New-York tribune., 1885-03-18


So il seems that the appointment Of Mr. Miller. as
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, was after oil q
reward for political services. Even the journals
which profess to have reform on the brain acknowl-
edge this they report his prominence for years In
West Virginia politics. note that he has been
Auditor of the State and took very active part
in the election of Governor last year; and The Ne~
York Times says . his friends credit him with
large share of the practical work which resulted in
Democratic success. For this zeal In behalf OF the
party, they say, his success for Commissioner OF
Internal Revenue is no moro than a just reward"
Then this Is to be regarded as another evidence of
the sort of reform which Mr. Cleveland to give u.s.
That Mr.. Miller has any special qualifications for
the position of Commissioner, no pretends. FROM
many other men equally fit. he was chosen as
reward for political services. But thatrs the OLD
spolls system against which the pretended REFORM
ers have camored continually for years, and which
they have been assuring us would be put forever
ont of the way by President Cleveland.
In one and the same article The Erening Post calls
Tammany Hall burst gun" and credits it with
casting some 10000 votes last fall 1t will strike
leyelheaded people that there isn't much of burst
gun about 10000 votes. The Posts reasoning is
the burst gun.
The sensational intelligence comes from West Vr-
ginia that over a hundred persons have been
arrested there for playing domnoes In public
How much more criminal the playing of dominoes
is than of football or tennis we are not informed.
but if fine is imposed for all deep dyed offences
of this kind, West Virginia ought to have no
trouble in carrying out her recent resolution to pay
her honest debts.
The favorite literature Of Democracy just now is
blank verse.
We were greatly puzzled tok know why Mr.. SchuIz
should take the platform in the present Crisis OF
nublic affairs and break out the subject OF Ben
iamin Franklin. The World explains it, 1t remarks
that the lecture should be repeated in Washington
twice n week for the next six months since the
people need to be told great deal about frugality
honesty and patriotism and the Importance oil going
to bed and rising early. So Mr.. Schurz is the duly
accredited evangel of good old Jeiiersonian sim
pcity. 1t Is Geld comfort for HIM. however, after
all the work done by him in the last canvass, to be
put of with free advertisements OF his lecture.
Ex-senator Mcdonald could not wait In the chilly
atmosphere of Indiana any longer while his Hoosier
rival was Guttering around the White House. Not
even the consideration of personal modesty could
finally overcome his patriotic anxiety to be useful
auinomink, which have been shouting and rever-
berating in honor of Congressman Charles b. Lore
As Secretary Bayards successor Will now quietly
subsde. They made a good deal of nOise but
Mr. Bayards diplomatic fingers were much more
effective
The consistent. mugwump was at first Mortified by
the appointment of Higgins. For twenty-four hours
no denounced it as nothing less than political
anI utray AGAINST Civil Service reform.
Then he guessed il q mistake. and that every
green Administration was bound to make aust
oneD And it may be that in the end he will con-
clude that he was himself mistaken in Higgins. and
that instead of being low ward politician of very
bad kind he is promising young patriot and
thoroughly good business man.
Appointment Clerk Higgins still holds the fort.
He is not resgning. neither is Secretary Manning
removing him. What are The Times and The Poss
going to do about IL
A recent dispatch from Chicago stated that a
Dr. Rufus IL. Bartlett of that city has discovered
wonderful ancient book. Ii is described as being
written on parchment and hound in wooden covers,
and tho doctor thinks it must have been written
between the first and fifth centuries" Ii is not
necessary follow the speculations of the Chicago
discoverer concerning the importance of what the
book contains inasmuch as what he says about the
volume conclusively proves it to be by no means
ancient Between the first and fifth centuries
books were made in the form of rolls Parchment
was not used much before the seventh century,
and did not into at all general use for literary
purposes until the ninth century. Books made of
parchment leaves and bound in wood are AS a rule
not earlier than the tenth century. But it is int
possible that such volume as is described by DIR.
Bartlett should be what he supposes 1t to be, and
it is not little remarkable that any one at this day
should fall into so strange blunder 1t is curious
also that the doctor fails to state in what language
the book is written.