Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-10-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Oct. II, 1886.

MT. OleFolduuS 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 " Presidents message"
1t is pretty we'll 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 mug
wumpian standpoint the coming
message will be a cheerful document !;
but not anticipate it. l wish, how
ever, to give the President little
advice on the subjuct of Geronimo.
The President, Gen. Miles, and his
school of military pundits, make a
great mistake in viewing Geronimo
from an international standpoint
and according him belligerent rights.
AT this season of the year, the
Government employee resident in
Washington goes home to vote;-
that is, provided he can get leave
of absence or is not afraid to eXer.
else the elective franchise under the
surveillance of his democratic boss.
Republican employees in the depart
ment here will not this year eXer-
else the political privilege of an
American citizen with their old time
unanimlty and freedom. The
reasons 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 Repub.
lican nominees will not be consider
ed an unobtrustive exercise Of their
right. Mr.. Cleveland's civil sevice
is supposed to politically emasculate
government employees, but it is well
known that members of his cabinet
and high government functionaries
are taking an interest in the pend.
ing 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 STANCE
to say, Mr.. Bayard, Goveror Hill,
Secretar Manning and other promi.
nent Democrats were there at the
same time, and they were consult.
ing. Coincidentally a mayor is to be
elected in New York, and unless
the antagonistic factions can be
harmonized, the mayor will be a
Republican and New York will beat
Cleveland in 1888. Perhaps by
unobtrustiye exercise of political
rights, Mr.. Cleveland means the
secret exercise in which he employs
his lieutenant Lamont.
| have herd from q very direct
source, an explanation of the very
close alliance between the Buffalo
phoenix and the sphinx, bis private
secretary. 1t is known that the
President consults Lamont more
than any one else. When Lamont
is absent, sick, or asleep, the admin
istration is paralyzed. AT some
future day it may he fifty years
hence there will probably be some
interesting posthumous publications
relative to the secret springs, the
ropes and pnllies 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.. Clevcland'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 advisor
OF the Presidents council chamber
was the mysterious little man who
appeared there only as his private
secretary.