Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-24

BE virtuous and you will be happy" is
a maxim that has received the Endorsement
of scores OF copy-book editors, but once in
awhile something occurs that shakes faith
IN such proverbial utterances. OF course
It is all wrong to murmur or repine when
goodness is rnomentarily overshadowed by
vice and 1t is highly improper to weep
when misdoing achieves temporary triumph
but most folks are so constructed that muir
muring and weeping are easy of attainment
and cheap, and the result is a frequent use
OF those mournful privileges. Just now
there is a very choice brand of grievous
Indignation on tap in the revenue marine
service Readers of The Star are doubt
less aware of the fact that, some months
ago, Capt. John c. Mitchell. then command
ing the revenue cutter Crawford, was
charged with improper indulgence in the
use of intoxicants and of other conduct
unbecoming an officer of the revenue serv-
ice" II will also be remembered by many
that Capt Mitchell was secretly tried on
board his own ship-then commanded by
him; that the trial was Of the farcical va
riety, viewed from the legal standpoint,
and that the sentence of the court which
found him guilty. as approved by the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. reduced Capt.
Mitchell eighteen numbers in his present
grade. relieved him of his command of the
Crawford and placed him on waiting or
ders for the period of one year. To per-
sons unacquainted with the revenue ma
rine service the sentence might sound as
though it really meant something, but be-
hind the scenes things have a different ap-
pearance. What does Capt. Mitchell care
about the position of his name on the blue
book or the department records? The rev.
enue marine service knows no higher rank
than that Of captain and as the junior in
that grade gets as much pay as the senior
tine mere relative arrangement of names
IS sentiment of really no value. The first
portion of the sentence therefore works
Capt. Mitchell no disadvantage whatever
and does the other captains no good; the
remainder of the decree is a disgrace to
the authorities and, as intimated in a COM
munication printed elsewhere in todays
Star. is n compliment to the captain who
was alleged to have been tried. To be re-
heved Of command under sentence of
court Is a disgraceful thing, but a man
who would be guilty of the offenses of
which Capt. Mitchell has been convicted is
not easily disturbed by any combination of
absurd rebuke so long as his pay is I'M
touched. Capt. Mitchell will have to re-
main ashore one year and the government
other captains who have been behaving
correctly are cruising around wind-swept
coasts and wave-washed ocean shores in
vessels that for some time to come will re-
eemble animated icicles. Capt. Mitchell will
be enjoying a cosy corner in one of the big
cities with full share of those comforts
that can be found only where many people
congregate. For the sober and upright
there will be icy decks and uninterrupted
dirty Of the most arduous and dangerous
sort; for Capt. Mitchell there is prospect
Of ease and enjoyment. And yet this is
not surprising. But a few years ago the
persistent negligence of Maj. G. j. Lydecker
supplied this city with an elongated hole
in the ground that cost the nation and the
people Of Washington more than two mil
Hons of dollars. equally divided A court
fined him 500 and he was sent out to a
place on the Pacific coast where he had
comparatively little to do but swear be-
meath his breath at the unreasonable folks
here who actually wanted something to
show for their money; since then he has
been promoted. Verify, II the righteous -four
fsh like the green bay tree then the green
bay tree does not flourish in this climate