The Washington critic., 1888-01-19
RICHARD II. SYLVESTER. -. Editor
wAsnINGTON. IN. 20. lsss.
PRAYER IN rUnLIc AFFAIRS.

PRAYER IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
The fact that the proceedings of the
Subsidy" Convention in this city
were opened with prayer the other
day strikes the New York EtcHiRg
Post as something very funny, and is
made the text Of semi-satirical,
scmi-humorous paragraph. Yet we
cannot see that there was anythingat
all ont of the way in DIR. Lconard's
imploration of 'the Divine guidance
in measures for the development of
American shipping" more than there
would be in his praying that the earth
might bring forth her increase, or the
desert blossom as the rose.
Says our esteemed contemporary;
Taste In prayer Is not proper subject for
newspaper criticism, and II must he said for
the Rev Or. Leonard that IL he consented to
pray at business convention at all, he was
hound to remember business In his supplica.
tons. what improsses us most Is the fine
opportunity that the reduction OF the surplus
affords for variety in prayer at the National
capital The wool men had convention the
other day II must strike them now as a
great oversight that they did not have their
proceedings each day opened with prayer.
There might have been prayer one day for
carpet. wool and another day for clothing
WOOL and another for worsteds aud so on.
Presently we shall have conventions repre-
scuting other interests threatened by the con.
dillon OF the surplus afording n fine
field for the Display ottalent among the clergy
of Washington city.
We do not know what views Dr..
Leonard entertains upon the Ameri-
can shipping question, nor did he in
innate what they were in his suppli-
cation, but we will venture the opin-
ion that he is more in favor of plant
ing the seas with American flags than
he is of letting American commerce
go to ruin, even if il becomes necessary
TO apply little of the Treasury sur
plus in the shape of bounties to build
il up.
Evidently something has got to be
done to restore our lost prestige, and
as every effort in this direction for the
past twenty years has proved an in
glorious failure, it may prove that
prayer was the one thing lacking TO
success. 1t will certainly be so con-
stfued should Congress see fit in its
wisdom to adopt the liberal policy of
subsidies which the Shipping League
recommends. Then will the free
trade scofrer of the E'tening Post be
covered with confusion as he properly
should be.
1t might be well-it would at least
be economical and safe-to try the eX-
pertinent of prayer in other public
matters. AS our contemporary sug.
gests, there is "a fine field" not only
here, but elsewhere, for prayerful con
sideration. Most of all do politicians
and political hobby riders need pray
ing for, who are continually harpinG
upon Surplus and Subsidy, as though
they were twin evils, fraught with
moral and financial ruin, and pa
rading them before the people like
scarecrows, to frighten off the honest
urgent, broad-gauged Legislation
which the commercial interests of the
country demand.
What is wanted is a rational, no
radical diminuton of the one, t.
better comport with the needs of thC
Government and judicious distribu
tion of the other, SO that, while oui
lands may continue to yield of thei
abundance, our seas may not &c
utterly barren.
WE ARE NOT worrying ourselves
over the penny-postage question
Every letter that goes from this oflic
is one sent anyway.
TIE DIRECT TAX BILL went through
the Senate yesterday with whirl-
2S Republicans and 20 Democrats sup
porting the measure, and Demo
Gratis and ) Republicans opposing ii
Not much of party question, aI
parently. Mr.. Morgan regards it as
measure Of peace and reconciliation
The less sentimental view taken of
by Mr.. Sherman is that il will adius
without difficulty n serious complica
ton of accounts between the Govern
ment and several Of the State,
Probably none of the States viii kic
against taking the money.
WorLp the President be so "dea
against" protection if the Republican
and Mr.. Randall put the blizzard
manufactured in Manitoba on the lis
of dutiable goods at 1000 per cent. q
oaiorcn and ten times that mucl
specific duty?
Mr.. ARBUCRLE may find consolatio
in the fact that while he may hay
strained at a gnat he did not swallo'
Campbell.
They ARE GOING to have big mil
tary prize-drill at Austin, Tex, neN
May. If the managers are short 0
points they can get a few by applies
ton to the managers of the late M
tional Drill in Washington, or Of tn
late international Encampment {
Chicago.
1lE FonTY-fmsr Kentucky Reg
ment, u. $. V. I.--or what death h,
left Of it-has discovered after twent,
two years Of patient research and il
quiry that il has never been mustere
out of service, and is now moving
have the Government pay it for n
incaleulablc service it has renderC