The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1896-02-15
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Our Correspondent Speaks
of the ''Garden Seed"
Speech.
President Cleveland as a Ruler
Magnificent Compliment to Sem
atOr George,
And Variety of Other Interesting
Matters.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. II, 1896.
Editor Sentinel: The traditional
ground hog and his shadow on the End
day of February may be dense super
stition which properly belongs to the
dark ages, yet it carries enough truth
with it to attract the attention of the
casual observer, even at this enlight-
ened and progressive day. You know,
according to the old legend, the
grounding comes out Of his hole on
the End day of February every year,
and if there is enough sunshine for
him to see his shadow, he goes back
and prepares for six weeks of winter
weather, but if it is cloudy day, and
he does not see his shadow, the remain
der Of the winter will be moderate. In
some countries the farmers regulate
their farming operations on the opin.
ion Of the grounding, and it is believed
to be one sign that never fails. This
season he saw his shadow, and so far
as this portion OF the world is concern
ed, the grounding discounts the
weather bureau as d successful fore
caster.
By the way, did you see the speech
Of Senator Vest, in which he gave our
Financial" Secretary of Agriculture
such roasting? Well, it is rich. You
know Secretary Morton, acting upon
the suggestion OF the President, cut off
tho free distribution Of seed, which
they regard as a RECKLESS expenditure
Of money by Congressman in order to
popularize themselves with their con-
stituents." The country at large has
had considerable fun at the ex-
pense Of congressman and their ''gar-
den seed" and great many people
take the same view of the matter enter
tanned by the President and Secretary
OF Agriculture, but Senator Vest at
taches a greater Importance to free
seed distribution than that, and shows
where 1T has been of almost incalcula-
Bile benefit to many sections OF the
country. He goes back to the tounda-
tion OF the Democratic party, and
proves that it has always been the
farmers friend, even pointing out how
Thomas Jefferson once smuggled ltal.
ian rice to America when on visit TO
Italy, and learning of a law there
against the expectation of rice seed,
to which fact alone, he asserts, Ameri-
ca is to-day indebted for the peerless
quality OF the South Carolina rice. The
Senator de ,lares that the action OF
8 .cr etary Morton, at the instance OF
the President, is direct blow at the
farming interests of the country, and
not at congressman, and eloquently
saws: 81 would rather vote twice the
amount of this appropriation to give
something to poor man in distant
county of the South and West, who is
lighting the hard battle of life unaided
hy the Government, that would make
his cherries home comfortable and
bring light to his tireside; I would
rather put one flower in the sick room
of an overworked girl or matron than
10 have it said that I had voted a hun
dred thousand dollars for flowers and
exotics for the receptions and ban
ouets of the officials Of this Govern
ment. where the chandelier flashes its
dazzling light across the red wine and
,he air is fragrant with perfume like
''the spicy breeze of Araby, the bes-
sed.' After exposing to public view
the glaring inconsistency OF the secre