New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-29

mcnt of the step-ladder have been seen drawn
up on The slopes of the Rocky Mountains
drilling in Upton's Tactics, and preparing lot
vigorous offensive Summer campaign. In a lew
weeks more, which they will devote to brigade
drill in the cOrnield charge with fixed tooth
picks, they will be ready for forward move
mcDt. The Western farmer cOntemplates his
coming with dismay. The feeling in agricul-
tura circles is that early provision shonld be
made by Government to meet the invasion and
repel the invader, and to that end 1T Is
thought the Agricultural Department should
be at once put on war footing. A DISPOSE
ton has manifested itself in some quarters to
negotiate with the foe, and secure deliverance
from famine upon the basis of some equitable
division of the crops, but the more general
opinion is that war without quarter should be
declared against the grasshopper as the ruth
less and inveterate foe of mankind
The potato bug too is said to be showing
signs of unusual activity just under the sur
face of the ground, and there are reports from
various places of the appearance of potato
bugs of high rank and apparently connected
with an army of observation. 1t is believed that
the potato bug waits only the harbingers of
Spring to come forth in large numbers, and
with unreasonable appetites, to clear up
whatever the grasshOpper leaves. In few
weeks he likewise will be found with his tent
pitched by the bed of the early cucumber and
the pole of the expected bean. The farmer
feels that he has long enough divided with the
potato bug the spoils of the field, and he
calls aloud for protection and relief. From
the rayages of these two great invading
armies of the jerhy grasshopper and the per
vadng potato bug the fertile earth and
all who till it call out to Govern
ment to deliver them. They say that while
the Agricultural Department Is devOtng itself
to the cultivation of buttOn-hoie bouquets for
the use of Congress and the Cabinet the true
interests of agriculture are neglected, and the
fields laid waste by hopper and bug. They
propose no specific remedy; they do not pretend
to dictate any policy except the general policy
of reform, but they do say it Is unbecOmlng
and improper in the Agricultural Department
TO devote all its energies to raising button
hole bouquets when the continent is darlcncd
by the fight of the grasshoppcr and the
stealthy potato bug is consuming the land
The complaint is not without foundation.
We do need and must have the Agricultural
Department reformed. We must take arms
against sea of grasshoppcrs and potato bugs,
and by opposing end them. The cult
walton of bouquets must be for the
time given up, and Congress and the
Cabinet left temporarily unadorned and
unpcrfumcd except by their own sweetness
and light. Then let us have military man at
the head of the derartmcnt-say Gen. Logan
and an organized force to put down the in
yaders. Such a force could be easily enrolled
from the ranks of those who have already in
dcated their willingness to serve the country.
Let every Democrat who expected office I'M
der Tildcn be enlisted in the anti-grasshopper
army, and every Republican who hoped for
an appointment from Hayes be mustered in
against the potato bug. We could then meet
the invaders with overwhelming numbers,
and utilize a vast body of patriotic persons
who are aching for an opportunity to do
something for the country they love so well.