New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-25

Mr. Singleton, of Mississippi, has introduced bis
Public Printing bill again,-.he same one which he
introduces every session and finally fasteus to the
Civil Sundry bill-and Of course ii provides as
usual for printing "eulOgies on deceased Senator'S
Representatives or Delegates in Congress" Per-
haps this is all proper When Congress in a
wooden way, and rather q eoarsely wooden way at
that, goes into perfunetory oratorca mourning
for the space of afternoon session, It may be an
appropriate and touching tribute to embalm this
funeral rhetoric in a pamphlet with black border,
although 1t IL duly reported in The Congressional
ReoOrd along with other routine business.
The clause, however. which provides that said GU
logies shall be accompanied by q portrait OF the
deceased presumably eulogistc also', executed
in such style as the joint Committee on
Printing may direct" is altogether an admira-
BILE one to strike out by amendment. There GER
tanly il no excuse for embittering the closing
hours of any public servants career with the re-
Election that Congressional Committee on Printing
had contract for executing and disseminating his
alleged portrait as soon as his memory had been
served up cold with n regulation eulogy. Many
other considerations which weigh on the
same side of this question will occur to the
judicious. An average Congressional Committee
is about as III equipped body could be selected
for service in ills or any other department of art
and if it's members were all thoroughly accom-
plshed there is ustifyng reason for commission
ing them 10 furnish the country with portraits Of
dead Congressman, Of living ones either for the
matter Of that. There doesn't appear to be- any
clamorous demand for an art supply of this sort.
Dean Stanley may be trusted To write the inscrip-
ton upon the monument to be- erected by private
berality TO the memory of Major Andre at Tappan,
". That inscription will contain nothing often
sive to American feelings; but there should be IN
IL no omission of facts which certainly justified the
execution of that gallant and unfortunate officer.
Il il TO be wished that in some way might be ex-
pressed the compassionate reluctance OF Washing
ton to order the execution and this is more desir-
able because his crime has been egregi0usly mSrep-
resented in English literature Those who have de-
plored the fate of Andre most warmly have
never suggested any way in which it could possibly
have been avoided. II was melancholy; 1t was
tragic but war Is always prolific of suoh tragedies
and no prisoner put to death more strictly
according to the martial law universally accepted
by all civilized nations. The devotion Of Major
Andre TO the cause OF his king may have been cred
Ita bile to him. though it is to be suspected that he
yielded rather to personal affection for his COM
mander When he undertook the distasteful duty
he knew what the risks were. The most natural
feeling IL that too much was asked OF him, and that
he should have refused 10 undertake the service.
We had good, eager, nipping, jolly bracing Christ
mas weather yesterday, and shall probably have II
to-day. Santa Claus was probably obliged to make
his annual journey Of benefaetion on wheels, fol-