Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1886-10-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18th, 1886.

w OCU. lStll3 lOOU.
Mr.. Cleveland's heterogeneous Cabi-
net is pulling itself together, and the
Administration, from chiefs of division
to Cleveland himself, is busy with the
literary medley that is called s'the
Presidents message" 1t is pretty we'll
known what he will say about the fl
nances, civil service, the army, the
navy, the fisheries question, the Cut
ting affair, and Apache atrocities.
Presidential messages are not in the
late Mr.. Greeley's classification of
mighty interesting reading" From
a Dlugwumpian standpoint, the COM
ing message will be cheerful docu-
ment; but sufficient unto the day is
the drivel thereof, and will not an
ticipate it. I wish, however, to give
the President a little advice on the
subject of Geronimo. The President,
Gen. Miles, and his school of military
pundits, make a great mistake in view
ing Geronimo from an international
standpoint, and according him bellig-
gerent rights. 1t may be that General
Miles, in order to arrest Geronimo in
his hellish pastime, promised him
wigwam in Lafayette square or the
presidency of the society for the pre-
vention of cruelty to children. Gen.
Miles should neverless have snuffed
out Geronimo's vile candle as soon as
the strategy of his promise entrapped
the fiend. Any deceit would have
been justifable to arrest his career of
murder and rapine. What would be
thought of the oriental casuist who
would argue that a man eating tiger
should not be slain because he had
surrendered his liberty through trap
baited with fresh meat? AS compared
with Geronimo man eating tiger is a
Christian and good Samaritan.
Atthis season of the year, the Govern
ment employ resident in Washington,
goes home to vote;-that is, provided
he can get leave of absence or is not
afraid to exercise the elective franchise
under the surveillance of his Democratic
boss. Republican employees in the
departments here will not this year
exercise the political privilege of an
American citizen with their old time
unanimity and freedom The reasons
are obvious. Their acting is marked
and noted by their democratic chiefs,
and while there has been no positive
inhibition, they are made to feel that
to vote for the Republican nominees
will not be considered an unobtrusive
exercise of their right. Mr.. Cleveland's S
sham civil service is supposed to
politically emasculate government en-
ployes, but it is we'll known that men,
bers of his cabinet and high govern
ment functionaries are taking an in
terest in the pending elections that
is by no means ''unobtrusive." Colonel
Lamont was in New York City during
the past week, for the purpose, it is
stated, of shopping for his wife; but
strange to say, Mr.. Bayard, Governor
Hill, Secretary Manning, and other
prominent Democrats were there al
the same time, and they were in con
sultation. Coincidentally a mayor is
to be elected in New York, and unless
the antagonistic factions can be har
monized, the mayor will be a Republi
can and New York will be lost tc
Clevelandlin 1888. Perhaps by unob
trusive exercise of political rights,
Mr.. Cleveland Ill cans the secret exer
else in which he employs his lieuten
ant Lamont.
l have heard from very direct
source an explanation of the very close
alliance between the Buffalo phoenix
and the sphinx, his private secretary
1t is known that the President consults
Lamont more than any one else
When Lamont is absent, sick, OF
asleep, the administration is paralyzed.
At some future day-it may be fifty
years hence-there will probably be
some interesting posthumous publica-
tions in relation to the secret springs,
the ropes and pullies behind the scenes
of this administration. The diaries OF
Col. Lamont, his wife, or of Mrs.
Cleveland may get into print. Some
members of Mr. Cleveland's Cabinet
may let the world know much that
they do not even like to believe now,
and it will be known then that the
shrewdest and most powerful adviser
at the Presidents council chamber
was the mysterious little man who
appeared there only as his private
secretary.
Mrs. Carrie White, President of the
Washington Territory Women's Chris