The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-07-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, DC,
,June 90. 1885.

June 20, lOOO.
By the death of Hon. Richard T.
Merrick the Democracy of the coun-
try loses one of its most shining
and the Bar n Of its most
brilliant members. As an orator eth
er before q jury or before a promis-
cucus political audience, he has had
but few equals. In the conducting OF
q law suit either before a criminal or
q civil court, he was persistent to any
degree that could insure success, and
thinking that he was in the right in
the famous Electoral Commission, he
made a most powerful and %convinc
ing argument in favor of the claims
of Mr.. Tilden. MI. Merribk also fig
ured conspicuously in the Surratt
case in 1865, acting as his counsel
and securing his acquittal, and more
recently as prosecuting counsel in
the celebrated Star Route cases in
which the Government beat itself.
The peculiar ways of the admins
tration as conducted by Mr.. Cleve-
land, continue to be a conundrum
with those who fail to get what they
are asking for. Here vas the case of
Mr.. Fleming, of Kentucky, who came
endorsed by the best blood in the
State, from the Governor down, for
the Louisville District Attorneyship.
Besides he had both Senators and all
the Congressman from Kentucky to
intercede for him, but the President
ignored them all and gave the APP
pointment to Mr.. Wickliffe who had
neither backing nor party service to
commend him. or course MI. Elem
ing and his friends were much hurt,
and a new source Of evaporation
against the administration was thus
built up in kentucky for the time
being. However, in a few days, when
MI. Fleming was on a visit to Wash
ington, the President sent for him
and frankly told him that from the
inquiries he had made concerning his
capacity, that he thought that Mr..
Wickliffe would make the better Dis
trict Attorney, and that Mr.. Fleming
would make an excellent Associate
Judge of the Supreme Court of New
Mexico, and his commission was
made out instantly.
In the matter of nepotism III this
country, we must hide our diminish,
ed heads when We contemplate the
army of relatives of the counts, and
earls, and marauises, and other sci.
ons of royalty, who annually draw
from the people of Great Britain, to
add to their already huge possessions,
more than eight hundred millions oil
dollars. Indeed the appointments te
all lucrative positions under the Brit
ish Government are rarely conferred
on any who do not have some of the
royal blood in stock.
If a general sweep out of all the
Registers of all the local land offices
in the country is to give the Augear
stable of a past administration a per
feet cleansing, as Mr.. Sparks propos
es, what will be done with the Re
ceivers of the same land offices? Oh
are they a class Of public officials il
whom there is no guile? Mr.. S. him
self having been one of them?
1t is really to be hoped that The
civil service equine which u new
administration is riding with q fee
rein, may not stumble in the frs
heat and before the race between thu
ms and outs is fairly on. To be sure
the quadruped is already afflicted
somewhat, but when we remembe
that rough usage is apt to produc'
spavins, string-halt, and other acces
series that conduce to an early de
mise, we beg that the horse may no
be compelled to appeal to the S. Z
T. P. o. C. T.. A. for protection.
PHoNo.