Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-09-18

recommended 1t, and any dereliction on
the part of the Committees that have been
appointed to bring II about, viii probably
result in continued disaster.
A Bit Of History.
In an editorial on the affairs Of that city
the Philadelphia Times, gives the following
interesting bit Of history:
At an early period of the war, Abraham
Lincoln was confronted with q problem
much more grave and difficult of solution
than that which now confronts Mayor
Stuart, and there is o strong analogy be-
tween the two complications. The country
was unprepared for war. 1t had neither an
army, guns, clothing nor any of the indis-
pensable materials necessary to organize
q military force. War contracts were
given right and left by Secretary Cameron
until the country was appalled, BY an ex-
posure made by Congressman (now Sena-
tori Dawes, Of Massachusetts,, portraying
the criminal proAigscy Of the War Depart
ment pointedly accusing the Secretary Of
either negligent or corrupt completely with
the wrong -doers. and the House, acting
upon the report, passed vote of censnre
upon Secretary Cameron. 1t is duo to
Cameron to say that some years thereafter
the resolution Of censure was expunged
from its records by the House.
Tt is not now necessary to inquire
whether General Cameron was in any de-
gree guilty Of corrupt official action. 1t is
enough to know that in the extreme pres
sure of the hssty organization and equip
ment of an army, jobbery and proAigacy
ran riot until the financial resources Of the
country were exhausted and the national
credit threatened because of the want ofcon-
fidence in the War Department. The cul-
mination was reached by number of fl
nancial men from the leading money CEN
tiers of the country calling upon the Presi-
dent and demanding not only change in
the War Department, but the appointment
of Secretary whose name would strike
terror to wrong-doers through the entire
land, and give the most positive assurance
of the sternest integrity in that depart
ment.
Mr.. Lincoln did not hesitate; did not
shiver; did not send for political leaders;
did not consult with any. He knew that
he must act, and that he must act without
Difference to the wishes Of party men. Not
q single member of his Cabinet knew that
he was about to make the change until his
message was sent to the Senate nominal
ing Mr.. Cameron - Minister to Russia and
Mr.. Stanton 90 Secretary Of War. Stimuli
taneous with that message to the Senate,
a short note was sent to Secretary Cam
eron through Secretary Chase, notifying
him that the change had been made.
The appointment Of Mr.. Stanton came
like bomb among the army jobbers on
every side. Mr.. Stanton had never voted
the Republican ticket in his life; he had
been member of Mr.. Buchsnan's Cabinet;
he had denounced Mr.. Lincoln bitterly and
publicly in the early part Of his admins
tratioD; he had at one time gone to the
extent of suggesting the neccessity Of
dictator to depose Mr.. Lincoln as Chief
Magi strate, and he had never been in Mr..
Lincoln's confidential councils. He was
known only, an aggressively honest and
fearless man, and in both public and pri-
vate life, and he was appointed solely be-
cause his name gave the highest possible
assurance to the nation that the admins
tration of the War Department would
thence forth be abovs all partisan control
and stubbornly honsst. The politicians
gro wled for season, but were soon sham
ed into silence. The corrupt army con-
tractors were scattered Like the mist in the
m orning, and from that day until the close
of the war, AZ far as II was possible by the
most comprehensive and tireless supervis-
ion of army supplies, there was honesty in
every channel Of the War Department.
J. DONALD CAMERON has Just been
chosen to full term in the Senate, but II
he should vote with the free silver men in
the Fifty second Congress, as he did in the
Fifty-frst. his treachery to the honest
money cause would be likely to be remem-
bered against him II he should seek another
election. His record on this question will
be followed with good deal of interest by
his party in his State in the coming
struggle with the silver infationists.-
Louis Globe Democrat.
BENJAMIN HARRISON and James G..
Blaine are all right. The efforts Of
malicious meddlers to prove that the two
statsmen are pulling at cross purposes nre
SO contemplate that no one at all inform
cd on the political situation pays the
slightest attention to them. The President
and his Secretary of State understand one
another. In fact, they have a perfect
understanding.-Albany Express.
Two widows of Revolutionary soldiers
are living in Pennsylvanis and drawing
pensions for services rendered In the field
by their husbands. One, who was. the
third wife of soldier Of seventy three sum.
mers and bore him three children, is now
81 years old and declares her willingness
to marry again, pension or no pension, II
the right sort of man comes around.
AT the meeting Of the Pennsylvania
Worlds Fair Commission, held in Harris
burg last Thursday, Benjamin Whitman,
of Erie, was elected rs Executive Com.
missioner, at salary of s5, 900 year. Maj
Gen. Geo. r. Snowden and Adj. Gen. Nc
Clelland were appointed to represent Penn
sylvania at the meeting to be held next
week in Chicago, relative to the opening
Of the Worlds Columbia Exposition in
October, 1892.
AT Boston. Mass, Wednesday, the Re-