Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-08-31
WASHINGTON LETTER
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

ney. general i'll the case of Minister
Ransom is likely to have bearing
upon the cases of several other per-
sons holding important positions un-
der the general government, whose
appointment were made under almost
identical conditions, says the Star.
Probably y the most important case of
this kind is that of Judge Joseph Nc
Kenna, circuit Judge for the northern
district of California. He was ap-
pointed to that Office March II, 1892,
while he was representative in Con.
gress from the San Francisco district,
and after having served during the
session when the legislation was en-
acted which created the Office to which
he WAS subsequently, appointed. In
fact, it was necessary for him to resign
his office as member of Congress to
accept the judicial position which he
now holds. Such an appointment Is
contrary to the terms of the constitu.
ton, according to the decision of the
department of justice in the case Of
Mr.. Ransom. No question has ever
been raised officially against the legal.
ity of Judge Mckenna's appointment
and it is not known that it will be
done. The recent action of the de-
partment Of justice applies only to
the case Of Ministet Ransom, but, ac-
cording to general gossip, all the es.
sential principles of that decision ap-
ply with equal force to the case of
Judge Mckenna and all ex-members
OF Congress who are holding offices
created during their service in Con.
gress, or i'll which the compensation
was increased during their congress
sional career.
SYSTEM AT FAULT-The open accu.
sation made IN some newspapers and
the covert insiuuation in others that,
while the Morgan Belmont Rothschild
syndicate is living up to the letter OF
its contract with the Treasury in re-
gard to the maintenance of the gold
reserve, it is, III an underhand way,
violating the spirit of it, is a charge
of the very gravest character. The
syndicate made good contract with
the Treasury, and it is evidently keep
ing its part of the obligation into
which it entered. The fundamental
error at the base of this whole system
of hnanciering is that the Treasury is
not as it should be be-independent of
syndicntes and combinations in the
preservation OF the public credit and
its ability to meet its obligations.
That was the policy Of every Repub-
lican Secretary, from Mr.. Chase
down. When the war closed and
bond issues, except for refunding pur-
poses, came to an end, the Republi-
can party enacted tariff and internal
revenue legislation that kept the
Treasury squarely on its feet. When
the Democracy came into full control
of the government it revised" the
tariff in such way that the revenue
of the government and its expenditure
do not balance, and the deficit must
be made good by the sale of new
bonds. The government must return
to the old system, which is the only
sound and safe one.
SIGNS ON SUNDAY-The discovery
has been made that whenever the pre-.
sident grants pardon he places his
signature on the papers on q Sunday.
Evidently the president thinks that
no better use could be made of Sun.
day than by showing mercy to some
unfortunate who has appealed to him
for clemency. Many times, of course,
the inspection of the papers in the
case only serves to convince the presi-
dent that the decision of the court has
been the best and wisest under the cir
that to grant pardon
would be but to defeat the ends of
Justice and to allow crime and blood.
shed to run riot in the land. When,
after mature deliberation and careful
of the papers and evidence
in the case, such conclusion has been
reached by the president, that Sun
days work goes for naught, SO far as
the granting of a pardon.
But when it is possible to find sufi-
cient extenuating circumstances in the
case to warrant the granting Of par
1on the president feels that no matter
how arduous has been the task OF ex-
,mining the papers in the case, his
Sundays work has been as gratifying
10 him as to the poor wretch whom
ne reprieves. Frequently the presi-
lent, having decided to grant certain
oardons, has the papers set aside for
Sunday, so that on that day he may
.tix the executive signature that gives
hem their weight and Importance.
OUR CITIZENS IN CHINA-The order
ng of the United States cruiser De.
roit to Foo Chow may be taken as an
Indication that the people at Washing
on appreciate the gravity of the situa-
ion in China and intend to place at
he disposal of Minister DENLY the
means of protecting the lives and
of American citizens in that
This step is taken none too
soon, and it is hoped that Minister
DENLY will make use, promptly and
of all the resources at his
to maintain the authority
,f this government and the honor of
he flag. 1t is not enough that the
United States shall tag along after
Great Britain in this business: it
should lead the way. A British con-
'ul cannot properly represent the
American people in a matter involv-
ng the national repute so closely.
The very fact that this outbreak of
anaticism among the Chinese shows
he weakness of the existing govern
nent in that country, and possibly
oreshadows the overthrow of the
Nanchu dynasty, makes it the more
necessary that the United States shall
axe strong measures to protect its
,wn citizens there. The honor OF the
United States, as we'll as the lives of
many of its citizens, is in the hands of
Minister DENLY.
Threw Himself Before a Train.
Ernaut nnrnnpist Of nronavilla onn,-