Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-11-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2. 1885.


vote or not vote. President Cleve-
land votes. Both he and part of
his Cabinet have dropped the duties
and trusts devolving upon them and
have gone to their homes to ex-
ercise their privileges as citizens.
In the closing hours of the con-
test for political supremacy in the
State OF New York, the frightened
Democracy appealed to the Admin.
istration for aid. The President
sent his check for $1,000, and said
he intended to go to Buffalo to vote.
Secretaries Manning and Whitney
and Col. Lamont did likewise. The
propriety and wisdom of their lay
ing aside at this time the pressing
duties of Office to go home and vote
is a question to which the thinking
mind can only give one answer.
MI. Smith Of New York, who has
just been appointed to succeed Mr..
Coon as assistant secretary of the
Treasury, is a well known Democrat
ic politician of the Tilden school.
The appointment is admirably timed
SO far as relates to influence in a
State election. 1t would seem that
the State Of New York has a lien on
the important positions in the Treas
ury Department. 1t now has the
Secretary and his two assistants,
the Treasurer, the Solicitor, and
other prominent officials. Consider
ing that the Empire State has the
Presidency and the Secretaryship of
the Navy Department., it is not sur
prising that other states are dis
pleased with New York's patronage.
Whatever else may be said of this
last appointment civil service re-
formers cannot fail to note the time
and name of Mr.. Coon's retire.
ment, as well as that of the filing of
the vacancy.
DR.. Curry, the recently appointed
Minister to Spain, is called here
Minister pro tenn to Madrid. This is
because it is believed that he cannot
remain there permanently as U. S.
Minister. The Madrid papers of re-
cent date credit Secretary BayaId
with saying that the Cabinet of the
Spanish Government is NOT Catho-
lie. They speak of the ignorance of
the Cleveland Cabinet, particularly
that OF the State Department.
If you study the characters ap-
pointed to diplomatic and consular
positions by the present admins
tration, you will find them much the
same in one particular. They are
disappointed or worn out politicians.
In nine cases out Of ten they have
held public offices and their popu-
larity with their constituents has
waned, or they have been unsuccess-
full Office seekers. Most of them are
disheartened fellows. A record OF
the private and public careers of
every man in the service has been
kept at the State Department, and
the service might appropriately be
called the haven for blasted hopes.
The President Will now be COM
PEELED to appoint a new Marshal of
the District. Col. McMichael has
been anxious to get away for some
time and only retains his duties at
the urgent request of Mr.. Cleveland,
who promised to let him off by the
first of November. 1t is not posi-
lively known who will make the pre-.
sensations at all Of Mr.. Cleveland's
receptions, and be master of cere-
monies at the State dinners, but it
is thought Gen. Farnsworth of New
York will get the appointment. He
was on Mr.. Cleveland's staff while
he was governor, and is a close per-
sonal friend.
Washington is never without it's
social life, at any season of the year.
Indeed due attention to the ameni.
ties Of polite society with all it's ex-
actions, is Il Of the most important
industries OF the Capital. There
will be no formal entertaining at the
White House until after Congress
meets, and but little really until af-
ter New Year, for not until then
does the social season properly be-
begin. Still there will be much So
cial intercourse before that time in
Diplomatic, Cabinet, and Senator
ial circles. The Japanese Minister
has issued invitations for two large
dinner parties next week at the EN-
bassy on n. st. The first will
be given to the Cabinet, aud
the following evening the d.
plomatic corps will be entertain
ed.
The Presidents invitation to Office
seekers to stay away from the White
House Tor the next month causes a
great deal of distress and profanity
from the "kunnels," "majahsr and
"jodges" and from the whole class
at which the order was aimed. They
will have to tell their stories now to