Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-10-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

MI. tlc"elduu heterogeneous
Cabinet is pulling itself together,
and the administration, from chiefs
of division to Cleveland himself, is
busy with the literary medley that is
called the "President's message"
1t is pretty well known what he will
say about the finances, civil service,
the army, the navy, the fisheries
question, the Cutting affair, and
Apache atrocities. Presidential
messages are not in the late Mr..
Greely's classification of "mighty
interesting reading" From a mug
wumpian standpoint the coming
message will be a cheerful docu-
ment; but sufficient unto the day is
the drivel thereof, and | will not an
ticipate it, / wish, however, to give
the President little advice on the
subject of Geronimo. The Presi-
dent, Gen. Miles, and his school of
military pundlts, make great mis-
take i'll viewing Geronimo from an
international standpoint and accord
ing him belligerent rights. 1t may
be that Gen. Miles, in order to arrest
Geronimo in his hellish pastime,
promised him a wigwam in Lafay-
cite square or the presidency of the
society for the prevention of cruelty
to children. General Miles should
nevertheless have snuffed out Geron-
imo's vile candle as soon as the
strategy of his promises 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 man eating
ii ger should not be slain because he
had surrendered his liberty through
trap bated with fresh meat? AS
compared with Geronimo man
eating tiger is a Christian and good
Samaritan.
At this season of the year, the
Government employe resident in
Washington goes home to vote; that
is, provided he can get a leave of
absence or is not afraid to exercise
the elective franchise under the sur
VIGILANCE of his Democratic boss
Republican employees in the depart
ments here will not this year exer-
else the political privilege of an
American citizen with their old time
unanimity and freedom. The rea-
sons are obvious. Their action is
marked and noted by their Demo
cratic chiefs, and while there has
been no positive inhibition, they are
made to feel that TO vote for the Re-
publican nominees will not be con-
sidered an "unobtrusive exercise of
their right" Mr.. Cleveland's sham
civil service is supposed to political
~ emasculate government employees,
but it is well known that members
of his cabinet and high government
functionaries are taking an interest
in the pending elections that is by
no means "uuobtrusive." Colonel
Lamont was in New York City dur
ing the past week, for the purpose,
it is stated, OF shopping for his wife;
but strange to say, Mr.. Bayard, Gov
crnor Hill, Secretary Manning, and
other prominent Democrats were
there at the same time, and they
were in consultation. Coincidental-
ly mayor is to be elected in New
York, aud unless the antagonisuc
factions can be harmonized, the
mayor will be a Republican and
New York will be lost to Cleveland
in 1883. Perhaps by "unobtruslve
exercise of political rights" Mr.
Cleveland means the secret exercise
in which he employs 'his lieutenant
Lamont.
l have heard from very direct
source, an explanati on of the very
close alliance betw cen 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, or asleep, the admin