National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-03-21

A Breakfast Table Letter for President CleJe.

cause OF economy. and you have done away
with the extensive FREQ newspaper list OF the
white house In the name OF reform, and since
In addition you arc immersed in consideration
Of the weighty problems incident TO tho outset
Of your administration, II seems reasonable
that any medium which would convey to you
in condensed form n truthful account Of the
events and men pressing for your attention, an
unprcjudicod statement Of the public senti-
mcnt ougondored by your official acts, and
that would, In short, tell you each day in u
hall column or 40 more than you could gather
by spending hours In coming over Il lot Of
newspapers, could not well fail to be great
help to YOU and sure to be welcome.
1t will be the pleasure Of THE NATIONAL RE.
PUBLICAN to perform this convenient and in.
structive service for you. In an unselhsh and
helpful spirit you will be furnished for perusal
between "bites" at your breakfast table from
day to day valuable matters of information,
counsel, admonition, and, when occasion calls
for 1t, reproof Especially shall you be reliably
informed Of the shortcomings of those charged
with the execution Of your policies, 1t being
impossible that they are all animated with your
high aims.
So far everybody says you have done real
well individually. For instance, when the
people heard you came down stairs and went
to work at o'clock Of your first morning in
| the white house they were vastly pleased, and
the words "Icffersonian simplicity" went MUIR
muring through tho land In little breeze Of
congratulation. II don't matter that you no
longer continue TO do so. Your starting in at
on your first day was shrcwd thing to do,
and hereafter every voter in the country will
insist that you get up and go to work regularly
at each day. Your reputation for industry is
established beyond cavil or doubt
Necessarily, your intentions and your policy
are just now gagged by your action in regard
to appointments to Office No one now doubts
that you are sincerelyiu favor of enforcing the
civil.service law fairly. Curiosity is directed
| to a watchiul consideration Of the character Of
the men appointed by you, and to what degree
their antecedents may be considered a guaran-
tee that they will fairly and openly carry out
your views in regard to that law,
Public conviction says that Messrs. Bayard,
Endicott, and Garland will stand by the law
like little men. 1t says that Mr.. Lamar's in
| tentions are excellent but that his constitu-
tlonal indisposlon TO over-exertion will pre-.
vent him from exercising vigilance in seeing
that the law Is strictly enforced In his depart
ment. Mr.. Villas is credited with fair degree
| of belief in the efficacy OF the law, but too
much IN not expected from one who controls
the postotices. When you come to the Treas
ury Department, Mr.. President you are warned
that right or wrong public conviction says
you have some wicked partners therein
who wink gravely at each other when the
subject of your civll.seryice policy is NEIL
toned among them It's suggested that there
Is some quality In the air between Albany
and Coney Island that begets spirit of
irrcverence toward the civil.service law, and
that Messrs. Manning and Whitney have been
infected thereby to such degree that the law
is likely to be strained to the point of fracture
In their departments However, you will be
advised of this more fully at another time.
Your appointment of Mr.. Hay excites much
commendation. 1t is true some very excellent
Democrats who expected to be given the posi-
ton awarded Mr.. Hay entertain painful
doubts of the wisdom of your action, aud
think you display an undue inclination 10
seek out obscure and little known men upon
whom 10 bestow your favors, but then II Ia
not possible to please everybody you know.
Mr.. Hay is stanch protectionlst, and thus
suits the Republicans exceedingly well. lie
Is the friend of yourself and Of Mr.. Randall,
and above all of Mr.. Tllden, and the ingen
uity with which you have at once dcllcatcly
confessed the power OF the wizard OF Gray
stone helped Mr. Randall 10 another triumph
over the free.trade Democracy, and rewarded
your own friend through the appointment o.
Mr.. Hay, is truly matter for admiration.
The Higgins appointment must be source
OF embarrassment toyou, and TO your Secretary
, ofthe Treasury, though not for the same rea
sons, As a bit of news in connection with
this matter, 1t is fair to say to YOU that one OIL
the editorial staff OF this newspaper was in Q
Baltimore hotel the day before the merchants
= AZ.
stated there, in his hearing, that their com
, mi,tee would go to the President, and by 10
curing the removal OF Higgins, break dowr
German, and make ox-Mayor Whyte his sue
cessor in the Maryland senatorship. Thlsssem
to show that other elements than the love o
virtue enter into the fight against Higgins
We do not propose to advise what should b.
done In his case, but will help you by shed
ding light in all the dark places. We simpl,
wish to converse with you in q free, easy
truthful sort of way, Mr.. President, and Il
facts worthy Of your attention come to GU
D knowledge to transmit them to you.
: 1t is noticeable that some of your cabine
s have taken to walking to make political CAPT
tai. Now, Mr.. President, II won't work. Eael
, Of them draws $1,000 salary year. That 1
about $3.50 for each working day or say So. 6
fer each working hour. They are paid thi
money from the taxes exacted of the people
and the latter have right to seven hour
/, honest work in return. But you can readl
see that at least one of the seven hours vii
: be lost in walking to and from cabinet meet
= ings alone And then, Mr.. President Wash
ington is place Of manifold attractions. 10 tn
: pedestrian every square and street corne
: holds out temptations to loitOr. Cabinet min
: listers are but human after all, and subject /
If a ~.
other men, and 1t stands to reason that /
their peregrlnations to and fro they must sto
as other men do to engage in friendly greeting
or to look in a brilliant show window, or t
o coyertly admire the pretty women that no
s throng our sidewalks drawn out by the sprin
n sunshine, or mayhaps to take u drink or
i. cigar. II is useless TO enumerate. RoAeclio
- will demonstrate that this walking deviC
will consume at least two of each day
seven working hours. Thus the poop
i will DO paying each Of your cabint
d members over 81 per day for walking, Nj
d President, there is no economy in it, The r.
d publlcans found out by experience that 1t wa
n money in the peoples pockets to provd
horses and carriages so that these otiicia
. could come and go with speed, lbe saved froI
the temptations of the streets, and give thei
J. whole time to the duties of their Offices an
j. then there is bad weather. danger Of wet fee
b colds, and what moi Better order them 10 g
, their carriages back and drop humbug.
a Enough for a day. Some matters touchin
Tammany's needs and other items OF real II
i terest Will be conveyed TO you in due tim
y Yours, in spirit OF counsel
o NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,.
a --------d1a-
a AN official report Of the directors
"a tho Paris Municipal Laboratory makes son
! very interesting disclosures out Of ninet