Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-03-08
MEN AND THINGS AT WASHINGTON.

The Pan-American Congress, having
had an extended iunketing tour through
out the north and west, now proposes to
take in the Southern States. A good
many sensible people here ridicule this
performance. inasmucll as they regard it
in the light of grand blow. out at the
expense of the United States treasury
rather than commercial or business
arrangement. 1t is altogether unlikely
that the South American states will be
influenced by few dinners, in changing
their commercial arrangements. On the
contrary they are probably enough en-
lightened to know that business is gen.
orally conducted upon business princi-
pies, and that the merchants of South
America are likely to be influenced in
their commercial transactions by the adj
vantages which may be offered them in
the way of prices and transportation,
rather than in any appeal TO the stom-
acbs of few representatives whom they
have sent here at the suggestion of the
United States. The gist of the whole
matter is that the federal government
will have great bill to pay for this per-
Torrance without accomplishing any
thing further than to excite the laughter
of foreign nations.
Mr.. McComas has introduced bill in
the House which is designed to prevent
the Democrats from redistricting so as to
preserve intact the present Congressional
districts until after the. completion of the
present census. This might all be very
well if it were not for the fact that the
Republicans have always INDUCED in the
gerrymandering business whenever op-
portunity offered, and it seems like
very small business for Congress to now
step in and prohibit the Democrats from
doing what Republicans have been in
dulging in for many years past. The
proposition is one which smacks not only
of politics but of politician in a very
narrow sense, and it is to be hoped that
there are enough broad minded Republi-
cans in Congress to squelch this matter
in the committee and save the party from
being placed in position which cannot
but bring ridicule upon it. 1t is true
that the business of gerrymandering con-
gressional districts has been carried to
such lengths as to bring reproach upon
both political parties, and while it should
be stopped, some different course should
be taken to attain that end instead of the
measure now proposed.
Mr.. Cleveland continues to keep him
self in the view of the public, as scarcely
a day passes On which he does not write
letter or make speech, and sensible
people are coming to the conclusion that
he is fast ranging himself beside the
dealers in patent medicines who adver-
tise their nostrums upon the fences and
barn-doors. Mr.. Cleveland has always
been given credit for possessing a good
deal of sagacity, but if he keeps on his
present course he is very likely to lose
this reputation. The people of the Unit
ed States entertain a high opinion of the
office of chief magistrate and the custom
of the country has made it indicate for
any man to officiously advance his in
terests as candidate, and if the late
Democratic president imagines that he
can disregard this rule or abrogate it he
will probably discover that he is mistak-
en-. 1t is not out of place for man to
aspire to high position, but the rules Of
conduct to be pursued in attaining that
end are altogether different from those
adopted by Mr.. Cleveland.
West Virginia is gradually coming to
her own, as she now possesses two Re-
publican members of Congress and will
probably soon have third Hon. Geo.
w. Atkinson. of the Wheeling district,
has been given his seat, much to the sat
isfactien of his many friends throughout
the state. He is we'll known for his
ability and courtesy. and he has never
yet been known to turn deaf ear to the
application of any deserving Republican
whilst his efforts can always be relied
upon to aid any party man who really
deserves support in his efforts to obtain
position.
The manner in which real estate has
been doomed in the city of Washington
in the last ten years is something remark
able, and the number of fortunes accu-
mulated make that business very at
tractive one AS an illustration of the
way property has advanced it was stated
to your correspondent a few days ago
that broker on street had sold for the
owner about two years ago square of
vacant property at two and a half cents
per foot, and recently resold it at thirty
seven and half cents per foot, having in
the meantime bought and sold the
same piece of property no less than
seventeen times. In the meantime no
improvements of any kind have been
made upon the property, and it naturally
follows that the same was very cheap at
the first sale, or is very dear at the last
one. The broker made handsome for
tune on the commissions received for
buying and selling this property to the
different persons during the two years
named.
1t has long been an accepted fact that
when man is elected president of the
United States it becomes necessary for
him to go into bankruptcy. This is
cial sense. There are SO many friends
and adherents to be rewarded, and COM
paratively SO little within the presiden-
tial gift that disappointments are neces-
sarily numerous and bitter. President
Harrison is not exempt in this respect
from many of his predecessors. He is
placed under the further disadvantage of
the civil service law which stands upon
the statute book and which his oath of
office requires him to enfore. The COM
plants which come from Republicans
who have been disappointed in their ex-
pectations of office are no doubt and we'll
founded. and they rise alene from the
fact that the aspirants far out-numbcr the
places which are vacant, or which can be
made SO without violation of the law.
There are many deserving men entitled
faithful party service, and it is due the
president to say that it would be pleas
ant political duty to appoint them if it
were in his power to do SO. If there is
any disposition to criticise the president
on this account it should be remembered
that he has always been an ardent and
sincere Republican and has always mani
Tested desire to advance the interests
ot his party and of the individuals COM
posing it, His course in Office has been
characterized by a conservatism and
statesmanlike course which has earned
for him the confidence of the great body
of the American people, and which has
rendered him comparatively free from
criticism by his political opponents. The
Republican party can best increase its
hold upon the confidence of the country
by giving it a wise and judicious admin
istration Of public affairs, and President
Harrison has in tbis respect at least
measured up to the full expectations of
his friends and his party,
G. w. z. BLACK.