The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-01-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
wAcurNdrnN Jap IQth 1875


During the past week the debates and acts Of
Congress have touched a variety of subjects. The
French Spoliation bill, which was first brought
up eighty three years ago, has passed boil houses
widest and gravest possibilities. has been deba-
ted. Jefferson Davis and Tecumseh Sherman
and i the Senate has voted to restore Ulysses s.
Grant to his rank in the army. There was con-
siderable surprise expressed at the fact that DEM
ocratic Senators voted with the Republicans to
restore Gen. Grant. but more surprise will be ex-
pressed If the Democratic House shall allow the
Human idolatry never reached a more beastly
depth than in its worship of Grant The country
does not owe as much to him as it does to hun.
dreds of others. But because he has lost his i'll
gotten fortune through stupidity and fraud, and
his wonderful health through prolonged dssipa-
ton. the Senate, portion OF the press. and q
herd of millionaires dissolve in maudn pity over
an example of spurious greatness to which hsto-
There are decided objections against restoring
Gen Grant to his rank In the army The last
time he held power as President of the United
States, he used 1t to dispense Southern Legisla-
lures and to overawe opposition to the fraudu-
lent seizure Of the presidency by the conspiraors
of 1876 The Edmonds bill proposes to place him
only ON the retired list of generals, but the Su-
preme 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 disputed cleo
last November How easy and how natural chad
another than Arthur beeniu the White House,
would IL 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
may be treated as trlvaltes, since they are not
imminent. but 1t will be the part OF folly to make
them even remotely possible by placing Grant
again in the army.
There is q disposition on the Democratic sido
here in both houses to do nothing at this short
session except pass the appropriation bills The
remaining days OF the session are 80 rev ana the
appropriation bills still to be considered are so
many that this postponement to another Congress
of all legislation will be easy to accomplish.
may be an extra session, and, for a number of
reasons, 1t need not be deprecated. AS 1t is now,
more than year commonly intervenes between
their duties. TINS fact has frequently been COM
mented upon as opposed to the spirit Of our laws
and Objectionable The election and the service
should be brought nearer together, either by
tainly no reason why of two men elected to CO.
ordinate public trusts at the same time. one
and the other on the first Monday of the following
December.
But apart from the abstract questions involved
@ be ~ snoss az
that its ordinary sessions are Of inadequate length
to enable it to cope with its legitimate business.
1t is true that much time is now wasted, and that
more would be If the sessions were longer, but
that does not argue that Congress should not give
itself fair chance to do it's work.
The Presidents soci' | duties have kept him
busy during the past week, and are likely to en-
ploy his evenings for some time to come. He has
abandoned all idea Of visiting the New Orleans
Exposition in an official capacity and has so in
formed the board OF managers. He expects,
however, to make q short visit to the Exposition
after the 4th of March. and then. OF course, he
will go as private citizen. He had hoped to at
tend the Exposition during the month Of Febru-
airy. and had consequently refrained from ex-
tending his engagements into that month.