Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-02-22
MEN ANDTHINGs AT WASHINGTON.


and there are great many respectable
people who will not be sorry if he sue
ceeds. Education is very desirable, and
it should be made as free as the air we
breathe, but the proposition to make
the general government the especial
guardian of the uneducated is at least
something new, and meets with we'll
grounded opposition in both political par
ties. A great many able lawyers declare
that Mr.. Blair bill is unconstitutional,
and. if this view is correct, it would GER
tainly be very desirable that the measure
should not become law. This bill pass
ed the Senate by fair majority last
winter, and it would probably have
passed again if Mr.. Blair had promptly
brought it to a vote and not inflicted up
on the Senate and the country a speech
which not only contains nothing new
but which is tedious and wearisome in
the extreme.
The Committee on Ways and Means
have still under consideration the tariff
bill framed some weeks ago, and the
promise is made that it will be reported
to the House at an early day. This meas
ure is one of great importance to the
country, and which is destined to have
an important bearing upon the fortunes
of the republican party. The republic
cans declared it their purpose during the
last presidential campaign to revise the
tariff upon protection lines, and the coun-
try must not be disappointed by the fail
ure to fulfill these pledges. 1t is impos'
sible to predict with any degree of GER
tainty in what direction the most impor-
tant reductions will be made. but it is
clearly sound policy to reduce, if not to
entirely abolish, all taxes upon the neces-
Saries of life, and impose the burdens of
government upon the luxuries of life.
Many millions Of dollars are annually
collected as a tax upon sugar, imported
into the country for the double purpose
of raising revenue and of protection to
the sugar industries in the south. Sugar
is one of the articles of daily consump-
ton, and we have demonstrated our in
ability to produce more than about ten
per cent. of the necessary supply, conse-
quently, it would seem to be wise
measure to largely reduce, if not to en-
tirely abolish, the tax upon this article.
II it is deemed important to foster and
encourage the manufacture of beet su-
gar, bounty could be given and thus
stimulate new branch of agricultural
industry, and thus afford double relief
to the much oppressed farmer. The
democrats, for the first time III many
years, haye distinct national policy,
| formulated for them by Mr.. Cleveland.
and the most elfectual way to prevent
this political movement from assuming
dangerous proportions is for the repub-
| licans themselves to make such reduc-
tions in the tariff as the progress of time
and the changed conditions of business
anc commercial affairs have rendered
expedient. 1t will not do for the Re-
| publican leaders to shut their eyes to the
fact that laws affecting the tariff need
modification and revision, and that
changes are rendered necessary by the
changed conditions of the country. Il
the republicans make the necessary re-
auctions, and we believe they are wise
enough to do SO, the democratic platform
in the next presidential platform will be
about as meaningless as those formulated
by that party in recent years.
Congress, having provided itself with
brand new set of rules, has gotten
down to work, and business is moving
along quietly and serenely. and in mark
| ed contrast TO the wild and tempestuous
scenes which prevailed there but q few
| days ago. 1t IS discovered that Speaker
! Reed has not overthrownth the liberties OF
his country, and that the constitu
ton is still intact. The noise made by
our democratic friends was a good deal
on the school boy order, and outside OF
a few democratic newspapers, was view
ed with feeling Of indifference. Under
the democratic regime the House had
virtually abdicated it's function as 8
branch of the lawmaking power, and
| instead of looking to majority respon
sible for legislation we daily witnessed
the House in the virtual control of Hol'
man and Kilgore; two narrow minded
men. of dwarfed intellect, and totally
deficient in any of the qualities neces'
Sary to make a useful member of Con
gress. When we witness the antics OF
these two men, and reflect that they art
sent to Congress year after year we are
puzzled to know what degree of iptelli
gence or common sonse prevails among
their constituents. If the democrats
should secure control of the next House
we shall watch with interest to SCI
whether these two men are again restor
cd to virtual leadership on the democrat
ic side.
At the intersection of Fourteenth
| Street and Massachusetts Avenue stands
| the equestrian bronze statue of George
II. Thomas, seated upon spirited steed
with its head erect and noStrils extend
/ ed as if snuffing the battle from afar
I sits erect the manly and noble figure OF
one of the greatest Virginians. Unlike
! the vast majority of the citizens of his
native state he remained true to the I'm
1 ion when the tide of war and secession
rolled across the borders of Virginia, and
instead of following the fortunes of the
Confederacy. he drew his sword for the
cause of the Union. On the field OF
Chickamauga he saved the Union army,
and covered himself with imperishable
glory. Rosecrans, who was in command
of the army. met with defeat and fed to
Chattanooga whence he telegraphed to
/ Washington that his army was destroyed,
but Thomas was composed OF different
I material and. while Rosecrans was miles
/ in the rear, the brave Virginian with mis-
| veteran corps held the Confederate army
at bay and at nightfall was virtually a
victor. subsequently he met the able
and audacious Hood in front of Nash
/ vile and routed and DESTROYED his army
Amid all his achievements General
Thomas remained the same modest and
unassuming soldier, never Wanting his
deeds or asking promotion. His whole
ambition seemed to be to do his duty
faithfully and we'll. How strange it is
that Virginia has never laid one leaf of
laurel upon the tomb of this noble and
heroic son of whom the whole country
is so justly proud She cherishes, and
justly SO, the fame of Lee and jackson,
and claims for them the full need of
glory for doing their duty, while she
seems oblivious to the name and fame
of one who was the peer of either of them
as a soldier, and whose deeds, unlike
theirs, helped TO save the Union from
destruction. Virginia may continue I'M
willing to Include the name of George
Ii. Thomas among the Nations heroes
but millions of his countrymen for gener-
atoms to come will cherish his memory
and keep alive his undying fame.
q. w. z. BLACK.
Gz71EzE111Ez