Omaha daily bee., 1885-03-31
THE GUIllOTINE AT WORK
" Offensive PaTtEduS" RGSigning AID
Resigned by Special Request,
Progress Of the Political Revolu-
ton at theOapita
Great Reforms Under way-Mutter-
ing of the Mad TBrong-Interest-
ing Treaty Gossip, Past and
Present - The New
Philosophy.
Special Correspondence OF THE BEE.

Special correspondence OF IHK BKR,
WASHINGTON, d. G., Msrch 25.-When
the great Corlisu engine at the Philadel-
phia centennial exposition would start,
It's movement were very slow at first-its
revolutions few and far between-but
slowly gathering its strength Its mighty
power would ere long make Itself mani
fest to the waiting thousands, and all the
machinery of the building would be In
rapid motion. The political gulilotine
here moves very slow, too slow for demo-
cratic expectants, but Its vertical move
ments are slightly on the increase, and
when the axe does come down it Is with q
thud.
TWO MORE CONFEDERATE BRIGADIERs
ara invited to return and partake of the
fatted calf. Gov. Porter, of Tennessee,
has become assistant secretary of state.
He served through the war in the CON
federate army. Mr.. Atkins, also of Ten
nessee, the new comisaioner of Indian
affairs, was In the confederate army, and
also In the confederate congress. Do
they mot deserve the good
things of the land? Was not the
returning prodIgal drawn closely to the
paternal bosom, while the brother, who
had remained ~steadfast, tending the
hocks and herds, stood out in the cold
rain. Surely, such blessed forgiveness is
worthy of imitation by the apostles of
| Asl,,Na L. n ,lponn ollnrnnk
of Sam Randall; so is Malcolm Hay, the
new first assistant postmaster general;
these appointments clearly indicate the
presence of Mr.. Randall in very close
contlgulty to the dispensing power. 1t
is a matter that requires prompt atten-
tion, or there may be trouble. Speaker
Carlisle, Henri Waterhouse, q beg par
don, it Is Watterson, I believe hope he
will not shoot me for calling him Water
house,) and VIM. M. Morrison, of I'LL
nois, ought to call a halt, to Cleveland,
and demand a cessation of hostilities.
Revenue reformers and free traders of
the Watterson stripe are beginning to ask
1t the Pennsylvania protecttonlst, Ran
dali, is at the head of affairs, and controls
the ~dispensation of patronage.
THE AIR is MURhS
about Loulsvllle-it is even lurid in I'LL
nois; though the wrath is pent
up for the time, it cannot
long be smothered, and when
this political dynamite does explode, the
Irish dynamite explosion will be but the
bursting of Chinese fire crackers along
side of 1.-THE LIGHTNING will play along
the political eky, and the lament will
come "where, oh, where, Is the stareye
goddess of reform?" and the refrain will
answer back, "dying by the hand of
Sam Randall"
1t is pleasant to give credit whore
credit is due. The secretaries of war and
navy are taking hold of an evil which
has long afflicted those branches of the
public service. A class of officers have
succeeded, by enc means or another, In
working themselves into cushioned berths
which they have managed to retain for
years. Some of these officers, when they
rejoin their regiment, will need an in
PRODUCTION to it; while some of these
navy gentlemen, when they get to sea,
will hardly prove by practical observation
the difference between an Atlantic ocean
steamer and an ancient Missouri river
stern wheeler. These men
HAVE LED THE GERMAN,
daunced the launcers,p played tennis lawn,
served as ''best man, at swell weddings |
figured at s'teas' and ''kettledruming,"
conspicuously conspicuous at receptions
and s~oirees, lived so long in these at
tractlve positions of ease and luxury, with
little or nothing to do, that they have
to feel that their branches Of the
have no demand upon them, save
to draw their pay with monotonous regu-
They resort to political influences
to secure these soft places, and then to
retain them when secured. No class of
n resort more to political influence
than they; they know all the tricks of
the trade as well as ward politicians.
Even now, before any orders are issued,
they scent the danger and they or their
wlfes are rushing around the senators or
members, b%esseching them to so to the
secretaries and persuade them to exempt
their husbands from going to sea or to
the plains, e%xclaiming, "Don't let my
husband be sent to sea, or the distant
posts. have lived long here, you know
1 will die out In those horrid regions"
This evil
REQUIRES HEROIC TREATMENT,
drastic remedies, the knife and pruning
hook. If the officers, to whom l have
alluded, could be Topped off from the
service, it would be a blessing. In many
cases, 1t would open the way for promo
tlon to meritorlous officers, who have
served the country faithfully year after
year in forbiddlng regions beyond the
comforts and sweets of more favored
sections, fighting hostile Indians, and In
other hard service on the plains and In
the mountains. l know officers out there
who have grown gray In the service, who
have been there ten, fifteen, and perhaps
twenty years, and who are l~ieutenants
and captains still. l have always been a
f.iend OF the army and navy; always
voted in favor OF every message to pro.
mote their efficiency and we'll. being,
and the comfort of the officers and men.
Every one Will observe that my structures
do not refer to worthy officers. l have
so long been cognlzant of this evil that |