St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-01-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Jan. 18th, 1885.

which was first brought up eighty three
years ago, has passed both houses; ana
the Nicarauguan bill, which opens up
the widest and gravest possibilities, has
been debated. jefferson Davis ana
sTeeumseh Sherman have both revisited
the glimpses of the moon, and the sen
ate has voted to restore Ulysses ). Grant
TO his rank in the army. There was
considerable surprise expressed at the
fact that Democratic Senators voted
with the Republicans to restore Gen.
Grant, but more surprise will De ex-
dressed if the Democratic House shall
allow the bill to become law.
Human idolatry never reached a more
beastly depth than in it's worship OIL
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,
uortion of the press, and herd OF MIL
f;onaires dissolve in maudlin pity over
an example of spurious greatness to
which history furnishes no parallel.
There are decided objections against
restoring Gen. Grant to his rank III the
army, The last time he held power as
president of the United States, he used
IL TO disperse Southern legislatures and
to overawe opposition to the fraudulent
Reizure of the presidency by the conspl-
rstors of 1876. The Edmonds bill pro-
poses 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 dis
outed election, as in 1876, or like that
which occurred only last November.
How easy and how natural Chad anoth-
or than Arthur been in the White
Housed would it have been for Blaine
to summon Grant, as senior general, to
assume command. And with his name
and prestige, and the fanaticism OF his
-idolators, the crime and shame OF 1876
might have been repeated. History
never repeats itself, but folly and crime
are perpetual. These dangers may be
treated as trivialities, since they are
not imminent, but it will be the part OF
folly to make them even remotely pos
sible by placing Grant again in the
army.
There is a disposition on the Demo-
cratic side here in both houses to do
nothing at this short session except pass
4he appropriation bills. The remaining
days Of the session are SO few and the
apDropriation bills still to be considered
are 80 many that this postponement to
another Congress of all legislation will
be easy to accomplish.
It is not among the impossibilities
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 intervenes between the
election of Congressman and the begin
ming of their duties. This fact has fire.
nuently been commented upon as OPP
nosed to the spirit of our laws, and OBJ
iectionable. The election and the SER
vice should be brought nearer together,
either by spring elections, or spring SEES
.sions. There is certainly no reason
@hv Of two men elected to coordinate
public trusts at the same time, one
should enter upon Office on the fourth
of March and the other on the first
Monday Of the following December.
But apart from the abstract questions
involved, it will scarcely be disputed Dy
those at all e. miliar with the work now
,thurst upon Congress, that its ordinary
sessions are of inadequate length to en-
able it to cope with its legitimate bust
ness. It is true that much time is now
wasted, and that more would be ii the
sessions were longer, but that does not
argue that Congress should not give it.
self a fair chance to do its work.
The Presidents social duties have
kept him busy during the past week
and are likely to employ his evenings
FOR some time to come. He has aban'
1aoned all idea Of visiting the New Or
aelSns Exposition in an official capacity
and has SO informed the board OF man
ayers. He expects, however, to make
short visit to the Exposition after the
18th Of March, and then, OF course, he
will 90 as a private citizen. he nae
hoped to attend the Exposition during
the month OF FEBRUARY, and nad conse- 3: