The Osceola times., 1885-01-31
WASHINGTON LETTER
trrom Our Regular Correspondent }
WAsnINGroS, D. c.. IAN. &c, iss

'N0hAN"'N-' ~, Ns' WI <"i +oof
During the past week the debates
and acts of Congress have touched
a variety of subjects. The French
Spolia,ion bill, which was first
brought up eighty-thrce years ago,
has passed both houses; and the
Nicarauguan bill, which opens up
the widest and graycst possibilities,
has been debated. Jefferson Davis
and Tecumseh Sherman have both
revisited the glimpses of the moon,
and the senate has voted to restore
Ulysses s. Grant to his rank in the
army. There was considerable sur
prise expressed at the fact that Dem
ocratic Senators voted with the Re
publicans to restore Gen. Grant, but
more surprise will be expressed If
the Democratic House shall allow
the bill to become IA law.
Human idclatry never reached a
more beastly depth than in its wor-
ship of Grant. The country does
not owe as much to him as it does
to hundreds of others. But because
he has lost his ill-gotten fortune
through stupidity and fraud, and his
wonderful health through prolonged
dissipation, the Senate, a portion of
the press, and a herd of millionaires
dissolve in maudlin pity over an cx-
ample of spurious greatness to which
history furnishes no parallel.
There are decided objections
against restoring Gen. Grant to his
rank in the army. The last time he
held power as president of the Unit
ed States, he used it to dispersc
Southern legislatures and to over
awe opposition to the fraudulent
seizure Of the presidency bv the
conspirators otlS16. The Edmonds
bill proposes to place him only ON
the retired list of Generals, but the
Supreme Court has decided that the
retired list is as fully part of the
Army as the active list, and that the
former may at any time be called
into service.
Suppose there should be another
disputed election, as in 1879, or like
that which occurred only last No
vember. How easy and how natu-
raj (had another than Arthur been
IN the White Heuse) would it have
been for Blaine to summon Grant,
as senior general, to assume com
lmand. And with his name and
prestige, and the fanaticism of his
idolators, the crime and shame OF
1876 might have been repested
History never repeats itself, but
folly and crime are perpetual. These
dangers may be treated as trivial
ties, since they are not imminent,
but it will be part Of folly to make
them even remotely possible by
placing Grant again in the army.
There is disposition ON the Dem
ocratic side here in both houses tc
do nothing at this short session ex.
cept pass the appropriation bills
The remaining days of the session
are so few and the appropriation
bills still to he considered are SC
many that this postponement to an
other Congress of all legislation will
be easy to accomplish.
1t is not among the impossihilities
that there may be an extra session
and, for a number of reasons, it need
not be deprecated. As it is now
more than year commonly inter.
vencs between the election of Con.
grcssmcn and the beginning of thei
duties. This fact has freoucntl,
been commented upon as oppose,
to the spirit of our laws, and oh
icc,hnahlc. The election and III,
81. ,s;t, ,c0t, ssss-s.<~..,.,san2lt h,-.sui
together, either by spring elections