Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-05-18
Washington Letter.
{ From our Regular CoFrespondent.J
Washington, MAY u, 1898

| IL was square OdCh-uOWH abo al
abiect surrender, 50 far as the minor
Presidential patronage is concerned
to the democratic Senators and Repre-
sentatives. Just after Mr.. Cleveland 5
Inauguration be CAUSED it 20 be an
nounced that he especially desired to
hear from private citizens and that hi2
policy in making appointments would
be 10 give every body a chance, and not
conhne himself to selecting those rec
commended By Senators and Represen-
tat'yes. Well he heard from the phi
yate citiZens-thousands If 'em-and
also heard from the Senators and
Representatives who saw their prestige
at home in danger of being swept
away, and naturally did not like it.
After a careful study OF the situation
Mr.. Cleveland came 10 the conclusion
that it was more necessary that he
should have the support of the Senators
ard Representatives than that OF the
private citizens who want offices for
themselves or their friends, so he
swallowed his pride and issued the
ukase barring the individual Office
seeker out of the White House; and,
excepting those from the State Of New
York, the democrat who hereafter
receives the Presidential appointment
will, except in rare cases, have to- have
the endorsement of his Representatives
and Senators. You will observe that
the democratic Senators and Repre-
sentative who have been heard from
have to a man endorsed the Presidents
action; they know, if the public doesn't
what victory they have won. The
object of Mr.. Cleveland in thus sur
rendering is, of course, plain. He
wishes the democratic Senators and
Representatives to vote for the repeal
of the Sherman silver law, and for the
administration BILL Will they do III?
Well, that is branch of the subject
into which do not care to venture at
present. The vote of a democratic
Senator or Representative is a slippery
sort Of thing at best.
Not satisfied with having shamefully
treated Minister Stevens the admins
tration is now trying to make it appear
that it has ordered him to leave Hcno-
lulu, because of his intrigues in favor Of
annexation Fortunately the facts are
at hand in this case. The first steamer
that left Honolulu after the arrival of
Commissioner Blount brought Minister
Stevens resignation and request that
his successor be Immediately appointed
He did not wish to remain after he had
been stripped of his authority and hu-
inflated in the eyes of the residents of
Hawaii. Secretary Gresham requested
him to remain at his post until his sue
cessor was appointed but Mr. Stevens
declined - do so, and notified the
State department that he should sail on
the oath, OF this month for home. Then
Blount was appointed minister, as he
should have been in the first place. and
the story started that Mr.. Stephens
had been ordered home. The truth is
always better than misstatoment, but
the truth very seldom reflects credit
upon democratic methods.
Secretary Herbert has stirred up
lot OF indignation among the Medical
Inspectors of the Navy and their frier Is
by making J. Rufus Tyron Surgeon
General of the Navy in place of Sur
geon Browne, who was this week
retired In order to give DIR. Tyron
this promotion he had to be jumped
over the heads of twenty-eight inspec-
tors who were his seniors in the service
but Dan Lamont and ex-Secretary
Whitney demanded it and it was done.
About all Secretary Herbert had to do
with il was to carry out the orders he
had received 1t should not be forgot
len that this is reform administration,
which believes that All appointments
should be made on merit only. The
trouble is that its beliefs and IFS acts do
not doveiail very nicely.
A committee headed by ex-Secretary
Fairchild has been appointed to inyes-
tigate the New York custom-house and
bring in report that will justify the
clean sweep Of republican employees
which Secretary Carlisle has already
fully made up his mind to make, but
lacks the backbone to do without some
excuse to those who have taken stock
in the pretended devotion of the ad-
ministration TO civil service reform.
The Supreme Court heard arguments
N case involving the Constitutional.
ty OF the Geary Chinese exclusion law
this week, and IT is expected that a
decision will be handed down early