The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-02-15
sr,LwARrIsM STILL AHEAD.

ilB tue dppoiutceo VI hhSiphNA NNN''i
Notwithstanding the sentimental expression
of the present incumbent, upon taking his
seat, that he would try and thew to the
line" of his predecessors policy. When-
ever an opportunity arose for thrustins one
of the old GRANT crowd into Office, 1t was
seized Immediately, and if 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.. ARTHUR
first assumed the duties and responsibilities
OF his Office that we would find in him a
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 q
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 u Co. A step was taken by him the other
day which, for inconsistency, injustice,
illegality and impotence, is hardly to be
excellcd. 1t may not be generally known,
but it is none the less true, that for some
time past fight has been going on between
GENERALS SHERMAN and SHERIDAN with re-
terence to the rank in which QUARTER
MAsTEE-GENERAL MEiGs and the assistant
quartermaster-gener RCCKER, should be
retired, both having passed the statute age
when they should be taken out of active
service The quartermaster-ge ranks
as brigadier and the assistant as colonel,
and there is a 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-g
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 and
the placing in their positions of younger
men and those justly entitled to them un-
der the Law, by reason of the superannua-
tion 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 lhther-n-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 brigader,
and salary of 81, l25 per year rather than
that of $3.50, which he would receive as
colonel, The whole scheme was dirty lit.
tie job to play farce and get $3.50 addi-
tonal per year for the father.in-law of Pun
SHERIDAN, And just a day or two since
came the intelligence from Washington
that QUARTER MASTER GENERAL MElGs had
been retired ON account ofagc, and had
been succeeded 10y the assistant qu er
master general COLONEL RucKER, but
the report failed to say that
the successor was several wear.
the senior of the retiring officer, and was
suffered to take the latter's place, because
/ 1t was the wish of GRANT, CoNKLING, SuEEt
DAN and the stalwartS that he should re,
annually bigger handful of public gold
In more than one sense this iSa very it'll,
affair. In the first place, of course, tn,
amount of extra pay is small, not calculated
! to bankrupt the government. Then ther,
is another kind of despicablc littcncs,
about ii, and that is the avaricious persist
ency OF such high officers as SHERIDAN ant
RucErE in their determination 60 get S1jl
per year more out of the government. Blu
in one sense the transaction is lik,
the straw which indicates the direction o.
the wind, We are taught tho disagreeable
lesson that law and custom, justice and de.
cency, are of no avail with the present ad
minlstration when these time.honored con
sidcraions happen to conflict with Oh,
pockets and wishes of that mighty politca
force, known rs a stalwart 1t shakes hitl
in both the anticipated purity, prophet,
and patriotism of Mr.. ARTuuR's admins
tration, and leaves us no other alternatiy,
but to believe that he is only the willin
instrument of his stalwart party leaders
and has again dcgenerated into the pol
tician.
lr gratifying to see the promptness ant
generosity with which the people at larg,