The National tribune., 1885-12-31

honored him. So he kept very quiet during
the campaign, but he did not vote for Grant.
After his term of Office expired he joined the
Liberal Republicans, and the transition to FULL
fedged Democracy was easy. For lo years past
he has supported with great zeal the principles
and candidates of the latter. Of late he has
been extremely bitter against the Republican
party on account of its alleged favOring OF
sumptuary legislation. Mr. Mueller advocates
the fullest possible measure OF personal liberty
CHRISTMAS AT THE CAPITAL.
Christmas was very quiet day in Washing
ton as all HOLIDAYS are. Whenever, for any
cause the Departments close it seems as IT the
city had suddenly died and was ready tor bur-
ial. Heretofore it has been customary to pay
off all the Government employees the day before
Christmas for the entire month OF December.
This year they were paid merely up to date, SO
that if any of them should happen to die or be
removed for offensive partisanship" before
the end of the month, Uncle Sam would not be
out of pocket The day was universally devoted
to feasting and merry making. The PreSldeht
and Miss Cleveland ate turkey, by invitation,
with Secretary Manning.
Three hundred and twenty-five members OF
Congress-that is all of them-hung up their
stockings so to speak, in row, where Speaker
Carlisle could see them, to receive SUCH christ
mas gifts in the way of committee appointments
as he might bestow. The more Important
chairmanships are much sought after as posi-
tions of responsibility and influence. There
are not nearly enough to go around, and nlne-
tenths of the members get left"
ART AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
new full-length portrait of Thomas Jeffer-
| son has recently been placed in the ante-room
| of the White House to welcome the Democratic
| visitors who call to congratulate MIR. Cleveland
upon the restoration of his party to power, and
incidentally to ask for office. This picture is
| by f. F. Andrews. the same who painted the
portrait of Martha Washington now hanging
| in the East Room. Mr.. Jeferson's picture IS a
striking one. The founder of the Democratic
| party is dressed in costume that must be par
| aIyZing to those who talk about the simplicity
| of the fathers. The artist took great care to
verify the historical accuracy of the dress by
| talking with descendants of the family and ex-
amining the records Mr.. Jefferson's hair ap-
| pears soft and sivery, parted in the middle,
and curling gracefully about his fresh-colored,
smoothly y-shaven face. His coat is of dark-blue
velvet, with absurdly large skirts. The waist
coat is of red plush, with ruffie running up
| to the chin. Ruffles also encircle his wrists.
| The knee-breeches are of the same material rs
the coat. The stockings are of the finest black
| silk. The shoes are very neatly made, OF pol
| ished leather with square black buckles across
the instep. The great statesman holds a quill
| pen in his right hand. The picture is fine
work of art and attracts much attention from
visitors.
| AN ADVERSE DECISION.
The Second Controller of the Treasury has
| taken adverse action on the application for a
reference to the Attorney-G General of the claim
! of the widow of Nathan Mclean, late Lleuten-
! anti Colonel, United States Army for arrears of
pay The deceased resigned his commission as
Major in 1864, and received tho full pay and
allowance due him to that time. Under au-
thority of an act of Congress of March B, 1875,
| the President reinstated him in the army with
| the rank of Lieutenat- Colonel, and Immediately
placed him on the retired list He continued
there until the time of his death, June s, 1884,
and received the pay and emoluments of the
office. His widow now claims that her husband
was entitled to compensation during the eleven
years which interviewed between his resignation
! in 1864 and his reappOintment III 1872 and re-
quests that the question of her husbands right
! to such compensation be submitted to the At
torney- General for his opinion. The Second
Controller says he thinks such reference un-
necessary and as not likely to produce beneti-
cial results, inasmuch as the United States
| Supreme Court and the Court of Claims has
repeatedly decided against the allowance OF
compensation in such cases, and the accounting
officers would feel bound to follow these decis-
ions, whatever view the Attorney General
might have on the subject.
| AN AGED PHILANTHRoPIsT.
Mr.. w. w. Corcoran, of Washington, cele
brated his S?th birthday last Sunday. A
long life of business activity has yielded him a
bountiful fortune. Public spirited and phi
lanthropic, he has given large sums from time
to time for the benefit of Washington and its
| charitable institutions. Mr.. Corc0ran is hale
and vigorous in body and mind. 1t would
scarcely be believed from his appearance that
he has reached such venerable age. He at
tributes his good health to his regular habits
| 6 l;,,;v, ua hnco hna,, r1y rica
After light breakfast he drives to his office
where he attends to the business questions tina,
are submitted to him by his confidential agent
for he still gives his personal attention to his
business affairs. Returning home for luncheon
at noon, he devOtes the rest of the day, wher
the weather permits, to driving and calling
upon his friends. At dinner he eats heartily
but eschews Wines except of the lighter sort
He devotes the evening to his family or the
reception of visitors. In this quiet, methodi
cal way he is passing the evening of his days.
TROUBLES OF OUR MINISTER TO PERSIA.
Mr.. S. &. w. Benjamin, late Minister to Per
; sa, in report recently communicated by th'
President to Congress, states that some time agt
he was riding out in carriage near Teheran
According to the custom of the country tn,
carriage was preceded by two outrideTS. A.
the carriage approached a halfway coffee hous
a troop of mounted men rushed out and mad
a violent attack on the outrdcrs. Mr. Benja
min saw at once that the troops belonged Il
the Royal Guard and that line of carriage
in front of the coffee house contained the wiye
of the Shah. Although having the absolute
right to pass, possessed by none except Min
| isters and their families, and denied to al
others at the risk of immediate death, Nh
Benjamin ordered his driver to stop. The at
tack was continued, and the outriders ant
horses were severely handled. The chic
| lady Of the harem sent one of her attendant
to escort Mr.. Benjamin through the lines. Ii
response to ademand for satisfaction an apOlOg,
was made and the men who attacked the car
riage were punished.
| THE SILVER STRUGGLE.
All signs point to very active contest il
| Congress between the friends of the silver dol
lar and those who are in favor of suspendin
its coinage The latter are backed by the Ad
| ministration. The silver men claim very dc
cided majority in the House A published pol
Of the Members, by name shows a total of 13
in favor of suspension Of coinage and 195 oI
f posed to such measure, giving a ma jOrity c
% in favor Of continuing the manufacture G
the dollars. The question is not a party OnC
e although a majority of the Democrats-1i3 t
39-Oppose suspension of coinage. while
majority of the Republcans-91 to 52-are i
3 favor of it. Nearly two-thrds Of the Republi
cans favor suspension, and not quite four
2 fifths Of the Democrats oppose it. The Easter
9 and Middle States including Maryland Shot
r 81 favoring suspension and only ii opposing
In II Southern and Southwestern States in
Guiding Missouri, we find but 9 in favor an