The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-12-12
WASHINGTON CORR ESPOND-
ENCE.
A Huge Scandal in Official Life
solid Grit. The ..saar Line'' etc

What ancient philosopher was it whose
happiest dream of Republic was one
from which women were banished forever
Svmpathizing none whatever with such an
ideal, have never charged my memory
with the name of the brute; but that wO-
men do oitentimes, either through their
beauty, malice, or revenge, play havoc with
government, is undeniable. Mrs. Belknap,
of blessed memory, snubbed Mrs. Marsh,
the Post-traders wife: in a few weeks all
the country was agog over Gen. Belknap's
disgrace. Only the other day, one Mrs.
Roberts was a clerk in the Interior De-
partment. Being a "clever" woman-at
least in the English sense-her pen filled
a weekly column in Don Piatt's Sunday
Capital. A close observer, a keen, slash
ing critic, she exposed some incongruities
not complimentary to Mrs. Schurz. The
result was, she soon found herself viewing
the mystic walls of the Interior, from the
exterior. Being of warlike nature, how
ever, the pleasant pastime added vigor to
her pen, and she threatens a complete
overhauling of corruption in high places,
wherever found. In the Capital of last
Sunday (the 25th) she devotes column TO
the Bureau of Engraving aud Printing
quoting the following loteOr (svllsel. OBJ de
cares, is one of many) received from
young lady of the Bureau True or false,
it certainly speaks for itself:
"WAsHINGToN. ID. c., Nov. 20, 1877.
"MRs. RoBERrs There is something l
want to tell you, and as do not know
where you live, l have determined to adj
dress you a note. Now you, in common
with others. have heard OF tho immoral
conduct under the former management of
the bureau of engraving and printing. My
dear madame. believe me when l tell you
that such conduct is now being praetised
in that establishment by high officials. l
know several young ladies who entered
that establishment Innocent, three or four
months ago, who are now, alas! forever
done for. blush to tell you that the most
disgraceful proposals have been made to
me, but far [ have resisted them. How
long can hold my pitiful place unless
Weld to the tempter, God in Heaven only
knows. With life of shame, with bread
enough to feed dependent ones, and the
certainty of discharge awaiting me, it re-
Quires 10 phrophet TO foretel the fate of
many poor girl Great God, is our Gov
ernment so debased as to keep set of SEN
sual men in charge of one OF its most i'm
portaut establishments?
zone roor girl, the sole help and support
of widowed mother, came
to rae with tears in her eyes and asked my
advice. Shephad been threatened with dis
charge unless she would yield to base pro-
posas. Knowing the dependent position
of her family, declined to advise her. A
week afterwards she told me she had been
ruined, but that her mother
would not starve had nerve, and only
saved my honor by threatening to go to Mr..
Sherman. But know that in less th&n a
month will be discharged for my scOntu
macy" as certain official in the bureau of
engraving and printing calls such retusals
The victims are gem
orally girls between fifteen and eighteen,
and principally the fatherless. If the Sec
rotary will put himself to little trouble he
will find out that the bureau OF engraving
aAd printing is nothing but pool of iniqu-
tered for positions which pay one dollar
and halt per day. May heaven bless you
for the noble work you perform in expo
sing this augean stable is the wish of
"P. Sd do not sign my name, for fear
you might use it or print my letter."
What does the virtuous CLARION think OF
such an expose? Does it not join with
Mrs. Roberts in asking for Congressional
Committee to at once Investigate these
charges? If they should turn out to be
true it were far better the Bureau of En-
craving aud Printing" with all its officers
and employees, should be dug up root and
branch, and buried forever out of sight in
the bottom of the Potomac. The Greek
philosopher, Lncian, argued that the Devil
was necessarily the happiest of beings, be-
cause he delighted, according TO the ac-
cepted theory, in wickedness. How in
mparably happy must his Satanic maj
esty be in this centennial year OF the 10Th
century, ii one-half the revelations in the
public press are true!
THE FRUITS OF LEGISLATION.
The mills of our intellectual. like those of
the NEUROLOGICAL gods, grind slowly, but
they grind exceedingly fine. But one of the
1900 Bills introduced this session. has been
finally ground out aud crystallized into q
law. II Is printed in about a half dozen
INES; on small sheet Of paper, and Is en-
titled an act TO pay Chaplain Poisel the
tnree weeks salary due him from October
lOtn to November 9Th, 1877, the day OF his
resignation. do not instance this as an in
dlcatlon of tardiness on the part of Com
gress, but IL shows that It takes time 20 ma
lure any bill, even the smallest. It must
1e reaa and re-read, and printed, and re-
1erred, and pass to the other house. etc.. ali /
1esSIe y comes forth in its pristine glory, |
LeI 6crspta. 49,
AONoh 70 WHOM HONOR rs DUE.
Dill providing for the classification oe |
mari maIters ana rates oil Hostage thereon ~ |
was introduced By Hon H. D. Monev. IN
me house, on the I'd inst. It provides |
tlhs mai natter snail be divided into three /
classes, t0-WIt: Written matter r,.ssrsasl /
matter and merchandise Section IL - -
BIZ enacta that mail matter OF the third |
CLASS Merchandlse1 shall embrace All mat. |
yer not em0raced IN che first or the second /
class whlch e not Ii its form or nature ia !
Dia % destroy. defaee, or otherwise damage
tne contents 81 the mailsbhQ or harm fi3e !
Rara9n 81 any one engaged II the postal
service and ts not above kmn wefmht rrnrf~
aeM by law, which u hereby declared I'D IVA
Hob 4&ee lnR four pounds lnr each pack
ABR t1AE ERUls except Hor books and HHfns
M AutA published and circulated III order af 1
k2RkEess g eA.elei natter eman6kIna fk1m