The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-03-06
CURRENT PRESS OPINION
A National Disgrace.


The appointment of the notorious negro,
Hill, to the postmastershjp of as large a
city as Vicksblrg, is not only an insult to
the people Of Mississippi, but national
disgrace.
II is hard to understand the motive be-
hind this appointment, especially when
we have before us the statement of the
people of Nicksburg that there were sew
eral white Republicans who were appli-
cants for the position, and that any one
of them would have been acceptab bic to
the people. But for reasons of his own
President Harrison set them aside and
conferred the honor upon q negro who rs
said tobe one of the worst characters in
the State.
The appointment carries no excuse with
il, and adds another blot to the black Re
publican record--if that be possible. The
people Of the whole State of Mississippi
are justly incensed, and have been loud In
their expressions of indignation. The
State is outraged by disappointment, and
the President is condemned. 1t is the
gravest mistake he has ever made, and one
that he should hasten to correct.
The Copyright Bill.
From he Nev York Ereaiag Post.
The Copyright bill has at last been
passed and signed by the President, the
Senate having receded from its various
amendments and adopted the report of
the conference committee at o'clock
Wednesday morning. It isagreat victory
for honesty. 1t recognizes for the first
time the property of a foreign author in
his books sold or printed in this country.
1t puts an end to the Algerine system Of
fostering the national intelligence. II ell
ables foreign author to fix the price of
his own wares, instead of having to accept
whatever the bounty of the American
pirate chooses to award HIM. But if we
said that it was measure to be proud of,
we should be going far beyond the truth.
The obligation under which it places the
foreign author of having his book imam,
ufactured" in this country, as a condition
of protection for it,, is piece of tariff
barbarism which is enough to make one
hang ones head.
Reed and ingalls,.
From ne Couriei..jouy7al.
Mr.. ingalls,, President of the Senate, has
in that position won the respect of the
entire Senate, regardless of political differ
ences. A partisan Of the most pronounced
type, following the dictates of the caucus
without protest, he was too much of a
scholar and q Senator to seek by his rul-
ings TO stific debate, to curtail the privl-
leges of any member, or to lower the
character Of the body over which he was
called TO preside. Cool, calm, collected;
prompt and firm; dignified and discreet,
his most bitter opponents say that the
Senate has never had q fairer nor finer
presiding officer.
There is in our legislative history no
chapter more interesting or instructive
than that which relates to Reeds Con-
N mil .rl,
II is a record Of ignorance, impotence and
corruption, e1naled by no legislative as
sembly Of England, France or America.
The revolutionary programme announced
by .he Speaker fifteen months ago has in.
yolyed him and his party in defeat and
disgrace. and to-day there are few even
among his own associates who are so poor
as to do him reyerencec3 Never. before hat
a career, beginning with such loud prom
iscs and pr0testations, ended so uhexpect
edly IN such a ludicrous collapse.
The Copyright bill isn perfect, bpt II
is good beginning in the direction ofna
tional honor and downright honesty
baltimore american.
Let a grateful nation give thanks to-da,
that the Grand Old Party is no longer II
touch with the Treasury ITiiadeiphu
Record.
As the departed Congress seems I.
have gauged It's expenditures very mucl
as II the war were still going on, IL is
little curious that the President did no
| find in that fact sufficient warrant fo
refusing to sign the bill refunding the di
rect war taxes to the States, for whicl
measure there was not the slightest evi
dence of "A popular demand.-,S. Lonl
Globe Dtmocrat.
Speaker Reed succeeded in getting vot
i OF thanks yesterday in the House-bu
not from the House. II was substantially
| caucus vote Of thanks, and was limite'
| 10 his partisan henchmen, who would no
have dared 10 vote otherwise even ha'
| they been so inclned and II is known a
q matter of fact that his arrogance an,
| petty acts Of tyranny have been as intol
cradle at times 70 many of his own part!
a. 10 those Of the minority. In his vale
dictoTy the tone of his swan song wa
pitched in minor key.-IHRadeiphi
| Rfcod.
The appointment Of a successor 10 Nj
Hearst viii keep the Republican majorit
In the Senate Of the Fifty-second Congre;
| from getting down too near the DANCE
| line. The Democratic seat thus vacate
| will be filed by Republican. Al tn
same, however, the Republicans will hay
| "a win the House and the Presidency /
| ls'2 IA hold the Senate In the Flfty-thlr
| Congress ~ Louis Globe- D,mocra.