The Washington critic., 1888-03-10
"OLIVIA'S" COLUMN.
An Energetic Protest Against Con
gresham ThOmaSS Picture Bill.
MRS. CLEVELAND WILL VETO IT
Secretary ViIas's Late Ordcr-Our
old Postofficc Barracks.

cal use Ol the ShauOW Ol hef pretty lACci
for in what way can the Nation ascertain
without the pictures that in certain points
of beauty Mrs. Cleveland leads all the
rest2 Twas ever so, when n woman,
through no struggle of her own, floats to
the highest round in the ladder of fame,
the intuition ofan angel is requisite topin
her securely there
What harm can follow Mrs. Cleveland
or any other attractive feminine, If her
likeness can enable poor unfortunate to
turn an honest penny is il not the
daintiest compliment on one side and the
most exquisite charity on the other All
the other Queens to the manner born,
like Victoria, Augusta and Marguerite,
would not dare icopardiae their popu-
larity with the masses by such n ukasc,
but our American queens, of course, have
more bravery, If their judgment is not
quite so far-letched. If Mrs Cleveland is
left to work out her own problem with
out the interference of mcddling friends
her own marvellous tact, which, in her
case, amounts to talent, is sure TO carry
her over the thorns that are continually
appearing I'm the way. Let us look the
subject fearful as it is square in the face
PETT1CoATs IN POLITICS,
in one form or another, directly or indi-
rectly, has come to stay, and Mrs. Cleve-
lands portrait will necessarily be the
rallying flag TO whoopup the Democratic
"boys" to victory. VIII the young voters
march under the ca uptiyating countenance
of Grover when something Just little
sweeter is close by The two great par
ties are already engaged in marshalling
their forces; the "dickcring" and coquet-
ing is well under way, and in the midst
of the hub-bub Congressman Thomas,
with malice aforethought hurls a burn
ing brand, not into the enemy's
camp, but alas alas into his
own, What bird of evil omen is
Matching mt the White House. Gail
Hamilton declares that the fools are our
enemies, and the knaves our friends, be-
cause the latter keep us aware of our
danger whilst we are up and coming;
but the fools help us into the ditch be.
fore we are aware. Had Congressman
Thomas realized the value of Mrs. Cleve-
lands portrait in the coming struggle
would he have invoked the baleful
shadow of the law over that which, like
the air we breathe, or the water we drink,
costs so little and means so much? If
Mrs. Cleveland wishes to hedge her
popularity and build wall around il, she
has the divine right of the usual queen;
but for the rest of us loyal American wo.
men we don't want that protection. We
are "agin" that kind Of tariff now and
forever.
THE MORE PORTRAITS THE BETTER,
for they can do no harm and have been
known to do a great deal of good. The
likeness of good woman hung even in q
saloon reminds weakness ifthere is room
for thought, of a tender, loving mother,
or o heart-broken wife. In the prison it
lifts the mind to higher, better realms of
thought. Suppose the portrait is crude
and unfaithful to the original; its pure
spirit appeals to the lOwly, and to them
may exert the same influence as though
wrought in the highest form of art. The
time has come when the great masses are
taught by pictures more than letters, and
many mans reputation has suffered
more in the illustrated papers than all
| the editorials and scathing paragraphs
| combined. What way has Mrs. Cleveland
| of reaching the humble homes of the
| people except by the pictures of her at
tractive face. In the lowlv shelters there
| is no money to buy and no time to read
| the aristocratic newspapers. When the
| odious bill reaches the White House Mrs
| Cleveland will
| PROMPTLY VETO IT.
for we already know that the President
has said, because it is in the public prints
that he "never could manage woman.
| And now let him be thankful that he has
helpmeet, not only strong enough tC
take care of herself, but abundantly able
to carry her share of the political load
| This bill proves that Congressman Thomas
belongs to the Chivalry of another age
which recognizes woman on the happy
domestic throne with the strong arm
around TO protect and the biting win(
Ill Il .la1. ID
| aspect of affairs every true woman is will
the statesman heart and soul. But wher
are these heaven ordained altars an,
where are the strong arms? Alas alas
| The strong arms are up to the elbow
in the club house, and the homes of ou
| foreiathers have gone out of date. Tht
dawn of new civilization is upon u
when women must do the work Wills
the men pray.
THERE Is Plenty
for Congressman Thomas to do for on
cold and perishing bodies, whilst ou
likenesses can be left TO take care of the
own. He can do his part toward cqualiz
ing wages. He will not see man anC
woman standing side by side in th
Departments doing the same work, onl
more Conscientiously performed by tn
feminine, and allow the man to hay
$1,000, whilst the woman is paid Oul
$500. He will not see iayOritcs pro
NOTED far beyond their actual worth be
cause some public man has demanded II
He will not dangle local option in th
District and leave Us women out. But
coming back to our "hrst lady, we wan
Congressman Thomas TO catch hold o
his mischievous bill, for we cannot bea
to see one iota of Mrs. Cleyeland's laurel
in jeopardy. Her grace and kind heart
her exquisite tact and her almost super
human power, which enables her to d
the right thing at the right time, throw
q charm over united womanhOod.
HER TRIUNIPHs ARE OUR TRIUMPHs,
and if there IS one thing more than an
other with which we want to see he
crowned, it is with the respect, admird
tion, and love Of the working people am
when she wears these gems in her cor:
net she will find her jewels not tarnishe
by loss of station, but her name will lily
like very few of those who have occu
pied the same lofty station, but hay
passed ON to the eternal shore,
SECRETARY Villas.
When inquiry was made about thi
Cabinet officer of one who ought to know
having long been associated with hin
officially, he replied most emphatically
"lle is not only Secretary but master d
the whole Interior Department, and don
you forget IT,,
The new order, keeping the clerks O
their desks and preventing the prctt
Clcrkesses from prumeuading the hall
occasionally to break the terrible routin
of constant tugginG al their brains, seem
unusually severe, after the loose and loN
ing reins have rested SO lightly on prett
shoulders, whilst the official bit has rarcl
been used to saw pearly teeth and rub
lips; but the new Secretary realizes thi
he cannot serve two masters. Wit
the eagle eye of a business man II
sees his vast Department a long wa
behind in the work that should have bee
accomplished years ago lie finds hin
| sNlr cripnlpd I'm sbupp nprDrliuu tD tl