The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-02-16


standpoint cha um calculated 80 stop the
dopredaucns upon timber, and We sincerely
hope toscc gfentof attention even the mat
ter ut iho earliest day.
-
srALwAHTisM sTiil AHEAD
Since the accession Of An, ARrnUn to the
rosldcncy that class Of republicans known
o. snlwarts have been constantly supplant-
ing tho apponiccs Of PRESIDENT GARFIELD
Notwithstanding the sentimental expression
of the present incumbent, upon taking his
seat, that hc would try and chew to the
line" Of his predecessors policy. When
ever an opportunity arose for thrustlng one
of the old GRANT crowd into o&ice, 1t was
seized Immediately, and il none existed, 1t
has been made without much regard
to decency or reverence for the
memory of the "martyred chief"
1t has been shown in previous
campaigns so Individually that the forces
which were and are still gathered around
GRANT were the corruptest officials we have
ever had, and that there was such bold
and reckless waste of the public moneys
that it is to be deeply regretted they are
again coming into power so absolutely. 1t
was hoped and believed when Mr.. ARTHU
first assumed the duties and responsibilities
Of his Office that we would find in him
wise discreet and impartial ruler, and in
fact he was generally commended by the
press, and even his political opponents
stood ready to assist him in what they
thought would be disinterested
effort on his part to give the country
national rather than sectional or partisan
administration. Recent events have dis
PEELED the illusion, and it now looks as if
the president intends to rise no higher than
a policy calculated to please and enrich the
followers and henchmen of GRANT, CoNK-
LING e Co. A step was taken by him the other
day which, for inconsistency, injustice,
illegality and impotence, is hardly to be
excelled. 1t may not be generally known,
but it is none the less true, that for some
time past a fight has been going on between
GENERALS SHERMAN and SHERIDAN with re-
ference to the rank in which QUARTER
MAsTER-G ENERAL MEGGs and the assistant
quartermaster-genera RUCKER, should be
retired, both having passed the statute age
when they should be taken out Of active
service. The quartermaster- general ranks
as a brigadier AMI the assistant as colonel,
and there is slight difference between
their salaries when retired of $3.50 per year.
GENERAL SHERMAN insisted, and properly,
that COLONEL RUCKER who was older by
several years than GENERAL MEIGs, should
not succeed him as quartermaster-genera
when the latter was set aside on account of
age. as it would be inconsistent
and absurd to supersede an old man
by an older, when the only question was
one Of age, and hence urged the retirement
of both with their then rank md
the placing in their positions of younger
men and those justly entitled to them I'M
der the law, by reason of the superannua-
tim of their superiors. There could have
possibly been no reasonable objection to
this suggestion of the commanding general,
and he it is, indeed, whose advice and sug
gestions in such matters should control.
Unfortunately, there was brought to bear
upon the president a stronger objection to
him than one of reason. COLONEL RUCEER
is the father-in-law of SHERIDAN, the latter
is the stalwart of stalwarts, and the wish
of SHERIDAN was that MEIGs should
be retired, that RUCKER should succeed
him, and after week or two of service be
also set aside with the rank of brigadier,
and salary of 81, 125 per year rather than
that of SO, 1915, which he would receive as
colonel. The whole scheme was dirty lit
tie job to play farce and get $50 addi-
tional per year for the father-in-law of PM
SHERIDAN. And just day or two since
came the intelligence from Washington
that QUARTET MASTER GENERAL MEIGs had
been retired on account ofage, and had
been succeeded by the assistant gu err
master general, COLONEL RUcKER, but
the report failed to say that
the successor was several years
the senior of the retiring officer, and was
suffered to take the latter's place, because
it was the wish of GRANT, CoYKLING, SHERI-
DAN and the stalwarts that he should get
annually n bigger handful of public gold.
III DlOIt liluI Ollb SCllsS AlllS 10 WY iAbeiS
affair. In the first place, of course, the
amount of extra pay is small, not calculated
to bankrupt the government. Then there
Is another kind of despicable littleness
about it, and that is the avaricious persist
ency of such high officers as SHERIDAN and
RucKER IN their determination GO get $50
per year more out of the government. But
in one sense the transaction is like
the straw which indicates the direction of
the wind. We are taught the disagreeable
lesson that law and custom, justice and de-
cency, are of no avail with the present adj
when these time-bonored con-
siderations happen to conflict with the
pockets and wishes Of that mighty political
force. known as a stalwart. 1t shakes faith
IN both the anticipated purity, propriety !
and patriotism of Mr.. ARTHUR's admins
ration, and leaves us no other alternative |
but TO believe that he is only the willing
instrument Of his stalwart party leaders |
md has again degenerated into the poll |
.ician.
Elects of the Flood.
The unusually heavy rains that have fallen |
EN- during the past two days have flooded a /
- Ito, or .astnrt, Tavae vrbflo II has