The Washington critic., 1886-02-17

the whole Country--and not a mere an.
nivcrsmy commcmoration or holiday |
festival. Let the country celebrate, rs |
II may, the four hundrcdth year of the |
discovery of America by Columbus, |
but the Washington Exposition should |
stand not upon the order of any such |
festivity or be governed by any such
tIansitory consideration. With proper
energy and effort II can be given shape
and put well under way by 1883. Why
wait upon 1892
Now THAT the news correspondents
and writers are busy about what Presi.
dent Cleveland will do regarding the va.
cancy in the army, caused by the death
Of Major General Hancock, it may not
be Inappropriate to say that Brigadier-
General Oliver Otis Howard is the
senior in this grade, but it is unlikely
that he will receive promotion. Terry
comes next and is followed by Crook
ana Miles General Terry was specially
commissioned to his present rank by
President Lincoln, January Is, 1865.
and MaiorGcnera of volunteers the
same day also by special commission),
for the capture of Fort Fishcr-ihc
same fight that made Porter yicc.ad-
miral of the navy. General Terry will
most probably he promoted to succeed |
General Hancock For the promotion
TO Brigadicr General, President Clcyc.
land has a very wide range, NS
he Is only restricted by the require.
mcnt that he must make his selection
from the commissioned officers in the
army. This might be broader still as
he could promote to-day man from
the ranks, or appoint a man from civil
life, and tomorrow dppoiW him a
brigadier-gencral. He might If he
would, appoint Greely's brave sergeant
Brainard a lieutenant to-day, and make
him brigadier tomorrow This last
suggestion is Hypothetical; but If such
thing occurred, no one would raise a
word of objection. But there are
many on the lists of the army, whose
names arc part of the nations war his
tory, and among them are Generals
Edward Hatch and Wesley Merritt of
the cavalry, Romeyn b. Ayers, IIoratio
Gates Gibson and John C. Tidbell of
the artillery, and Wilcox, Ruger,
Charles H. Smith. Kautz, Frank
Wheaton, Brook, McCooli, Gilbert and
Carlin. All Colonels now, and in the
direct line Of promotion This is not
intended even as dinner table letter
to the President, but when he reads
this-and he always does read The
CRITIC-hc will sec what splendid tim
Der he has at hand TO build up what
might be called the roof of the army.
Is the convention of women who
meet in this city today there is great
amount Of brains. These ladies are
honest in their endeavors to secure the
ballot for their sex and do not agitQtc
for the simple sake Of agitation and its
accompanying notoriety. They dis.
cuss questions with an intelligence and
an acumcn that are but too frequently
absent from the pages of our esteemed
contemporary, the COagresSioRal Record.
IT has been said that if they would de.
vote themselves TO extending the field
in which women can make compe.
tent and honorable support they would
accomplish much more good. But the
effective answer to this is that the
widening Of the sphere of womanly
avocation is in a great measure due to
their persistent efforts for the elective
franchise. Whether the latter is
privilege TO be desired, we have cur
doubts, but that the prerogative once
acquired would be wisely exercised we
are free 10 ad init. AS a general rule,
woman is on the right side,
SECRETARY MANNING has sent TO the
House communication which deals
very voluminously with the subject of
the tariff. He reiterates the general
ideas contained in his annual report on
that subject. In other words Mr.
Manning wants an enlargement of the
free list, n prudent substitution of
specific for ad valorem rates of duty,
thorough revision and change of the
existing rates and system, and an eye
kept all the while to the fact that
substantial surplus in the Treasury is
mighty good thing. The Secretary idea
is the New York idea. The celebrated
silver letter of the President was also
the New York idea about the currency.
If il has had any great effect on Demo.
cratic craftsmanship in Congress we
have not noticed it. Congress has an
idea that in legislative matters it is the
controlling branch of the Government.
Jedce WaXem is decidedly of this
opinion, and says that the Administra.
tion might as well learn once for all
that 1.-The House has some pcrrogatives
Of its own. D."
THE Attorney General says he does
not intend TO resign, but that after the
House has finished its investigation of
the telephone business he will take
steps to meet all criticisms upon his
connection with the Pan Electric con.
Germ in a way that cannot fail to secure
, the appreciation of those who really de
sire to be satisfied What these step,
will be he does not make definitely
known, but he is n man who alway,
makes good his promises.
i Now THAT the Administration ha
10 told the Senate II can have all tht
. reasons for removals except those Of {
confidential character, will Senators
@ sherman and Eimunds now demand
@ that the confidential reasons be alsC
II submitted in order that the Senate ma,
j. decide if they really are confidential ?
% Tn svpIETss no that ro,,, ,o,,,o,.l.