The Washington critic., 1886-03-02
ABOUT THE SIZE OF 1T.

We do not think that the Govern
ment stands in any danger of war or
revolution by reason of the issue that
has been 50 sharply sprung between
the President and the Senate; but in
the name of the people we protest that
altogether too much time is being
squandered on it. The country is just
now in much more need of various
wholesome legislation than it is of
political distractions or questions of
constitutional prcrogative.
AS long as the crisis has been forced,
however, through the operation and
inspiration Of that stupendous hum.
bug, the Civil Service Reform law.
there is nothing for the people to do
but grin and bear it.
This law, which is thoroughly un-
democratic and fiji only to be repealed
at the earliest possible moment, in the
interest of free, popular institutions, is
responsible for the whole mischief.
Had it not been for the so-called reform
system the uncanny spectacle of Re-
publican Senate taking Democratic
President to task for making suspen-
sions and removals of Republican Of
flee holders had never been presented; /;
neither would Democratic admins
4-tration stand committed to law that
in the light of the last year expert
ence seems to have been enacted solely
for the purpose of hermaphroditing
the Democracy, so to speak, and ena-
bling the Republican party in the
meantime to spend whole Presiden-
tial term in laying traps for the pros
pective spoils of 'SS.
THE CRITIC has on several occasions
spoken of the appropriateness of a
memorial bridge across the Potomac
asa fitting method of commemorating
the memory of General Grant and
others of the country's illustrious
dead. This idea has been adopted by
Captain William Rennyson of Norris
town, who offers to give 81 1000 to-
ward replacing the old wooden bridge
across the Schuylkill at that place
with an iron structure, to be orna
mented with statues of Hancock
Slemmer and other distinguished Penn
sylvania officers. g..
THERE is no more important Office ii
the District than that OF the Recorder
of Deeds; none, perhaps, to which sc
large a responsibility is attached
There is probably no question ON Tho
part of the President, as there is Ger
tainly none on the part Of the citizens
of Washington that, this Office needs Il
DC filed by n man of the most thorough
business habits and qualifications. /
isa position on which no risks ought t.
be taken, and properly belongs to
resident of the District. The local De
mocracy not unreasonably hold tha
they arc entitled to it.
MoRE MONEY is needed before TIN
Bartholdi statue can be put on IT.
pedestal in New York IIarbor. Gen
eral Stone, the engineer in charge
says that $4,000 beyond the sum al
ready collected is necessary to noun
the statue, The pedestal will be com
pleted by the 18th of next April. Til
date of the unyeiling has not bee
fixed but 1t is suggested that 1t b
September 3, which is the anniversar
Of the signing of the treaty of Pari:
by which the colonies secured Euro
pean recognition of their indeper
dence.
IF the forecast given OF Mr. Glad
stones scheme In regard to Ireland
correct there seems TO be no reaso
why II should not prove satisfactory t
The Nationalist. The government |
10 furnish money for the purchas
Of land in Ireland by tenants, tn