracsful, Nothing is seen among tn
officials of the Government in the metrope
lis OF the nation but a downright prof
gacy. They must get money some way
keep up their rivalries in extravaganc
and as salaries cannot be we'll fixed at
figure high Ell ough to meet all demand
many of them resort to crooked ways,
did Belknap, Cresswell and others, of raj
ing it. General Grant is himself large
responsible for this terrible state Of thin
through his mercenary devotion to tt
worship Of shoddy wealth.
We cannot refrain from deneuncing Il
President, as we'll as ether prodigals al
proAigates who have brought Washingt'
society to such painful and ruinous
lsmma. The country has been :ctimiz
by an extravagant, larcenous, and fraud
lent maladministration, from its hight
to its lowest authorities, such as was aev
before known at any time, or among a
people, certainly under no popular Of &C
stitutional government. Let US hope tt
Gen. Sherman in taking his .hea
quarters back to Washington, by refusi
to encourage or patronize the ostentati
sfpretenders, and by refraining from {
tertainments which he cannot afford.
There is the beacon Of a mighty wal
inr in the numerous recent developemel
ofthe corruption of government ofici
at Washington, to all who would g'
money in crooked ways. They can
hew ill.gotten gains bring shame, sorre
torment and ruin. How much better
Belknap, Babcock, Cresswell, Robes'
Van Asrnam and many others to-day Il
they had been honest-how much bet
fsr thsm to b respected ~ honest HI