Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
Turning From the Rising to the Setting
Sun-Coming Rvents-Society Snobs
Mad Rush for Garden Seeds
Inauguration Notes.
WAsHIyeToN d C. Jan 1s 1880

disposition OF the average citizen &c
worship the rising rather than the set
ting sun than the comparative indiffer-
ence with which the administration now
drawing to close is treated. The white
house IN these days is no more Mecca
for ambitious politicians, and, except
upon state occasions, very few other than
curious sight-seekers haunt it. Were it
not for the estimable and admirable lady
who presides over that institution, it is
probable that the public indifference
would be still more markedly displayed.
1t IS to this circumstance that the usual
reception on New Years day was this
year one of special brilliancy. There
seemed to be a general desire to pay
particular respect to the kindly and
queeniy parsonage, who, for the last
time, was the presiding genius of the
occasion. And it has been generally
remarked that on no one of the many
occasions upon which Mrs. Cleveland
has greeted the public has she appeared
more attractive or met her thousands of
admirers with more cordial geniality.
The existing cabinet, too, shares in the
general decadence, and in these days
considered of very little consequence
Of some of its members this might truly
have been said at any time during their
incumbency. Especially is this true of
the nominal head of the cabinet, of
which such great things were expected.
There is no doubt that Mr. Bayard is a
gentleman of high character and many
a mil clar 10
was leader more than worthy of his
party. In the cabinet, however, he has
been a distinct and lamentable failure;
and this fact is generally recognized as
well by his particular friends as by his
opponents. The Democratic party is
made up of such material that they do
not look with complaicency upon what
they call the ''silk stocking" clement;
and in their estimation it is rather dis
advantage than an advantage to man
to have an ancestry to boast of. In a
word, Mr. Bayard is too much of a gen.
tleman and too little of a practical poll
tician to suit the tastes of the masses of
the party of which he is the nominal
leader.
But the greatest failure of all is the
blue-blooded Endicot, from Massachu-
sets. This gentleman had scarcely any
thing to recommend him to the consider
alton of the Democratic party except the
fact that he had once accepted the nomi-
nation for the governorship of his own
state and had been, of course, signally
defeated. There was an absurd impress
sion abroad, however, that the fact that
his descent was clearly traceable from
colonial times, and possibly still farther
back, might be expected to shed some
artificial luster over his official career.
On the contrary it has been serious
handicap and has hampered him at every
step. There has been SO much of red
tape about his management of the office,
and such parade of ancestral and fam
lily dignity, that the great ''unwashed'
have felt their gorge rise whenever his IL
lustrlouS name was mentioned.
Ii the setting sun has few worShippers.
it would be impossible to number the
throng whose faces are turned toward
the east long before the first beams of
the coming orb are visible. 1t is proba-
bly, true that this country never saw
madder rush for the loaves and fishes
than there will be upon the incoming of
the new administration, and the most
careful calculator can scarcely estimate
the number and burden Of the disap-
pointments which are sure to follow.
Nothing can be more evident than that
the first days and months of the new adj
minist ration will be prolific in COM
plants; for it will soon be found impos-
sible even to make respectable begin
ming in checking the clamorous pursuit
of the greedy for Office. Besides, how
hitfar rho of ha n
may be, it is no doubt true that the spirit
of civil service reform has not been
uuenched, but will be nurtured into still
more vigorous existence by the admins
tration OF President Harrison. This re-
form will be of genuine character and
not the pretentious but sham article to
which the present administration has
treated the country. Moreover, General
Harrison will be bound to make haste
slowly in changing the personnel of the
various offices, and consequently many
a heart now bouyant with hope will be
with disappointment before
the summer shall have come around
again.
Next to this abnormal appetite for
public Office is the Unsuitable greed for
garden seeds with which the farming
Of the country are annually |
afflicted. The time Is near at hand |
when the demands of this char |
acter will begin to flow in upon the |
overburdened congressman from nearly |
every section of our beloved country. /
1t is curious to note how, what was in |
tended Tor really beneficial purposes has |
grown into an abuse of no mean proper !
lions The original idea was to select |
the choicest varieties OF seeds, and, bv /
their careful distribution among those |
who would give them an intelligent and /
thorough trial. accumulate such data as |
would rebound largely TO the best inter |
ests of agriculture. Now. however, it |
las become SO that thousands and tens !
IF thousands Of families depend upon /
securing their annual supply of vegetable /
and flower seeds from the beneficence of !
Uncle Sam, without the slightest idea of /
making any return therefor There is |
10 more reason why the government |
should furnish seeds for people to plant, |
han there IS why they should be furnish I
d shoes or school books for their chilli /!
en.
Possibly, when the new department of |
agriculture shall have come into full /
operation, with a cabinet officer at its /
mead, this and kindred abuses will be /
but it Is more possible that /
hey will be still further fostered and /
strengthened. In fact this very erection |
IF department exclusively in the inter I
ssts of particular pursuit. however I
will be likely to breed jeal- /
)usIes and discomfort, and the time may 4
,ome, and that before very long, when 1
)ther branches Of industry will, with /
great if not equal propriety, demand |
similar recognition.
We are now In the very heart OF /