Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-10-07
WASHINGTOS, ID, c., Sept. &c.

The chief political interest here this
week still expresses itself in the dis
cussion OF the Presidents letter OF &C.
ceplauce-a topic tina. is not likely to
wear out till election. 1t is 80 inso-
lent, so reasonable, so full of charges
of dishonesty and hypocrisy, that it
will be sure to be widely read and
widely answered. Here is one OF its
allegations: "Our opponents contend
that the government is now admins
tered extravagantly, and that whereas
there was "a surplus of $4,000, 900 in
1900. there is a deficit of more than
SAC, O,000,00O in the year just closed.
This deficit is imaginary, and is OBJ
tanned by including in the ordinary
current expenses the sum of $5O,OOO.-
600, which WAS paid for the right of
way of the Panama Canal out Of the
accumulated surplus in the Treasury"
1t would be interesting to know by
what arithmetic the President justifies
the expenditure OF $4,000, 900 eighty
and forty millions) by showing that
fifty millions were needed for the Pa
mama Canal. Where are the other
seventy millions? Or is that mere
bagateIle?
There is great excitement in Wash
ington, especially among the young
military officers, over proclamation
by General Corbin setting forth that
army officers must not marry unless
they are Z" Tree from debt" and able TO
support families in style commen-
surate with their rank. He does not
deny that this bright idea was &C
quired by him when he WAS q guest of
the Emperor OF Germany, whose army
is under very definite restrictions OF
this sort. OF course the tendency and
ultimately the effect of such An order
would be that only rich mems sons
could 60 to West Point, General Cor.
bin will ascertain, however, by scan
ming the history of army legislation,
that the salaries Of officers have always
been fixed at what was deemed by
Congress TO be sufficient to support a
family, and he will ascertain moreover,
that many thousand cadets and lieu
tenants have supported families re.
specially on the salaries granted them,
without having any other income
whatever. Let's see: Was it the Pres.
ident OF the United States who re.
Gently Illuminated against race suicide?
And is General Corbin's proclamation
consistent with that plea in behalf of
q quiverful of babies? IT poor boys
can no longer be permitted to 60 TO
West Point, General Corbin will pro.
badly succeed, as head of the army, in
organizing splendid, not to say gilt
tering and pompous, military arisloc
racy, based at once upon money and
power. Will it give us the best con-
ceivable army? By the bye, is this
the same General Corbin who was HIM
self very poor boy and who in due
time had the prudence to marry a
millionai-ess? If so, why does he not
entertain the hope that other penni
less youths may initiate bis vir;uous
example? What wonld Andrew Jack
son and Abraham Lincoln have said to
the COrbin proposition?
Are Americans resolved 10 have an
Aristocracy with the capital A? No,
only has General CO!bin virtually de-
cided that only rich mems sons can 90
to West POiot, but the study OF family
geuealogies is fast becoming a craze.
The National Genealogical Society met
in this city the other day and reported
remarkable success" 1t has men,
bers from all parts Of the country and
the world, including "the king-at.
arms Of England, Ulster and Scot
land" Capt Alexander Baillie of San
cient family Of Baillie OF Dochiour,'
and Monsieur Meschinet de Richie
monde O. France. The object OF the
society is "to labor increasingly" to
get an appropriation from Congress
and then TO publish trestises on her
aldry and 10 provide coats of arms for
tine American people. certified under
the seal Of the society,"" 1t is bril-
liant and useful scheme. II will en-.
able the very poorest farmer or ME.
chauIc on payment OF one or two hun
dred dollars, 10 join The aristocracy
aud hang up in his front hall or snack
a gorgeous device. a Norman shield
with gules sable aid animal rampant,
showing that he was descended from
from some ,izored horse.thief or pir-
ate almost a thousand years ago.
Dem.