The New York herald., 1877-03-05
what Is the Secret OF 1t.

The female branch of the United States
a mark in the world. 1t evidently has no
idea of settling down into humdrum
association of departmental clerks in petit
coats, and growing old, musty, specialized
and respectable in the government service,
like the Washington bureaus generally.
Every now and then we have some demon
stration from the female wing of the
Treasury building which proves that it does
not confne it's attention exclusively
to ledgers and to government figures.
At one time it comes in the
shape of the shooting of a false
lover by one of the fair employees. At
another in the form of wedding which
startles society at the capital and raises a
Treasury beauty from her wooden desk to
set her down at the head of wealthy and
aged Senator'S household. Now we find
the sensation in a breach of promise suit
brought by confding Treasury widow
against venerable and shrewd ex-Cabinet
Minister who is hobbling on toward octo-
genarianism. Again the boot is on the
other leg, tiguratively speaking, and we dis
cover betrayed or jealous husband or
lover popping away with revolver in the
Treasury building at a female clerk and
then making an attempt to shoot himself.
What is the matter with the female branch
of the United States Treasury service? Are
there any mysteries about it hidden from
the public eye? Who are its employees and
through what influences do they obtain
their positions? There is no good reason
why elderly gentlemen should not select
wives from the fair phalanx of female clerks
or why other elderly gentlemen should not
90 a-wooing among them and suddenly
recover their senses and break their vows.
But there certainly ought not to be any
thing connected with employment in the
Treasury Department which should cause a
man to shoot his wife or his sister if he
catches her there, as he might do if he dis
covered her in disreputable place. The
case of the person who attempted to take
the life of one of the ladies in the Treasury
building the other day should be thoroughly
investigated. What occasioned the desper.
ate act, and why did the would-be murderer
and suicide object to the apparently respect.
able and honest employment by which his
intended victim made her living?
CONSCIENCE IN CANADA. DA.--Intimidation and
undue influence in political affairs have, 10y
their staieness, come to be very unsavory
to the American political palate, but thcil
developments in Canada are of so unusual
flavor as to have considerable piquancy
Our special correspondent at Ottawa sends
us the details of an interesting decision o
the Supreme Court of the Dominion in tn,
case of a member of Parliament whose elec
tion was partly due to clerical intimidation
of the conscience. As the decision is unan
imously concurred in by all six of tn
iudpes. some of whom are Catholics, it can
not be for a moment regarded as an attemp
at persecution or blow at the Church t.
which belonged the priest or priests VIII
exercised the influence condemned. Mr.
Langevin, the member in question, is un
seated by the Court. Hewill probably be re
elected at once by his constituents, but tn
moral effect of the decision will be to estab
lish in the Canadian mind the fact that II
politics the conscience is entitled to rs mucl
liberty as the body, and that the law will
take cornizance Of intimidation of every sort