San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-03-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March 6, 1898

The republican party has turned
the government III all its depart
ments, except the judicial, over to
the democratic party, in accord
ance with the verdict rendered at
the polls last November, and it
can now afford to calmly await
the result, hoping for the best, and
prepared to admit that it was wrong
if the new Congress and admins
tratiOn can carry out the platform
adopted by the last national con-
VentiOn of the democratic party
without causing a serious shock to
the commercial and Industrial in
terests of the country. But it is
already apparent that the pledges
of the democratic platform will
not be carried out, certainly not
the one relating to the tariff. There
will be no tariff smashing; only a
slight shake up.
Mr.. Cleveland's Inauguration
was quite a freezing affair, icicles
were more plentiful than enthu-
siasm. Seats on the street stands
which were intended to be filled
with people at from 81, to ~ a
head-were covered by two or
three inches of snow and swept by
cold northwest winds, which gave
the participants in the parade a
stiff and half-frOZen appearance.
The only real enthusiasm your
correspondent saw displayed dur
ing the day was aroused in the
southern contingent, which it is
needless to say was numerous, by
the appearance of Gen. Fritz. Lee, of
Virginia, who commanded one OF
the divisions. That enthusiasm
was particularly bOisterOus when
Mr.. Cleveland nearly bent himself
double to return the hauty bow
which was given him by the proud
Lee as he rode past the presidential
reviewing stand.
Gen. Harrison took Mr.. CleVe-
land from the White House to the
Capitol and back again in his car
riage, but he declined accompany
ing Mr.. Cleveland upon the review
ing stand, because, for one reason,
he had a previous engagement to
attend farewell dinner given to
himself and the members of his
cabinet and their families by eX'
Postmaster General Wanamaker
at the close of which he took q
special train for indianapolis. II
is perhaps trne also that Mr.. Har
rison being human, like the rest o.
us, had not forgotten that MIR
Cleveland declined to stand with
him upon the reviewing stand or
March I, 1889.
There is one sentence in the Pre-
sident's inaugural address that
has carried CONSERVATION into the
ranks of the office seekers, who are
numerous in Washington than
ever before. The language is en-
phatic, and they have taken it as
intended to be personal to them
as it doubtless was. Following is
the sentence referred to, which Is
as interesting to democratic office
seekers in your section as to those
here to present their claim in per
son "One mode of the mis-apprO
priatiOn of public funds is avoided
when appointment to office
instead of being the rewards
lOf partisan activity, are aWar
ded to those whose efficiency prOmi
SEES a fair return of work for the
compensation paid them. TO secure
the fitness and competency of APP
pOintees to office, and to remove
from political action the demoral
izing madness for SpOils, civil ser
vice reform has found a place il
our public policy and laws" One
of the direct resulty of this plain
talk was the determination O.
the Tammany bosses, before they
left Washington, that no Tam
many man should become al
applicant for federal office, al
though they stand prepared to fur
niSh men to fill as many offices as
Mr.. Cleveland may offer them, but
they must be offered without being
asked for, say the bosses.
| have it on good authority that
the issue of bonds, which Mr.
Harrison stood out 50 manfully
against, will be an accomplished
fact Just as soon as the new adj
ministratiOn can find a reasonable
excuse, and that will not be diff
cult to manufacture, with the aid
of those who for personal reasons
want the bonds issued.
Senator Stanford is naturally
very much pleased over having
secured from Gen. Harrison, be,
fore he left for indianapolis, his