Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1885-10-09
NUMBER 81.
WAsHfNuToS LETTRR.
From our rrsnl..r cerrrspnndcnt.l
WAsHISGToE, Oct. i, 1885,.

4
There has been scarcely ripple
70 break the political calm during
the past week. The hitter contests
waged III OHIO, Virginia ana New
York are not felt here. This Is unuSu-
al for It has been the habit of previ-
Gus administrations to throw them
selves into the midst of such con-
tests with all their patronage, pres
tige and influence. President Cleve-
land, however, has said that he will
take no active part in the state cleo
tions, and his cabinet have shown a
disposition to initiate his example.
But this refusal to enter the fray
must not be construed into any lack
| of interest in Democratic success.
/ 1t Is the belief of the president and
his constitutional advisers that they
have q work before them of the
| grandest scope, and that the cause of
true Democracy in state elections
viii be best promoted by the general
government In an example OF rigid
attention to the work that strictly
belongs to it.
The question % to who shall be
the saoeessor of Prof. Hilgard as SUI
lperintendent of the coast survey has
been the subject of mature consider
alton on the part of the president
ever since the first irregularities in
that bureau were discovered. There
are 50 many and such weighty inter-
ests involved that it was difficult
guestionlto decide who would be the
best man for the place. Itrequires
a man of good executive ability as
we'll as of eminent scientific qualifi-
cations. 1t appeared to the presi-
dent that these qualifications were
united in the person OF Prof. Alex
ander Agassiz, and he accordingly,
through the secretary of the treas
ury, wrote to him asking him to as
sumo the superintendency of the
coast survey bureau. Prof. Agassiz
was the choice Of the president him
self. No one recommended him
for the position, but his selection was
the result of a desire of the admins
tration to secure the services of the
very best menpossible and as arecog-
milton Of his eminent scientific attain-
ments. It is understood that in the
letter the president sent to the pro-
fessor he strongly urged him to give
the country the benefit Of his knowl-
edge in the practical manner which
would be open to him through the
bureau were he to accept the super
intendency. Prof. Agassiz IL man
of large wealth and influence and one
of the most prominent scientists in
the United States. He is son of the
late Prof. Louis joan Rudolph Agas-
siz, the great Swiss naturalist and
geologist, who took mp his residence
in this country in 1848 and died here
in 1875. The son ably filed the
fathers place, and is authority on
most scientific subjects.
A party of district Democrats |
went to the White House last week |
and made strong appeal for the ap-
pointment of q fellow-cltizen to the |
office of recorder of deeds Ia the |
place of Fred Douglas. They had
no prejudice against Douglas on ac-
count of his color, but he was one of !
the most offensive partisans they ey-
er set eyes upon and ought to co..
The gentleman recommended for the |
place Is of old and aristoeratie con-
nections, of considerable influence
in Virginia and universally popular
in the district. He is in every way |
qualified and would perform the dn-
ties of the office so that honor would |
be done to the president and himself. !
Mr.. Cleveland is very familiar with |
this speech and hears it several times |
every day. He listens patiently for q |
while, then gets out of his chair,
pushes his big hands way down into
his pockets, and, wandering toward |
the Iibray windows looks down over
the Potomac fats In an abstracted
manner, then turns and asks inpuf-
sively,
"You think there ought to be a |
change in that Office p
Yes, SIR" replies the chorus.
"Very well; give me the name Of
a colored maa competent to ill il
and III appoint him to-day
The silence that foilowa Is painful.
Tne president retntns to his desk
and commences to read some letters
that lay open before him. The del
egation consults together; It is easy
to see that their anxiety about > |
change is quenched, and explaining
to the president that they are not
prepared to recommend any colored
man that evening, file out of the Ii
brary and down the stairs.
@=-----=--
IT Is seldom that medicine is eff
f'cacious in such long last of de