The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-16
SPIRIT Of THE PRESS.


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The Enquirer says: 1t is again reported
that Tilden has written letter. to be read
at the Rochester Convention, declining to
be candidate for President. The corre-
spondent to save trouble, prints denial
in the paragraph conveying the informa-
ton. 1t is likely two months will elapse
before solution of the Tilden puzzle-It is
thought the Legislature will adjourn to-
day, after session of three months and a
half. 1t will take the members all sum-
mer to explain to their constituents what
they have been doing all this time.
The Commercial says of the West Point
business: 1t will not be readily forgotten that
few years ago fine manly boy was killed
outright there by being thrown over cliff
by masked West Point students. He was the
son of a prominent United States official,
and his only crime was that he was a new
cadet, having only just entered this den
Of savages What they will do on occasion is
plainly enough shown in thisWhittaker case.
The colored cadet was found tightly bound
and insensible, with one ear Clipped off
and the other one slit The cords on his
wrists cut in so deep that the marks of them
still showed twelve hours after he had been
discovered. Nevertheless, the young white
gentlemen of the Academy were brave
enough to advance the theory that Whit
taker had thus tortured and mutiated
himself to slip out of examination. They
are fearless young men, these embryo army
officers Many Of the younger graduates
of West Point carry their aristocratic
tendencies to the extreme verge. 1t
is no secret that 1t is the fashion
with them to speak with open
contempt OF Republican Governments,
most of all the very Government that has
fed, clothed and educated them. At West
Point the spirit of caste exists in more
despotic form than anywhere else in the
country. The education got there is not a
whit better than can be obtained anywhere
else in the United States, and the lessons in
brutality are thrown in extra. Another ex-
| ira lesson these boys learn is to regard them
selves as favored, aristocratic class. The
third-termers depend upon the following
States to secure the nomination of
Grant at Chicago: New York, New Jerse
Pennsylvania, Maryland Virginia, North
Carolina Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri,
Arkansas and Texas-S84 votes in all. But
one ,f these States-Pennsylvania-
Republican majority in 1876 The total
Democratic majority In the remaining
States was $50, 467 If Grant owes his nomln-
alton to them it is more than probable he
will have to look to them for his election.
The Indian service was certainly never
in the hands Of more competent and hon
est men than it is now. Instances of un-
| lathfulness in a Government agent are
not common; as the worst enemy OF Secre-
tary Schurz and President Hayes must
admit Where dishonesty is detected, it
is made such an example of tat there is
no second temptation to repeat the expert
ment. On the whole, patriotic citizens
will do we'll to let the Interior Department
alone In its present management of our
Nations wards. Instead of mlschievous
meddling with the present Indian policy,
the hands of the Department should be
upheld. We never were AS near peaceful
solution of the Indian question before
Now many of the Utes themselves agree to
settle n farms in severalty, and give up
ter wild ways. The Chippewas have
agreed to the same thing; so have other
tribes Millions of bushels of grain were
raised by so called wild tribes Of Indians
last year. Only a few years ago the Sioux
were the most fiery and untamed in the
lot--considered wholly uncivilizable. Now
they are rapidly settling down as farmers
on their own lands. A very few years
more will see them peaceful and indus
trious civilized people. They are already
making brick, building houses and putting
up telegraph poles. The general disposi-
tion of the Indian is changing for the bet
ter as rapidly as. in the nature of things, it
possibly could. Four times as many Indian
youth are now attending school as there
ever were before.
The Gazette says: The Louisville &
Nashville. Railroad management is extend
ing to combinations south OF Chattanooga
for the purpose of excluding the Cincin-
natl Southern from the trade OF that coun-
try. Having always been monopoly, it
has no idea of tolerating fair competition
if it can help it. The Trustees, of course,
have no authority to 60 outside to arrange
for connections, and the company operat-
ing the road, while abundantly able, will
offer no material aid, for the reason that
they hold the property under an arrange
ment liable to be terminated in six
months. The course of our Trustees
seems to us perfectly plain. The
road ought to be leased to a COM
pany that will operate for term of twenty
OF twenty-five years. lnlS can De done
upon terms that will be fair to the city
and that will secure to the latter its full
share of the profits during the term of the
lease, and that will, at the same time. stim-
nlate the managers to put forth their best
efforts to conduct the business economical
ly and enlarge the traffic. This is what is
now needed, and it should be secured with
out unnecessary delay. Had the present
company long lease, it could meet the
Louisville & Nashville men upon their
own ground and defeat many of their
schemes. In this contest they could COM
mand the support OF nearly all the lines en-
tering this city from the East, and North,
and West, and would at once become
power that could not be successfully en-
countered. The natural advantages of the
situation are all on our side, and 1t only re-
quires power and good management to
make the Cincinnati master of the stua-
ton, whereas it is now like an army with.
in fort without ammunition to fire gun.
This is matter that requires the immedi-
ate attention of the Trustees and that
should be acted upon without delay. The
Trus ees have full authority in the prem
ises There is no need for more money
from the city. There is money enough and
to spare. All that is required is will pow
er, with wisdom to govern in the right d.
rection.
The Gazette favors John Sherman for
u