The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-11-08

may not be known with certainty. 1t
Is one of those quantities for which
there is no unit Of measure, but if |
may express an opinion, the disease Is
politics. The average Washingtonian,
his family and relations, grocer, tail
or, and milkman, live move and have
their being in politics. Every four
years politics becomes feyerish, yiru-
lent. | may say without exaggera-
ton that of the 100000 population of
the capital city very few are cheerful
" indifferent with regard to the COM
ing election. How can they be? \
large proportion of them are govern
ment clerks whose bread and butter
depend upon the continuation Of the
present political regime. Those who
are not clerks are at least dependent
on them as members Of their family,
or as trades people who live upon
their patronage. These unhappy den
liens look upon the advent of anoth-
er political party to power with fore
holdings of ruin. Cankering care sits
beside them, and lays his head on
their pillow. Is it too much to pre-
sumo that this protracted mental anx-
iety reacting on the nerves and liver
may be the Interior cause of death to
many. At any rate | rejoice that |
am not a government clerk and that
my bread and butter does not depend
on the election of ClcyelaHd, Blaine,
st. John, or Mrs Belva Lockwood.
Rather let me rejoice that am a
journalist in the enjoyment of prince
ly salary and Of political sentiments
unbiased by any consideration Of what
| shall eat or what | shall wear. Fol
tiles is miserable trade when follow
ed for IA livelihood. | can think of
nothing more debasing than for man
enfranchised with the kingly preroga-
tive of pronouncing in matters of state
politv, but compelled to prostitute his
political conscience for food and cloth
ing. There is, indeed, need of civil
service reform, but the reform to be e.
tectiye must conn en- e with the voter,
and must be more thorough going than
any measure yet sugg asted by Con
gresS.
The civil service of the United
States, the work Of more than 1C0,-
600 employees is far behind. and not
we'll done, because the employees are
politicians, not in the nobler sense of
suffragists with convictions bat bread
and butter politicians.
There is little or no news il the CITY
at present. Everything is eclipsed by
the election. And Washington is on
tip toe awaiting the result. After the
election is over the government en-
ployes will settle down to their rou-
tine work; that is if Mr. Blaine shall
be elected But If Mr.. Cleueland
shall be declared the next president
such CONSERVATION as has rarely been
known will prevade the city, and
thousands will silently prepare to take
their leaye, foreboding dismissal after
the fourth Of March.
Congress will assemble in about six
weeks and there is prospect of busy
session. No time will be wasted in
organization. The organization was
completed last session. There are a
large number of bills on the calendar
many of which vii. not be taken up
The most important bill is the So
100000, appropriation for public edu-
cation to be distributed to the various
states in the ratio of their illiteracy.
1t Is sad truth that politics will be
uppermost even in the consideration of
this bill. The Democrats hesitate to
pass it for fear that a Republican al
ministration will in some way pervert
its use to partizan purposes, and the
Republicans will have the same fear
OF Democratic administration. The
poor bill is between the upper and
neither millstones, and it might al
most as well have necklace of mill
stones around its neck.