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THE NATIONAL TBXBTOsTE: WASHINGTON, D. C, APRIL 15, 1882.
The National Tribuhe
(Established 1877.)
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CJ2
The validity cf the public debt of the United
States, authorized dy law, including dedts incurred for
payment of pensions and bounties for services in sup
pressing insurrection cr rebellion, shall not be cues
, toned." Sec. 4, Art. XIV, Constitution of the United
States.
ENTERED AT THE WASHINSTON POST-OFFICE AS SEC0H3-CUJS MATTER.
WASHINGTON, T. C, APEIL 15, 1SS2.
In forwarding his subscription for TnE
'National Tribune from Lawrence, JWass.,
Gen. George S. Merrill, Commander-in-Chief of
ihe Grand Army of the JRcjmulic, says :
"The bold advocacy of Tjie National
Teibuxe of the rights of the soldier elicits my
Tiearty approval. Keep on a3 you have 7)cgun,
end do not consider your work accomplished
until every soldier who is entitled to a jicnsion
receives it, and every soldier's icidoio and every
soldier's child arc provided for by the Govern
ment. (Signed) Geo. S. Merrill."
One dollar invested in a subscription to
The National Tribune is the safest and
most remunerative investment that an ex
soldier can rsake.
Tins is the month of anniversaries. Seven
teen years ago, last Sunday, Lee surrendered
jit Appomattox, Richmond having fallen the
fiyday preceding;' and seventeen years ago,j
. st n:::hl, President Lincoln was assassi
iue.l by "Wilkes Booth.
While The National Tribune makes
a V.;lure of pension intelligence and Grand
Aimj doings, it does not by any means
Sjioore :he general news of the day, and its
"weekly summary of events will be found to
embrace all that is worth recording in the
field of politics, society, and trade. As a
journal of the times in which we live, it has
no superior and few equals. The price of a
yearly subscription is only one dollar.
The Mormon merchants of Salt Lake City
have entered into an agreement not to trade
with the Gentiles, hoping by the withdrawal
of their patronage to drive the latter to the
wall. This is not the first time, however,
that they have resorted to this method of
retaliation, and if we may judge by the fail
ure of their efforts hitherto the attempt is
likely to result in disaster. The most suc
cessful business house in Salt Lake City was
made so by the refusal of the Mormons to
trade with it, for it immediately received
ihe united support of the entire Gentile
population.
TnERE is a striking contrast between tho
conduct of tho Treasury Department and
the Pension Bureau. Such a thing as a lack
of clerical force to properly discharge the
business of the Treasury would not bo tol
erated for a moment, and as a matter of fact
the checks for interest on the public debt
are filled out and mailed to the holders of
Government bonds with the regularity of
clock-work. In the Pension Bureau, on the
other hand, the clerical force is so inade
quate that the business of the office is from
five to ten years in arrears. The explanation
of this singular state of affairs is that Con
gress places the claims of the bondholder
above those of the soldier, and while it
authorizes one Department to employ all
tbp help that is necessary to the prompt dis
patch of business, entirely ignores the needs j
of the other. There is neither justice nor
economy in such a discrimination.
Mr. Gladstone admits that the coercion
act is practically a failure, and that ihe con
dition of Ireland is worse than before the
suppression of tho Land League by the
aibitrary arrest and imprisonment of its
principal directors, and he seems to be at a
loss what to do next. Ue shriniK from pro
claiming martial law, which is almost the
only resort left to him, and for political
reasons he cannot afford to retraco hia steps
aad order tho release of the suspects. In
short, the British Premier is betwixt the
devil sad the deep seal And yet there are
those who, for fear of a war with England,
would have the United States quietly ignore
lie rights of its citizens in Ireland and turn
.. eaf ear to their appeals for protection.
Vi-ro: ouii increased mechanical facilities
i now print, with case, an edition of
; uadred thousand copies. Sample
will be eenfc to any ex-soldicr on ap-
. -jit.
The Cabinet Complete.
The nomination of Senator Teller, of Col
orado, as the successor of Secretary Kirkwood
in the Interior Department, and Mr. "NY. E.
Chandler, of New Hampshire, as the suc
cessor of Secretary Hunt in the Navy De
partment, completes the reconstruction of
the Cabinet. Secretary Lincoln is the only
member of President Garfield's Cabinet left,
and there never has been any doubt of his
retention by President Arthur.
The National Tribune is not a partisan
journal, and it concerns itself with politics
only as politics concern the interests of the
country in general and the soldier in par
ticular. It does not believe that any party
or any faction of party possesses a monopoly
of virtue, honesty, and patriotism, and it is
always willing to accord a fair hearing to
those who differ with it on questions of pub
lic policy. In speaking, therefore, of these
final Cabinet appointments, wo arc indiffer
ent to those considerations which influenco
the ordinary politician in his estimate of
Executive action. It is sufficient for us to
know that the new members of tho Cabinet
arc in every way qualified to discharge, with
satisfaction to the Nation and credit to them
selves, the duties that have been imposed
upon them. Secretory Teller has made an
excellent record in the Senate, whero his
vigorous espons.nl of tho cause of tho pcoplo
in the struggle with the railway land grab
bers has attracted tho attention of the whole
country, and coming as he does from the far
West, it is to be presumed that he is even
better fitted than Secretary Kirkwood to
straighten out the tangled threads of our In
dian policy. The lack on tho part of former
Secretaries of a practical acquaintance with
the conditions of lifa on tho frontier, tho
conduct of tho agencies, and tho tribal rela
tions of the Indian has undoubtedly been a
serious obstacle hitherto to an intelligent
and efficient administration of the Interior
Department, and tho large storo of experi
ence which Mr. Teller has acquired in the
course of his Colorado career must necessarily
prove of immense service in the conduct of
the office. If Secretary Teller shall succeed
in correcting the obvious defects in the ad
ministration of the Department, the public
will caro very little with what wing of tho
Republican party he chooses to affiliate.
Mr. Chandler is perhaps more of a politi
cian than Mr. Teller, but his most bitter
enemies will not deny that ho possesses
executive ability of the highest order, and a
knowledge of public affairs that would fit
him for almost any office in tho President's
gift. His recent triumph over railroad
monopoly in New Hampshire, where ho
fought almost single-handed the battle of
the people, shows that he possesses determi
nation as well as abilityand we may be
sure that he will be tho actual, as well as
the nominal head of the Navy Department.
It is said that Mr. Chandler, who was once
entirely devoted to the interests of ex-Secretary
Blaine, has renounced his allegiance to
the Maine leader, and that his appointment
is simply a shrewd stroke of political policy
ou the part of the President, but that is a
matter for the politicians to speculate upon.
The country only desires the assurance that
as Secretary of the Navy ho will keep a sharp
lookout for thieving contractors, and see to it
that the appropriation for tho support of our
remnant of a navy is honestly and judic
iously expended.
And now that President Arthur has com
pleted his Cabinet let us hope that it will be
heartily sustained by public sentiment,
irrespective of party lines. It is worth' of
universal respect and confidence, and it is to
bo hoped that the politicians will let it
alone.
Then arid Now.
The timidity and indecision which otho
present Congress displays in dealing with
questions affecting the interests of the pen
sioner contrasts painfully with the attitude
of our legislators and the public generally
toward the soldier at the lime of the fall of
Richmond and the practical conclusion of
hostilities. A glance through tho files of any
metropolitan newspaper for tho year 1565
will convince tho most skeptical of the change
that has taken place in congressional senti
ment sinco that eventful epoch in our his-
j tory, and the comparison is likely to prove
anything but cheering to those who believe
in the sancity of the promises which were
made at that time to onr returning veterans.
Tho feeling of intense joy and gratitude
which took possession of the Nation imme
diately after the eurrendcr of Leo at Appo
mattox manifested itrself in a scries of great
mass meetings, at which the services of the
Union soldier were extolled beyond measure,
and the obligation of the Government to care
for the disabled, the wiflow, and the orphan,
was affirmed in the strongest language. The
cynic who shonld have ventured to predict
that, in ypite of theso pledges of devotion,
the ap;.licant for a pension would one day
be characterized as a beggar or a fraud,
would, in all probability, have been prompt
ly mobbed by the indignant populace. Tho
veterans themselves would have scorned to
credit such a sinister prophecy. Were they
not welcomed back frm tho war with the
most tumultuous rejoicings, tho streets
Mrewn with flowers, banquets spread for
them, and business suspended in their honor?
Confronted on every hand with the evidence
of the affection and esteem of their fellow
countrymen, it wonld have been strange, in
deed, had any doubt of the future entered
their minds. They accepted tho homage of
the country vrithout concerning themselves
in tho j-lightest about the fulfilment of the
proinites which were so lavishly bestowed
upon them, nor did it ever occur to them
that when the enthusiasm, of tho moment
should have passed away it might be suc
ceeded by a feeling of indifference, if not
actual neglect. And, indeed, when one reads
the reports of the' triumphal procession, the
eloquent speeches and patriotic resolutions,
it is hard to believe that this is the same
country and the same people.
Why should Congress have been so eager
then to reward the soldier and be so reluc
tant now? Tunc has not diminished the
value of his services, but on the contrary
made their worth tho more apparent. Tho
suppression of the rebellion and the ex
tinction of slavery have resulted in far
greater benefit to the country than the most
sanguine hoped for in 1SG5 ; even the South
has experienced a prosperity to Avhich it was
a stranger before the war, and in the decade
and a half that has elapsed since the ro
cstablishment of peace every physical trace
of that mighty struggle has been removed.
Turned into the channels of industry and
trade, the zeal and vigor of the soldier have
proved a wonderfully potent factor in tho
work of developing our national resources,
and wo are to-day, beyond all question, tho
most prosperous people on the face of the
globe. The Government, too, shares tho
general good fortune. It has reduced the
principal of the public debt well nigh a
billion of dollars, re-funded the balance at a
Iovrralc of interest, and its 'annual revenue
exceeds its expenditures by one hundred
and fifty millions.
If, then, there was occasion for gratitude
to the soldier in 18G3, how much more is
there now, when we have realized all the
substantial results of his patriotism, aud
how contemptible it is to withhold, on ihe
false plea of economy, that which is due
him!
Help for tho Helpless.
The bill receutty introduced in the House
of Representatives to increase the pension of
soldiers who lost an arm or leg in the service
to forty dollars per month is so simple in its
character that it can scarcely provoke ex
tended discussion, and it ought to bo put
upon its passage at the first opportunity.
It is difficult to fix with exactness the num
ber of pensioners it will affect, but there are
probably not over seven or eight thousand
who will bo benefited by it. Tho total
number of amputations during the war was
about fourteen thousand, and making due
allowance for the cases where amputations
was attended by fatal results, the rate of
mortality since tho war, and tho percentage
of those who have never applied for a
pension, the figures given aro probably
correct.
There are good reasons why the compensa
tion of this class of pensioners should be
increased. Their disability is one which
becomes more serious in its effects as
age comes on, and many soldiers whe -"r
able immediately after the Avar, 'Tun
labor was in great demand, to suppl"" i
their income from thor?Governinent --
i V
tho profits of theirown labor.
find the avenues of employment ; J
against them. Tho time was 'when i '
Avas offered to our one-armed and one
heroes on sentimental grounds, but that is
no longer tho case. Employers no longer
mix patriotism with business, and tho crip
pled veteran stands but a poor chanco of
earning a livelihood, compared Avith tho
able-bodied immigrant from tho old world.
Indeed, considering the sharp competition
in the lighter grades of Avork, it is surprising
that they should have secured any employ
ment at all, and such success as they havo
met Avith must be ascribed to tho ingenuity
which they have displayed in making ono
hand perform tho work of two, and a patent
leg supply the piace of bone and muscle.
Doubtless, many of our readers "will re
call instances Avithin their personal knowl
edge, where shriveled stumps seemed to bo
endowed Avith tho ingenuity of the human
fingers, and soldiers Avith one arm surpassed
in mechanical skill tho perfect-limbed civil
ian. It i6 a rare spectaclo noAvadays to see
a veteran grinding aAvay at a hand-organ at
our stieet corners.
But, as avc have said, our cripples begin to
feel the effects of ago and the increasing
competition in labor; and it is but just that
the Government should now provide a suffi
cient compensation for their services to tho
country to render it no longer necessary for
them to keep up a hand-to-hand struggle
with poverty. We owe it to these brave
fellows to make their declining years com
fortable and free from care.
After Many Years.
In August, 18G-2, during an engagement at
White Sulphur Springs, Virginia, a shell ex
ploded in front of Company K, Eighth New
York Volunteers, and a privalo named Jacob
Walter was struck on the head by one of the
flying fragments and seriously Avounded. He
Atas removed to an army hospital, but at tho
end of tivo months had recovered sufficiently
to rejoin his command, and remained Avith
it until the close of the Avar, Avhcn he was
mustered out of the service. Ho then re
sumed his trade of piano maker, but at in
tervals was obliged to re-enter the hospital
to be treated for brain trouble. On the 9th
of last December he died, and at the inquest
it Avas found that death had resulted from
softening of the brain, caused by tho injuries
received in battle nearly twenty years ago.
Wo allude to this case for several reasons.
In the first place, the details havo recent
ly been published by nearly all the leading
papers in the country, and the facts are not
likely to be disputed. In the second place,
it furnishes a striking confirmation of tho
truth of the statement so often made in theso
columns, that tho action of Congress setting
up a statute of limitations against the pay
ment of pensions Avas essentially unfair and
unjust. Here was a soldier Avho might havo
draAvn a pension almost from tho day on
which ho Avas Avounded indeed', tho regi
mental surgeon told him Avhen ho loft the
hospital that he miht die at any time but
Avhoprcferred to struggle on, doubtless as a
matter of pride, Avithout the aid of the Gov
ernment. Had he applied for a pension two
mouths before he died, hoAvever, he Avould
havo been entitled to no arrears of pension
money, Avhile, had ho applied two years pre
vionsyl, he could have claimed from the date
of receiving the wound which finally caused
his death. The injustice of tho legislation
which Avould have made such an anomaly
possible, needs no comment.
But thi3 is not all. As it happens, Walter
left a wife and four children, and the widow
has filed, or is about to file, her claim in the
Pension Bureau. There are some two hun
dred and fifty thousand claims ahead of hers,
hoAvever, and at the present rate of progress
it may be five or ten years before her case is
reached. There is a possibility, then, thai
thirl' yeara will haA'e elapsed from the date
on Avhich the Government became liable for
the support of the invalid and his family
before a cent of the money due is paid OA-er!
But it will be said that this is an exceptional
case. In some respects, perhaps, it is ; but
the fact that between Iavo and three thou
sand applications are being filed in the Pen
sion Office every month sIioavs that tho pro
portion of those who have hitherto refused
to take adA'antage of the pension laAVS is
much greater than has commonly been
supposed. In many cases it has doubtless
been It does not seem to have occurred
to our legislators that thero is any special
hardship in a pension claimant being
compelled to wait years for his money, al
though tho machinery Avhich they have pro
vided for the prompt payment of the bond
holder sIioavs that they are not insensible to
all human suficring ! Yet they have but to
authorize Commissioner Dudley to increase
his clerical force in order to secure a reason
ably early settlement of these long-deferred
claims, and it Avill cost no more in the end.
Is it any wonder, under these circumstances,
that Republics are pronounced ungrateful?
A Fromiam on Lawlessness.
The tragic death of Jesse James, the West
ern outlaAV, has given rise to many differences
of opinion touching the propriety of the
means employed to rid the country of the
monster. Tho cold-blooded, coAvardly Avay
in which ho Avas shot down is naturally re
A'olting to the public sense of justice and fair
play, and even the knowledge thxt the vic
tim well deserved the fate that overtook him
is not calculated to reconcile one to the mur
derous character of the act. We know, to be
sure, that the outlaAV himself Avould not have
felt any qualms of conscience about killing
his companions had he suspected their pur
pose, but nevertheless one cannot help feeling
that the law is freshly outraged rather than
vindicated by such a procedure. Had
James been slain in an encounter Avith a
sheriff's posso the public Avould have re
ceived the news Avith unqualified satisfaction,
but thcryis something humiliating in tho
idea that Justice should bo dependent upon
a hired assassin for the execution of her
decrees. Tho manner of this desperado's
death is suggestive of personal A'cngoance
rather than tho stern impersonal punishment
of the law, and the very sympathy Avhich it
CA'okcs for the dead outlaw is cvidenco of its
unwisdom. It bodes no good for the future,
and we should not be surprised at any time
to hear of an attempt at vengeanco on the
part of the survivors of the robber band. It
is just such occurrences as this that have
Avcakened popular respect for the laAV in the
West and South, and invested the atrocities
of border ruffians with just enough of ro
manco to raako lawlessness attractive to the
depraved and ignorant.
It is not alone in dime novels that a false
idea of honor and courage is taught. The
stress which is laid tipon the kindness and
affection which Jesse James lavished upon
his family, a3 an offset to the cruelty and
hcartlessness which he displayed in his rob
beries, is calculated to destroy the moral
sense of the community and foster a danger
ous tolerance of crime. Ono cannot help
asking what sort of a wifo she must be who
Avould consent to Avear the jewels that she
knew her husband had obtained by the
murder of innocent people, and Avhat manner
of mother shemust be Avho Avould glory in
the bloodthirstiness of her son! It is im
possible for any well-balanced mind not to
regard such an assumption of domestic virtue
with feelings other than those .of intense
loathing and disgust. We can understand
how a man, whose hand had been steeped in
blood from his very boyhood, should become
utterly insensible to the value of human
life, but it is horrible to find that indiffer
ence shared by women.
The manner of the outhiAv's, death is
greatly to be regretted, as avc have said, but
simply because it tends to create a feeling of
53-mpathy for him which he in no respect
deserved. The Governor of Missouri seems
to havo thought any means justifiable that
promised to rid the State of such a monster,
but he committed a grievous error when he
delegated tho duty of enforcing the law to
a brace of cut-throats. By that act he not
only published to the Avorld the inability of
the duly-constituted authorities to cope Avith
the outlaAV, but degraded Justice to tho
level of the hired assassin. Instead of
making crime odious and the law respected,
he has excited a feeling of indulgence for the
one, and contempt for the other. For the
moment, perhaps, the killing of Jesse James
may prove a blessing to the country, but it
must be confessed that the manner of his
death is calculated to encourage rather than
suppress lawlessness hereafter.
TnE National Tribune is tho only rep
resentative soldier's paper in the country.
Nothing which affects the interests of tho
A'eterans escapes its attention, and its col
umns aro ahvays open for tho expression of
their opinions on public affairs. No soldier
Avho desires to keep avcII informed concern
ing tho state of pension legislation can afford
to bo Avithout it. The subscription price is
only one dollar per year.
Songs of the Camp.
It is greatly to be hoped that some pains
taking collector and annotator will ono day
compilo in, a comprehensive volume the
martial pooms, camp songs and ditties
Avhich formed so large a part of the literature
of the Avar. Except at a gathering of the
Grand Army the simple melodies and fervent
sentiments that once fired the popular heart
are now seldom, heard, Avhile many fngitiA-e
pieces have been forgotten altogether. Much
that was Avritten in the days of the rebellion
Avas doubtless unworthy of perpetuation, re
garded simply from a poetical standpoint,
but as expressive of the state of public feel
ing at the time it deserves a place in the
history of tho epoch. Then, too, there arc
some songs which belonged especially to the
camp and ncA-er found their way to fame in
the country at large. They arc the curios
of Avar literature, and already copies of them
are difficult to procure. It seems hard to
believe that tho day will ever come when
such famous songs as "Rally Round the
Flag," "John Brown's Bod'," "Tenting on
the Old Camp Ground," and "Marching
Through Georgia" will bo forgotten, yet
Avhat ditty of the Revolution except "Yan
kee Doodle" has conio down to us from the
tuneful yeomanry of the time? Not one; for
the "Star Spangled Banner" was not written,
be it remembered, until 1814.
The poems of tho rebellion Ayill un
doubtedly prove more enduring. Yet of
these comparatively few-haA-o found a per
manent place in American literature. It i
a curious fact that while Longfellow owed
nothing of his fame to his war compositions
with the exception, indeed, of his "Sinking
of the Cumberland," he wroto scarcely any
thing in a military vein T. Buchanan Read
OAved his popularity chiefly to those im
petuous lines, " Sheridan's Ride." Whittiers
"Barbara Frcchie," too, did more, wo fancy,
to enhance his general reputation than any
other single flight of his muse, and it is
likely to live as long as hi3 "Maud Mullcr"
or any of his more pretentious Avorks.
George H. Boker's "Black Regiment" is
preserAcd in at least one standard collection
of poems; but who remembers Janvier's
" Sleeping Sentinel ? " One might have sup
posed that for many years after tho close of
the Avar tho stirring incidents of the struggle
would havo had an inspiration for our poets,
but such has not been the case, and that
touching Decoration Day poem, "The Blue
and the Gray," is almost the only important
contribution that has been made to our war
literature sinco tho declaration of peace.
Compared with the nationr.l lyrics of Eng
land our own are indeed feAv in number, but
that is but the greater reason why they
should be rescusd from oblivion. The
National Tribune will be happy to lend
its columnS.to that object. , ,
& Question of Sentiment.
The love of flowers is a sentiment which
some superior beings affect to despise, and,
indeed, it is not remarkable that those Avhoso
lives are spent in the pursuit of fame and
fortune should be nnable to comprehend the
attraction Avhich a bunch of violets or a
half-blown rosebud may possess for the poor
and lowly. Luxury may, iudeed, approve
their SAveet odors and brilliant colors, yet
after all value them no more highly than
that of any other object that gratifies the
senses. Fashion, Avhich prescribes how they
shall be Avorn, recognizes in them nothing
but their decorative utility ; and yet it is to
the fioAvers that the masters of verso have
suug their sweetest strains. Burns sounded
the praise of the mountain daisy, that " Wee,
modest, crimson-tipped flower : "
"There, in thy scanty mantle clad,
Thy frn.iwie bosom sunward spread,
Thou lifts thy unassuming head."
Story Avorshipped the "faint, delicious,
spring-time violet," Avhich Hood called a
" nun," declaring the Avhile that the cowslip
Ava3 a country wench, the tulip a conrtly
queen, and that he Avould "avoo the dainty
rose, the queen of every ono." Even the
common dandelion has not been Avithout
adorers. Our oAvn poet, James Russell
Lowell, wrote of it :
"Dear common flower, thou grow'st'beside the
way,
Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold !
First pledge of blithesome May,
"Which children pluck, and, full of pride, up-hold-
Iligu-hcnrtcd buccaneers, o'erjoyed that they
An Eldorado in the grass have found
Which not tho rich earth's ample round
May match in wealth ! thou art more dear to me
Than all the prouder summer blooms may be."
. The good old poet, Robert Herrick, said
of A'iolets, that they Avero maids of honor
Avaiting on the Spring, and likened tho
primroses, filled Avith
morning
dew, to
"sweet, Avhimporing younglings." Words
worth sang of
"A hot of golden daffodils
Beside the lake, beneath the trees
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze."
To the trailing arbutus, Avhich is now
raising its dainty pink hood above the
hillside, Roso Terry has sung one of her
sweetest lays:
" Tinged with color faintly,
Like tho morning sky.
Or, more palo and saintly,
Vrnppcd in leaves ye lie
Even as children sleep in faith's simplicity."
The faint oxlips and tender blue-bells,
tho comely honeysuckle, each possesses some
special sentiment that the poets have dis
covered and embalmed in verse.
One naturally recalls these pretty phrases
as Decoration Day approaches. Of all our
national customs nono is more beautiful
than that of strewing tho graves of our dead
heroes Avith flowers, nor anything Avorthier
of perpetuation. Tho time has gono by
Avhcn tho ceremonies Avero wont to arouse
a feeling of personal grief, and the general
sorroAV for the loss of tho soldior is already
swallowed up in tho sentiment of admira
tion Avhich the contemplation of his gal
lantry excites ; but the day seems to havo
become firmly fixed in tho affections of tho
people, and it may be that long after the
surviA-ors of tho Avar shall have rejoined
their comrades the Nation Avill continue to
observe it. It will not as now, perhaps be
tinged with sadness; nay, it may even ac
quire a festal character, for the season of
flowers is also the season Avhen humanity is
most sensible to the exhilarating influences
of nature; but it Avill be enough if the
spirit of patriotism shall still imbue the
hearts of the celebrants.
A Short Essay on Spring.
Mr. Vennor predicts a white April, from,
which we infer that Winter will once more
be caught lingering in the lap of Spring.
The -weather prophets agree, however, that
the season will prove a propitious one for
the farmer. There will he a splendid yield
of wheat and a plenty of peaches.
. In the Spring, the poet tells us, "a young
man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of
love," aud the prudent father will therefore
do well to oil the hinges of the front gate
afresh. There is something extremely
touching in the spectacle of a frisky maiden
of thirty-nine summers billing and cooing
over the palings with a pensiA-c youth of
sixteen in the early twilight of an April
evening. It suggests rheumatism and lini
ment for two.
It is a little early yet for the trailing
arbutus, but the violets are opening their
sweet blue eyes among the crackling leaves
in sheltered nooks of the forest. The spring
poet should nob forget, hoAvever, to put ou
his rubbers. Nothing is so apt to chill the
soul of the poet as wet feet.
In tho city it is not always easy to fix the
exact time of Spring's arrival, but you can
generally tell by the garlic in the butter.
It is curious that the gentle kine should
prefer garlic to tho tender grass, but there
is no accounting for tastes in this world.
Spring is indeed a beautiful season. In
the spring the colored citizen hangs out the
sign "Whitewashing by John Brown," the
landlord puts up the rent, the devoted hus
band puts down the carpets, and the thrifty
housewife gets the last year's bonnet pressed
over again.
The toughest thing about Spring is Spring
lamb.
A great many thing3 happen in Spring
that do not occur at any other season of the
year Easter, for instance, Avhen flowers go
up and eggs go doAvn.
Nothing could be more enchanting than
the country in Spring, when the roads are
up to the hub in mud and the purling brook
is cavorting throngh the second-story win
dow. They are so fond of Spring along the
Mississippi that the people get out on the
roofs of their houses to look at it.
Spring used to be depicted by the painters
as a dainty maiden in short frocks and low
neck, but the artists of tho future Avill
probably throw in a waterproof and um
brella. However, Spring does not come
every year. When winter does not end until
the 31st of May there isn't always room for
it. The weather prophets, as we have said,
predict that we shall liave a good deal of
snow this Spring, but the editor of The
National Tribune would remind his read
ers that their subscriptions are already due.
TnE examination of Shipherd has resulted
so far in the establishment of the fact that
this second Colonel Sellers is more of a rogue
than a visionary, and that he takes a fiendish,
delight in imputing to others the motives
byAvhich he alone seems to bo actuated.
Not a scrap of evidence has so far been pro
duced to show that either ex-Secretary
Blaine or the late General Hurlbut ever
used his official position to advance the
schemes of this unscrupulous speculator,
and the more his pretensions are probed the
more evident it becomes that his claim to
the friendship and counsel of public men
of prominence Avas as baseless as tho fabric
of a 'dream. His sole capital appears to have
been "cheek," and he "overdrew his ac
count." That is all that the disclosures of
Mr. Shipherd have so far established.
ivroro Endorsements.
We print bcloAV two communications
from prominent members of the Grand
Army strongly endorsing The National
Tribune. Following so soon the flattering
letters from Commander-in-Chief Merrill
and General Ross, Chairman of the Execu-tiA-e
Committee on the National Encamp
ment, we naturally feel highly complimented
at theso voluntary testimonials from such
sources. It is evident that the rank as' well
as the -aloof tho Grand Army organization
fully appreciate our efforts to inaSe The
National Tribune a Avelcome visitor iu
the household of every ex-soldier in the
land. The letters are appended :
Baltimore Post Office,
Baltimore, April G, 1SS2.
Editor National Tribune:
Your very excellent paper is received and
renci Avith pleasure.
Your earnest advocacy of the cause of the
Union soldier and sailor, and the justice duo
them in equalization of bounties, &c, will
certainly meet Avith proper appreciation 1 7
them.
I Avish your paper the greatest success.
Very truly, &c,
Harrison Adkeon.
postmaster.
Headquarters Department of Dela-
avare, Grand Army of the Republic,
Assistant Adjutant General's Of-
ftce,
Wilmington, Del., April 7, 1SS2.
To tho Editor National Tribune:
I have your letter of yesterday and also
tAvo specimen copies of The National
Tribune you mailedto me. It is certainly
a valuablo soldiers' paper, brim-full of im-
portant and interesting information, late
and lively news and Grand Army topics.
I felt so well pleased over the copies you
sent mo that I have already mentioned it
favorably and showed the copies to other
frierds and comrades.
No soldier can afford to bo without it.
Enclosed please find ono dollar for my
subscription for The Tribune for one year.
Yours, &c,
John Wainatright,
Department Commander of Delaware.
