The National tribune., 1906-05-03

= century ago was entirely lost sight
Of BY his countrymen, and the discov-
cry OF whose remains has again revived
general public Interest In his heroic
deeds Of valor and daring as the chief
naval officer Of our Revolutionary Pc
Rod"
The Senate Committee on Post Of
fees and Post Roads has turned Sem
ator Tillnhan smack down. He was
fighting the appointment OF B. F..
Barnes as Postmaster of Washington
on the grounds that Mr.. Barnes did
things 'unbecoming an officer and a
gentleman" when he turned Mrs. Nor
ris out Of the White House meek and
heels" so to speak. Senator Tiilman
made fireeating speech I'm the Senate
about the incident. in which he gave
President Roosevelt one of the worst
hastings in the basket for permitting
it. 1t was just after this incident that
Mr.. Barnes was nominated by the
President for Postmaster of Wash
ington. The Senate Committee made
ferocious promise to do things to Mr..
Barnes. but it flunked In the end. Mr..
Barnes has a magnificent clerical rec
ord. and has been In Government en-
ploy for about 18 years. a large part of
the time i'm the Post-Of1ice Department.
.
Some of the dispatches from San
Francisco Government officials read
like "Of agin; on agin; gone agin, Fin
nigan.' But from the terse, brief ca
bles 1t is learned that none of the Gov
eminent ships building in the Mare
Island Navy Yard were injured. Lots
of coastwise steamers were burned, and
some transatlantic ones along with
their slips and wharves, but fortunately
Government shipping comes off I'm pref
ty good shape.
Ex-Secretary Of the Treasury Carlisle
says he ia out of politics. and he fiouts
anybody who tries to talk politics to
him. Is 1t not a little odd how quickly
people get tired Of politics Immediately
after they have got out of them all
there is in them? Secretary Carlisle
remained in politics until he had
greatness" and knew that there was
not another round above him that he
could grasp, and then he quit But
while he was in he was in a good and
plenty. There was no more Of a dema-
gogue living than he.
The Post Office is receiving some
queer letters from San Francisco. They
are written on covers of pasteboard
boxes. on pieces of wrapping paper old
envelopes and even pieces of single.
None of these are stamped. The reason
Is obvious; there were no stamps to be
had when those excuses for letters
were mailed. The Postal employees are
stamping these letters at their own ex-
pense. 1t is one of the greatest of
charities to do this, for the people Of
Washington who have friends and rela-
tives in San Francisco have been nearly
crazy because they could get no news
OF them. These letters contain only
q few words. are not Enclosed in en-
velopes. and. of course. are minus the
stamp. but they nearly all say "alive
and WE'LL" and that is worth a gold
mine to inquiring friends. But if the
Post-Office rules were followed those
letters could not be delivered for two
or three days yet. They would all
have to be laid aside, and a card sent
to each person informing them that at
the Office is letter which requires q
stamp and which they may have by
paying two cents Cor whatever the sum
may be), and then that would have to
go back to the office and the Postmaster
deliver the letter on his next round.
The Postal employees just buy stamps,
and as soon as one of those letters turns
up In the mail q stamp is clapped on
and the letter is delivered. That is a
kindness Of the heroic kind.
The President touched a sore spot
when he accused the San Franciscans
OF not giving with free hand to the
Chinese residents who were among the
great sufferers in the city by the Gold
en- Gate. Everything stopped for q
space. and the Mayor and lot Of other
men took some precious
time and several dollars to send back
by wire an answer to the President, In
lIxy Sal
legation and defied the alligator" as
the saying goes: Said they:
"All reports that the people or the
officials or the Relief Committees Of
San Francisco are making any distinc-
ton In relieving, succoring or protect
Ing the Chinese or any other people
differing in race or color, are totally
Committees. and even the homeless suf-
ferers themselves, are treating the Chi
nese, and all other fellow
with the consideration worthy Of our
and our country. The peo-
pie OF San Francisco are striving with
all their hearts to relieve their desti-
tute, care for their sick, protect their
helpless, and uplift their stricken, ire
spective OF race, creed or color. in ac-
cordance with the dictates Of humani-
ty In manner worthy of Americans
and in the common brotherhood of
man."
And then, for fear this letter might
be filed at the White House, the
Committee Of prominent men who
signed it wrote on it please give to
the press" and proceeded to give it to
the press before they gave 1t to the
President. 1t seems incredible that
who knows Western man
could believe for a single instant that
there would be any discrimination
made.
The President had to spank Congress
In his speech at Annapolis and, of
course. he made the whole bilin' Of 'em
mad over 1t. This is what he said:
I'VE can afford as a people to differ
on the ordinary party questions; but il
we are both far-sighted and patriotic
we cannot afford to differ on the all
important question Of keeping the Ma
tional defenses as they should be kent:
OF not alone keeping up. but Of going
on with building up Of. the United
States Navy and of keeping our small
Army at least at it's present size and
making IL the most efficient for it's size
that there is on the globe.
Remember, you here who are lis
tening to me, that to applaud patriotic
and to turn out to do honor
to the dead heroes, who by land and
sea won honor for our Flag, is only
worth while If we are prepared to show