The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-10
CREAM OF THE PRESS.
YESTERDA Y'S PUACEyT PENS on
POINTED TOPICS.

The "TribuDe' on Lsmsr-SherIDan's Free
List-A Gem From the Message-Pacihc
RaiIroads-Msrk Twain on Pook steal
ing.
Mr. Lamar will retire from the Interior
Department TO morrow, and unless the
Senate confirms his nomination TO the
Supreme Court bench his career in the
public service, which began in 1872, will
then be closed. AT least for some time to
come. His resignation. as Secretary OF
the Interior was sent TO the President
and. accepted on Saturday. Probably
this action on Mr.. Lamar's part Will he
generally regarded rs evidence mat he Is
certain OF favOfble treatment at the hands
of the Senate. That question, however,
i far from decided. In our Washington
dispatches will be found interviews with
five Senators who have been represented
as inclined to vote to confirm Mr.. Cleve-
lands unfit nomination. What these
gentlemen say will be read with pro-
found interest. Mr.. %StOckbridge an.
nounces that he viii certainly vote
against Lamar, and Mr. Sabin expresses
entire willingness TO abide by the caucus
decision. Mr.. Jones is noD-cOmmittal,
and Mr.. Stewart, is colleague, has not
vet made up his mind, Mr. Sawyer re-
CARDS Mr.. Lamar a. broad minded and as
possessing qualifications for a iudgeship.
1t will be seen that the question of con-
firma,ion is an open one.-N \ Tribune.
Mr.. Sherman, it Is true, says that he is
ready 10 unite with the President in put
ting on the free list anything now taxed
that cannot he produced in America. If
this promise be taken literally, ii amounts
20 nothing, because there is almost
nothing imported from other countries
that cannot be produced here if mOney
enough is expended upon it. If ii means
that nothing shall come in free that can
thus be produced, it involves practically
prohibitOry duties for all products, which
is absurd. But il the promise be a rea-
sOnable and sincere one, why has it not
been already carried out E; 1t is nothing
new. Mr.. Sherman made il years ago in
the Senate and on the stump, and has
often repeated il, but he has never lifted
"a manu- 10 illlili IT, IL III WIZ Nll''its
he would long since have secured the re-
peal Of the duty on carpet woods, which
are not produced here save incidentally 4;
of the duty on lutte, which has no footing
i'm the agriculture of the country on tin
plates. which are not and cannot be made
here at any price that can fairly be paid
on nickle, which is in the hands of a mo-
nopoly created by a p%rohibitory duty /;
on Russian iron, which has qualities that
no American iron has ever possessed on
all books in foreign tongues, on pictures,
plates, etchings, and works of art, which,
in their nature, are impossible of produc-
ton anywhere than in the place of their
origin.-N J. Times.
The correspondence between the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Lamar is removed from the
ordinary routine Of public communica-
ton by the grace and d~elicacy of their
letters, and especially the tenderness and
appreciation shown in the letter Of the
President. We are reminded in their
tone of those between Washington and
Hamilton, as well as those between Jack
son and the men whom he trusted. To
have inspired so high a feeling in the
heart OF a man as r%esolute and perhaps as
severe as Mr. Cleveland shows the pos
session by Mr.. Lamar of rare personal
traits OF LOYALTY which are the reserve OF
true character. Mr.. Cleveland in his
tenderness and sincerity shows the same
qualities l is this capacity for strong,
sincere friendship which gives the Presi-
dent 20 nrm a hold upon the public heart.
The people like a man who can feel like a
man y. y. Herad
When an attempt is made TO justify a
scheme which permits a tax to be laid
upon every consumer in the land for the
benefit of our manufacturers, quite be-
vond a reasonable demand for govern
mental regard, it suits the purposes of adj
vocacv To call our manufactures infant
| industries, still needing the highest and
greatest degree of favor and fostering
care that can be wrung from Federal
legislation.-PresideA Ceoelands Message
1t is asserted that the Government can
DO nothing legally TO save itself in the
matter of the Pacific railroads until the
maturity of the debt, some ten years
hence, unless the companies elect to ac-
cept whatever proposition may be made.
That is, the interest account must con
tinue to accumulate and the security
where it has not disappeared already
grow weaker until the time nominated
in the bond" has arrived, if the corpora
tons so determine.
There is a difference of opinion on this
| ooint. Commissioner Pattison certainly
thinks that there is "a way to put an end
to the bad business reasonably soon, or
he would not have recommended that
course in his report. Supposing that he
is not mistaken and that there il such a
wav, where would be the injustice in re-
curing those who think that the Union
Pacific can provide for its debt to take
the further risks instead of the Govern
mentY If the latteI's security is good for
ANYTHING these believers ought TO be
willing TO pay something for it. The
blanket mortgage might be sold for what
ever it is worth and the Government,
pocketing the necessary loss, be released
from any further trouble in the matter
Y. ". World.