St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-13

There is a limit to everything, and
thus it was the HARRISON adminiStra-
ton reached the point where Corporal
TANNERS self-assertiOn could no longer
be endured. as he was forced to
hand in his resignation. The corporals
erratic public career has been a literal
verifcatiOn of the old addage, Put a
beggar on horseback and he will ride to
the devil" And yet the burlesque
features of this political variety show
are not altogether on TANNER'S side.
He is a picturesque figure in politics, to
be sure, yet he does not appear in
more ludicrOus light than the admins
tratiOn itself In the first place, his ap-
pointment was simply deal in the big
game of bluff which the administration
had undertaken to play on the old sol
diers, and now that it has been beaten
atthe game, the attempt is made to throw
the Odium upon TANNER. During the
last campaign every Republican stump
orator arraigned the CLEVELAND adj
nnnistration on the charge of pursuing
a niggardly policy toward the old sol
diers. The Chicago platform rung in a
lot of the same sort of balderdaSh, and
the campaign was conducted very large
~ on this issue, with the result of sol
idifying the soldiers for HARRISON. In
his supplemented way. Corporal TAN
NER imagined that these Republican
professions of friendship for the old
soldier were sincere, and when he was
placed at the head of the pension bu-
l., - F-,IE Io
ises his party had made. And he did,
to the utmost Of his ability. His whole
course in the pension office, SenseleSs
and as eXtravagant as it has been, was
thoroughly consistent with the ante
election promises OF the Republican lead
ers. But that was not what the Repub-
lican leaders wanted. The promises were
not made with the expectation of being
fulfilled. They were made to catch
votes for HARRISON, and having served
their purpose. Pension Commissioner
TANNER was expected to slow up and
let the pension bureau run on the con-
SeTYative scale that Mr.. CLEVELAND
had established. But TANNER, being a
man of his own head, and by far more
honest than tie party leaders, took the
bit in his mouth and undertook to Sc
cure for the old soldiers all that had
been promised them. 1t was a venture
some thing to do, and he has paid the
penalty of his rashneSs. He was using
up the surplus too rapidly to suit the
purposes of the bOndh0lding syndicates
who are relying on the aid of the secre-
tary Of the treasury to speculate off of
the government. The presidents letter
accepting TANNERS resignation is
about as cool document as could well
be framed. The substance of it is that
TANNER may possibly not be a thief,
yet he isn't right sure of that, but if he
has any other virtue than honesty he
can't get certificate of it at the White
house.
Corporal TANNER will not be true to
his past history if he doesn't proceed to
make it uncomfortable for this admin
istration. lie is backed by the power
full Grand Army organization, and has
the active support of all the pension
agents in the country. From this time
forth there is TO be strife in the RepUb-
Iiean party, and it is going TO be bitter.
TANNERS gall and ALGER's barrel
form a dangerous combination, and one
that will be capable Of StreWing the
pathway of the HARRISON administra-
ton with thOFnS