Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1889 — Page 6

MONTANA’S ABUNDANCE.

A MAGNIFICENT CLIMATE AND A SOIL OF L'NSL’KPASSKD FERTILITY. Kesom’s Graphic Letter Descriptive of the Northwest, Particularly of Montana—ln* teresting Facts Gained by Actual Investigation. Gbeat Falls, Montana, Feb. 18, 1889. A man need not be very old to remember when Chicago was in the far West, and a journey beyond the Mississippi was like going into a far country. Now a dozen railroads run to the Rocky Mountains, and the Pacittc coast is separated from New York as Monday is from Saturday. Lewis and Clarko, whose wonderful trip in the early years of the century gave the world first knowledge of this vast region, wore over a year in reaching this locality, rowing, poling, and pushing their canoes for nearly 3.UUU miles against the swift current of the Missouri. Now it takes a day or two in a Manitoba palaco car or a frce-colonist sleeper to reach here, and no danger or privation and three good meals a day. Most people have been so accustomed to look upon this part of the continent as so far north, so cold, so snowy, so far away—and a lot of other so-so’s—that it would probably never be a fit abode for mankind; hut the facts show to the contrary. Why, diundreds of miles north of here there is a country with winters no more severe than those of the north New England States, and summers more suitable to the growing of grains. We are separated from that region by the forty-ninth parallel, an imaginary political boundary which nature will not take into account when adjusting affairs in the future. The intermingling of people of the same blood, speech, religion, ideas, and ambitions will obliterate it. Statesmen have foretold it and business interests will hasten it. Those who think Dakota and Montana are sections of the arctic region slipped down out of placo should look to the east. Tae south lino of Dakota is the foity-third parallel of north latitude. Follow’ this line across the Atlantic ’and much of Europe will be found lying north of it. All of Britain and Norway and Sweden lie a full degree above the northern boundary of our two great Territories. Edinburgh, St. Petersburg, Stockholm. and Christiana, in the midst of a swarming population, arc on the parallel of Sitka, Alaska. And Sitka is as far from Great Falls as the Gulf of Mexico. England and the north of Europe are made habitable bv the influence of the Gulf Stream. The Kuro-Siwo— tho Black Ocean river of the Asiatic coast—or tho Japan Current, gives to this northwestern region the same mildness of climate that tho Gulf Stream 'loes to Northern Europe, and why .should not' this country, like that, be flHeel w’lth life and industry? Water heated oft' the coast of Southern Asia sweeps across tho Pacific Ocean and tempers the climate of our western coast nearly up to the Arctic Circle, This river of warmth gives to British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon winters so mild that Ice is a scarce article, even in Sitka, while roses bloom in tho gardens along the coast at Christmas time. Imparting its heat to the air, which, ascending, passes over tho Rocky Mountains much lower hero than in the south, it affects the climate of a rot ion larger than the original United States. Comparisons of temperature made with the Atlantic coast are most favorable to Montana. The rivers of .Montan i close later and open earlier than those of States far south of this parallel. The Missouri liivor here is clear of ice a month earlier than it is ut Omaha. In the light of existing knowledge who will say that up to tho (loth parallel in this northwest is not as capable of being settled as Russia an 1 Norway and Sweden south of that line? Glance at tho physical features of this portion of the continent and one will seo a great plain sipping northward. It is tho latitude of the continental water system. Nowhere else in the world is there such a succession of lakes and Navigable rivers; no other country possesses such an area of ■agricultural land so intersected by fresh water. Within a radius of 1,000 miles is half the fresli water of the globe. At Grand Forks, Dakota, tho Red River is less than 1.000 feet above tho sea. Follow tho river ■to its mouth. Lake Winnepog, and it has descended 300 feet, and in a boat one can steam westward on tho Saskatchawan more than 1,000 miles, and then double tho distance on other rivers. Follow tiie Rod River to its source in Lake Traverse, and in high water a boat can reach Big ■Storm Lake, the source of tho Minnesota, and thence pass to tho Mississippi, thus joining Hudson’s Bay and the Gult of Mexico. Two hundred miles to the cast is Lake Superior and a water way to the Atlantic. Three hundred miles to the west tho Missouri can be reached, and tho traveler be borne into the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. from whose western side another mighty river springs—the Columbia—and leaps to a different sea. After the Mississippi and Missouri tho Columbia draws the largest basin in the republic. From Lake Superior along tho northern boundary of the republic to tne Pacific Ocean the average altitude is less than 2,000 feet above tho sea. It is the only lino on which connected agricultural settlement can be made across the continent. It is tho cereal belt, and history shows that mankind gathers in larger numbers where food is most abundant and cheapest. South of hero is the roof of the continent; tho plains of Colorado are almost as high as tho mountains of Montana; Denver, surrounded by productive farms, is a half-mile higher than the average of Montana’s valley and plains. Between Omaha and Sacramento there is a continuous elevation of quite 4,000 feet. Ascending every 300 I'eot makes a difference of one 1 degree in temporaturo. Of the twenty-two States and Territories west of the Mississippi, each ohe is Jargor than all of Now England, while Dakota and Montana each possess aroa double that of the New England States. Montana, scaioely known by name in England, is larger than all of Great Britain, and is richest per capita of all American commonwealths. Single counties of Montana are larger than fair-sized Eastern States. The counties of Choteau and Dawson, in North Montana, contain more acres than the State of lowa. With tho exception of a few mountains and high buttes, the whole of the two counties is described as a rolling prairie, covered with grass and lifted with running streams. The main rivers are the Missouri, Milk. Marias, Sun, and Teton, a total of 1,200 miles of waterways, not to, speak of numerous tributaries, aft flowing through valleys of generous width and of great depth and richness of soil. Here tho story of the buffalo was closed. Strange that the American people, usually sagacious, so long considered this Western land as sterile and worthless, regardless of the fact that it gave support to countless heads of untamed cattle. It is no doubt true that an.mal life had its •origin in tho warmer climates, but it is also trup that the colder climates have developed the most sturdy, energetic and brainy races of men as weft as the best breeds of domestic animals. Frost and health lines seem to bo synonymous. The races of the frost climes are the most vigorous; it is the lesson of history that Northern nations have always been more successful in war and progressive in peace than their Southern neighbors. The material and moral conquest, of the-worJd belongs to the races of tho frost lands; they have been the most energetic explorers and pioneers, the most adventurous colonizers, the most active merchants, the best (founders of governments, and the

wisest of rulers. Sanitary statistics prove the healthfulness of the Northwest lor both mankind and animal life. There is more sunshine here than in the East, and invalids begin to come and ilnd health under the genial skies. Tne conditions, too, are most favorable to tho stock industry. There is an abundance of grass, the most nutritious of food. tho climate is invigorating and heuthful, water is abundant, and everything favors the conversion of the products of field and pasture into the finest beef, mutton and pork, into symmetrical and enduring horseflesh, into wool, and into that most useiul of aft domestic animals, the milch cow. Sheep do remarkably well, and the business has assumed such magnitude that the flock-masters have a Territorial organization and support a monthly called the Montana Wool Grower, published at Fort Bouton, and wool shipments annually run into millions of pounds. Sheep pelts and cow hides have taken the place of buffalo hides and furs which formerly gave prominence to this region. Horses do quite as well as sheep, and tva y year increases the demand for Montana horses. The mounted police of the British Dominion draw their supplies from this Territory, and in a recent call for the purchase of cavalry horses for the United States army the Quartermaster General exp eased a preference for Montana stock. The possibilities of the country, however, are not confined to stock raising alone; tho soil is exceedingly rich, and wherever cultivated yields prolific crops. The first settlers gave little attention to agriculture, and it has only been in recent years that they found out what the country is capable of in this direction. Sixty bushels of wheat to tho acre is not uncommon, and other graius in proportion. Potatoes, onions and qther root crops and vegetables are easily produced and the yicll is oiten enormous. . The demand lor farm produce among the miners and stock raisers has so far kept prices at high figeggs and butter in particular bringing about double tho prices of the States. The coming of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railioad has given great impetus* to affairs in North Montana, and tho next few years will witness a marvelous growth. No transcontinental road passes through a region of such varied wealth as lies between the mountains and the Mississippi Iliver. Passing through tho granary of Dakota—tho valleys of the Ited and the Mouse—the vast pasture fields and valleys of Montana, it taps the granite vaults of the great hills, lifted with gold and silver and copper, but guarded with time locks, to be fully opened now by the advent of competitive railway facilities. A rough mountain is valueless for agricultural purposes, but when lull of rich ores a single acre as a wealth, producer compensates for thousands ot acres of arable land. Montana is the richest mineral bearing district in the United States; tho output of precious metals last year led ill tho other States and Terr.tpries. the total being nearly onefourth of tho entire production of the country. The dream of the alchemist has been realized; tho laborer of yesterday is the millionaire of to-day. The mountains are not only lined with veins of precious metals, but iron, lead, coal, and building stone exist in limitless quantities. Goal is scattered over the entire Territory, in North Montana cropping out in many places along tho Missouri and other rivers. North of tho Missouri River, along ihe St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad,tho coal is of tho conch shell formation, black and shiny, and bums to a red ash, while the variety south of the river is known as tho Peacock coal, on account of its chromatic coloring, and leaves a white ash. Tho coal of the plains, eastward into Dakota, is lignite, but the mountain coal is bituminous. Tho other day I went into a coal mine, eight miles from Groat Falls, in which the vein was ten loot thick, ttie entrance being in the side of a Hill under a heavy roof of rock. It could not have been more conveniently planned by man. This mine is reached by a brunch of tho Manitoba. Tho extension of the Manitoba road, tho rapid and solid construction of which was one of the mechanical feats of the ago, has opened up a largo area of both agricultural and mining territory, and tho wise and practicable course of the compaey in dealing with the public will soon result in large settlement and great prosperity to the entire country traversed.

Near where tho Hun River enters the Missouri is the city of Groat Falls, irom whence I write. It is 100 miles from Helena und 40 miles from Fort Benton. From here to the Gulf, as the river runs, it is farther than from Chicago to London. To St. l’uul it is 1,073 miles. There are live distinct ranges of mountains in sight from tho city, and none nearer than 35 miles, yet a person not familiar with this air would declare it an after-supper walk to reach any of them. Tho valleys and plains leading up to those mountains aro covered witli grass. As far as the eve can reach, and a thousand times further, notan acre is valueless, and in time will be covered with farms and stock ranches. Much of it is still government laud and froo to settlers. The grandeur is not all in sky pictures, lofty mountains, winding rivers and grassy plains, but near by is a cataract second only to Niagara, with an aceomoanimont of other falls, giant springs and cuscudes—a combined fall of over SUO feet—which must make this a lending Northwestern resort. Henceforth the great river will not be allowed to idle away its timo in rushing and leaping, year in and year out, over the rooks. It is boing put to work for the good of tho human race, grinding wheat and corn, weaving cloth, crushing ores, sawing lumber, and in inuking this a great mart of industry—a city of homes, of comfort and prosperity. Already the most perfectly arranged smelter in the country for handling gold and silver ores is in operation, with a daily capacity of 250 tons, and so constructed that enlargement can be made to I.OUO tons without an increase of buildings or machinery. A rollec flour-mill, the first industry inaugurated, is the only one for 1,000 miles along the upper Missouri. A great grain region is already a tributary, and sooner or later a . railroad from hero will penetrate tho wheat-fields and pasture lands of tho Saskatchawan, far to tho north; evon now the project is being formulated. Readers of this will live to see a railroad to Asia and Europo by way of Alaska and Behring Strait. Iron and steel works, woolen factories, and other industries are contemplated at Great Falls, and not a tithe of the river’s strength is yet laid out; there is power enough to build up a Minneapolis and a Lowell combined. With wide streets, spacious business blocks, line residences, churches, and school-houses, a city is being reared by men born in the East but developed in the West. Barely in its third year, it supports two bright daily papers. Nature could not have made a more suitable site for a city, and one laid out on a scale commensurate with its mighty surroundings. There are already three railroads, tho St. Paul. Minneapolis and Manitoba, tho Montana Central, and the Neihart Valley. The former, ih connection with tho Union Pacific at Butte, gives from St. Paul a through line to Washington Territory, Oregon, and California.

Not on His Knee, Though.

The ’bus was full inside, and the conductor said, “Will any gentleman ride outside to oblige a lady?” There was a dead silence, until Tompkins said with a grin, “The lady can sit on my knee if she likes.” The lady happened to be Mrs. Tompkins. She said coldly she wouldn’t trouble him, but she sat upon him when sh(t got borne.

CAPITAL POT-POURRI.

WASHINGTON SOCIETY'S GAT WHIRL AND AMBITIOUS SOLON'S. Legislative Monotony Broken by the Smalls-Elliott Contest, 'Which Resulted Favorably to the Latter —Internal Kev«. nue and External Events of Interest. (SPECIAL COREA-POX PENCE.] Washington, D. C., Feb. 19, 1889. The House is again w restliug with the tariff bill, which has been reported back from the Mills committee with the somewhat startling resolution that tho action of the henate in substituting a now bill for that sent for its c< nsideration is in conflict with section 7, article i, of the Constitution, which provides that all bills lor raising revenue shall originate in ihe House of Representatives. Tne report also directs that tne fcknate tariff bill l e refeircd back to the body bom which it came. Mr. McKinley wanted to file a minoiitv rotor,, but his lesolution making the request whs laid on i he table. The House Appropriations Committee, to which Mr. Cowles’ internal ieven e bill was referred, contrary to ail precedent, has favorably reported a substitute, prepared by Mr. McMilliu, and lively times aie anticipated over its consideration, as ihe Ways and Means Committee declare that it shall not go on the calendar if they can prevent it. The bill, as it now stands, has eliminated all moonshiner clams, and provides that after July next all laws now in foice whereby farmers arid producers of tobacco aro restricted in tl e sale and disposition of the same, and all laws re ating to the internal revenue taxes ou manufactured tobacco, snuff, cigars, etc., and the special taxes required by law to be paid by manufacturers of and dealers in leaf tobacco, peddlers of tobacco, snuff, cigars, and manufacturers of snuff and cigars, shall be rep .ub d. Congressman Springer s ups Riid downs over tho omnibus bill ar rather tantalizing. In the flush of victory his collea ues went back on him, as Mr. Cox, the leader of the revolt, has been known to do before,and instructed the conferrees ou tho Territorial Committee to concur iu tho S nate report and to so amend the measure as lo provide for the admission of South Dakota under the Sioux Falls Constitution by proclamation of the Tresident without, a new vote being taken on the question of tlivis oa, and to provide for the almission of North Dakota. Montana, and Washington Territory by proclamation, which, in the case of No.tli Dakota, is more than the Senate demanded admission for in this way. New Mexico is to be dropped irom the lurther deliberation of the conference committee. Commissioner Obtrly has been here for some time fn relation to the timber cutting grant 3 in the Northwest, and tho mi ter has been attracting much attention. It all grew out of n di-a-greement between the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and Secretary Vilas as to the trustworthiness of Agent Gregory. It is said that an effort is on foot to induce General Hardison to re am Mr. Oberly in his present position, n» anew m in c uld not possibly acquire the knowledge of the lights of Indian claims w hich that genileman possesses, without long service and close study. Tho appropriation by Cougress of s2si),uuo for the protection of American citi/.enß at Panama gives general satisfaction. Two years ago the present administration sent vessels of war to make the transit tree and to protect American citizens who had been stranded on the island without means or work. Elliott has been finally seated as a Representative in Congress, after the most exciting scene witnessed in the House during the fiftieth session. When Johnson, of Indiana, sought to interrupt Crisp, who was chief spok Bman for Elliott, the latter met him w ith the remaik that the gentleman hailed from a t-tate where thoy resorted to “blocks of five." This brought the Indiana Republicans to their feet. Mr. Crisp declined to permit interruptions, and in the midst o> the uproar his time expired. Then a scene of intense tumult and co.iiusion ensued. During the delivery of Mr. Crisp's speech t le main atsles of the House had become thronged with members of both parties, who kept up an incessant demuud for tho regular order. The Speaker pro tern, atiompted vainly to quell the tumult, which was gradually assuming the proportions of a riot. He was finally compelled to c ill upon the Sergeant-at-arms, who, with the silver mace of authority, proceeded up the main aisle, scattering the members on all sides; but even with his assistance it was many minutes before the presiding officer could bring the legislative haft to a comparative quiet. Republican leaders are prone to oriticise the manner in which the contest was precipitated, ai they consider that it led to a split on party lines which killed the chance they had for Smalls. The Oates bill for the reformation of naturalization laws has been favorably reported, and it is generally conceded that there is imminent need of some action being taken in this direction. Numerous complications have arisen with other countries from foreigners taking out naturalization papers here simply to escape serving in the army o, their native land, to which they return upon accomplishing their mission to the United States. Cndir the existing laws thtre is nothing to deny citizenship even to idiots, insane, paupers criminals,or others who lmve come into the United States in flagrant violation of our immigration laws. This might bo a good time to traverse Mrs. Olymphia Brown a recent suggestion, which sets forth that the only means by which it is possible for us to preserve our American institutions and counterbalance the number of foreign votes is to give woman the right of suffrage. Tho Department of Agriculture is a thing of certain y, and Norman J. (Jolman is the fullfledged Cabinet officer who will preside over it the next few days. It is altogether too bad of the present administration to add further to President-elect Harrisons dilemma of ths yet enigmatical Cabinet slate, which now, so it is reported, has written indelibly across its face the names of Blaine, Rusk and Wanamaker. t The other five are in shadow sketches, discernii b!e to the eye of the coming President only j Mr. Thomas’ boom for Secretary of the Navy I grows apace, notwithstanding Mr. Cnandler’s strong opposition, which ho recently took occasion to exhibit fly having the paragraph providing for the construction of an armored steel , cruising monitor, hci ording to the pluns furi uisheil by Congressman ’Thomas, struck out of | the navy appropriation bill. Perry Belmont’s predicament In Madrid cause! quite a ripple of fun when it became known th i other d ty. When Mr. Belmont prepared himself for presentation to tbe Kir g he was informed that the t-punish Government had i received no official notification of the withdrawal of Mr. Curry as tho United States Mia- ' ister. The Spanish court is nothing if not forj mal, and in tho absence of this notification Belmont's cred ntials possessed no significance. Under the circums'ances, it was not good form for him to remain in Madrid, or appear in public. Therefore, he weut into letirenient at Seville, to wait until the State Department should furnish the requisite notificat on. ; Hon. A. E. Stevenson, First Assistant Postj mast or General, was not so fortunate in his late nomination by the President to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia as was Mr. Colman in his appointment co new honors. Colonel Stevenson is very popular with both Republican and Democratic Senators, but his nomination will bo allowed to hang unacted upon in the r om on the Committee on Judiciary. There are one t hies Justice of the District Court and five associates. Shoud Stevenson be confirmed, there would be three Democrats and three Republicans on the bench. Should the nomination be enacted upon, there will be a vacancy for General Harrison to fill, which will cause the court to stand four Republicans and two Democrats. This wou’d be a state of things much more to the taste of Senator George F. Edmunds, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and he can be trusted to allow Colonel Stevenson’s judicial ambition to remaining unrealized. Tho fever-heat of society is beginning to cool ns the outgoing administration nears its end. But it will flare again into a flitting, hectic brilliancy with the incoming glory of the inaugural before it finally dies in the fastings of Lent, wh ch begins Marchs. The social triumph ol Mrs. Chief Justice F iller is one of the leading topics of conversation in fashionable circles. At Chicago, her former home, si.e took very little part in society on account of family cares, and her daughters were not much interested in such pleasures, being of studious inclinations and brought up to habits of usefulness. The principal social entertainnnnts of Mr. Fuller’s household were then confined to dinners to his gentlemen friends. As the first lady of the National Judiciary, Mrs. Fuller at once entered into the performance of the social duties of her position, so important in the politico-social affairs of ihe capital. Her i first appearance, surrounded by her four daughj ters, on New Year’s day, was an ovation. Her parlors were crowded wij£i representatives of

SESOM

the highest branches of the Government. Her drawing-rooms sir.ee have been tbe rendezvous of fashion. Hers, If and daughters have received spec al social honors, particularly at the Executive Mansion. Before tne end of the first season the ladies of the family of the C ief Justice ha\e taken a place in the first rank of the social sphere at the capital, whioh is all the more interesting as their tenor of social longevity will be limited only by liie. The President's card reception to the officers of the army, navy, and marine corps was unusuallv well attended. After the Presidential party had descended irom the upper corridor at V o’clock and passed mio the Bine Room, tbe crowd which hail tx en forced back to allow them to go through closed in. and anything like volun. ary movement alter that time to the close of tbe reception was a literal impossibility. Mrs. Cleveland’s gown was of black brussela net with dir->ctoire basque of scarlet faille, the 1< ng pos ilion ends <>l which led to the edge of the train. Revers o while silk finished tbe low neck corsage and be d in place the Rhort puff d sleeves of scartet faille A spray of- diamonds was worn on the corsage Miss Bayard sirod next to Mrs. < leveland, and wore peachblow satin I rocade and lace, with pearl ornament*. Tbe niair age of Mis i Sophia 1). Markoe.whose fa her w s thefir.-t secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to Prof, I mmons, of geological fame, was one of the so ial events ot the week and was a very pretty wedding, indeed. A valentine lilac lunch was given in honor of ex-Gov. Alger’s daughter, of Michigan, and the Misses Dare, at which Miss Blaiue and Miss Quay were notable guests. The Bavards, whoe home has been noted during tbe admin is ration for its hospitality, have closed their entertainments with the last of tneir Monday night receptions. Mrs. Trances Hodgson Burnet is at her new home on Massachusetts avenue and has resumed her Tuesday receptions. The noted dinners of the week were the one given in homr of James Russell Lowell by Secretary and Mrs. Eudicott, the second Cabinet dinner by Postmaster General and Mrs. Dickinson in honor of tbe Tresident and Mrs. Cleveland. and ti e third dinner dance of tbe season by Mr. and Mrs. John McLean. Mrs. Ha risen bon'innrs to riceive a large number of le ters tbe m ority of them asking her to intercede wi h the Genmal to secure the writers an office of some kind. As soon as sue gets far enough along in tfie reading of a letter to ascertain that it is of an office-seeking ebara ter, sue stops right there, consigns the epistle to her waste-ha ket, und the appeal is never under any circumstances brought to the a tention of ih > General. This is in accordance with a role adopted bv her short!v after the General’s elec ion. and sue has stated that she proposed to observe it scrupulously and impattially during the entire time oi her result nee in Washington. Mrs. Harrison emphatically states that “when the wife of the President wants to go anywhere, she is roifig, and ttotis all there is of it.” It is probable that Mr 3. Harrison will shock some of the snobs at Washington. If the General will do the 6arue by tbe men who think they are specially commissioned to run him there will be some fun ahead. Mobse.

STATUE OF GEN. CASS.

It Was Unveileil in Statuary Hull, in 'Washington, on the 18th Inst. [WASHINGTON CORBESPONDENCB.I "Washington, D. C., Feb. 19. Michigan’s first contribution to Statuary Hall —the statue of Lewis Cass-was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies in this city yesterday. The statue stands seven feet high. The subject, Gen. Cass, is represented standing erect, with his head inclined upward and his broad shoulders thrown hack. He is delivering an address. He stands firmly on both feet as a stout man is generally in tho habit of doing. In his left hand he holds a roll of manusi ript, while his right rests on ari op -n book or stand over which is thrown a cloak suen ns was worn in his day. He is attired hi a dress suit of the Websterian period,

such as -was always worn by United States Senators in the chamber. The swallow-tail coat has an immense rolling velvet collar and tight sleeves. The irousers are fastened down by a strap under the boot, and a fob chain hangs from the pocket. He wears a high collar and stock, revealing his full throat. The statue rests on a pedestal of light Tennessee marble, on the front of which is the coat of arms of the State of Michigan. There is no other inscription on the pedestal, and the plinth of the statue bears simply the name, “Lewis Cass.” All who had the privilege of viewing the statue unveiled regarded the work os satisfactory. The sculptor has succeeded not only in presenting an oxcellent mode! of the gre it statesman, but has created a statue full of character and expression as well. Lewis Cass was bom at Exeter, N. H., in 1782. He took part in the ■ e eat of the British under General Proctor at the battle of the Thames, in Canada, in October, isli. At the close of that campaign he was left in command of Michigan, with his headquarters at Detroit, and almost immediately was appointed Civil Governor of the Territory. In lord he was associated with General Harrison in a commission to treat with the Indians who had been hostile to the United Sta.es during the war. During eighteen years his management of Indian affairs was governed by remarkable wisdom and prudence. He negotiated twenty-two distluct treaties, securing tho cession to the United States Dy the various tribes of the immense regions of tho Northwest, instituted surveys, constructed roads, and, in short, set in motion all the mach nery of civilized government. In January, 1845. he was elected to the United States Senate from Michigan, which place he resigned on his nomination in May, 1848, as Democratic candidate for the Presidency. After the election of his opponent General Taylor, he was, in 184'J, re-elected to the Senate for the unexpired portion of his original term of six years. Being re-elected for a second term of six years from March, 1851, he still continued a prominent Democratic candidat- for the Presidency, bu; in 1852, as in 1814, be was unsuccessful. This defeat terminated Gen. Cass' aspirations for the Chief-Magistracv and he remained a member of the Senate until the expiration of his term. In 1857, when Mr Buchanan entered upon his administration, Gen. Cass aco-pted the office of Secretary of State. President Buchanan's message denying the existence of any power in the Constitution by which the General Government can coerce a State wastiot openly disapproved by Mr. Cass in the Cabinet meeting where it was first read. Eight days afterward, however, he reasserted the Jacksonian principles of 1832-’33, and when Mr. Buchanan refused to re-enforce Maj. Anderson ai d reprovision Port Sumter he promptly resignei. His resignation terminated a public career of fifty-six years’ duration. During the civil war his sympathies were with the national arms and it was a great satisfaction to him to him that his life was spared to see the ultimate triumph of the Government over a rebellion that for a time th erteued its existence. Gen. Casa died at Detroit in 1806.

EDGERTON'S TART TALK.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT —ACCUSED OF PLAYING FALSE. The Deposed Civil Service Commissioner Accuses Cleveland of Piaying False with the Mugwumps in Order to Please the Democrats. [Washington special telegram.] • Judge A. P. Edgerton, who was recently removed from the office of Civil-Service Commissioner, has written an open letter to the President. He says among other things : “I was indebted to yon for the only appointive office 1 ever held. Yon now declare by your own action that you regret the appointment." I with equal right can say that I regret the acceptance. Your regret was never mode known to me by you in any word or utterance or action until now, at the close of your administration and on the day b fore my removal. Of course, if you believed me unfit for ihe position or neglectful of duty, you should have removed me long ago, but I presume there were prudential political reasons why you did not make the removal until after the election. In this regard it would

almost seem as if you wore willing to plav false with the mugwumps to enable you to win with ti e Democrats. And here permit me to define the term mugwump as referring to a class of 1 o.itical reformers who have the spirit of leformation without the common sense and good judgment to reform, as rof< rms are not effected by unjust personal denunciation, hut by reason. “The result of the election placed you in a dilemma from which lew people would have known how to extricate themselves. You found a man on > our hands whom the mugwumps had declared war upon, an enemy to their civilservico reform theories, and your plan of becoming their representative in the future would be weakened or defeated if an assurance of your fidelity to their cause could not be secured. Accordingly, it appears that you decided upon the removal of the head of the commission, and, deeming Mr. Thompson a good enough mugwump for them, you therefore demand: d my resignation that you might appoint him, apparently as an atonement for your previous inaction. “Mr. President, with duo couriesy to tho high office you hold, allow mo to say lhat you are a very peculiar man, a positive man; positively wrong or positively right, and therefore an unsafe man to trust; and that element in your character I believe Jed to your defeat. Pope says: 'Tho most positive m» n are the most credulous, since they most believe themselves and advise moßt with their fellow-flatterers und worst enemies.’ Being one of that kind of positive men yourself, you have kep. some men of like character arouud you who aie positive only in their malace and c’oncoit. They flatter you and have the conceit that would minify themselves and the malignity that would detract Irom others. Juvenal says; ‘There is nothing a man will not believe in his own favor.’ You were credulous enough to believe that you were e ected President by the mugwumps, and, therefore, you permitted them to malign your real friends and to flatter jou into a policy which led to your defeat. You are a man who would not permit your real friends to admonish you with ireedom and confidence, and as a result you have suffered for the want of friends, and your wrecked an» wretched greatne-s has discovered that there is no true success in life without the power and blessing of friendship. You beiiove that your wdl anil power to enforce it was above all powers, but the will of the people expressed in a constitutional w r ay has 1 aught you that there was a wiser and better way than that chosen by you. “Having sworn to support the civil-service law it has .been my constant eflort to do so; but I never did swear to support a mugwump interpretation of it, based on a monstrous ussnmtion that the commission was independent of law. How many poor unfortunates have been denied the advantages and beueftts of the law by questions never contemplate by it, nnd how many expenses have been incurred through unnecessary and devious requirements and practices, it is not my purpose at this time to stale. “You will be censured and condemned because you put no trust in your own party, but Believed yourself to be better than your own and greater than all parties. You have ascertained that the' many are not made for the one. You can find as many reasons for removing me as the Democratic party, through an indifference which was simply retaliatory, had for removiug you. I shall be quite willing to remain with you in the gloom of defeat." The Judge then gives his understanding of the civil-service law, and alluding to his removal Bays;

“I dcynot ask you to give any reason for this act. X know, and so do you. that the only one you could give would be that it was your will, for if you attempted to give any other your own previous words would prove it to be untrue. In my interviews with you before the remo ai you expressly disclaimed having any reason for it except my refusal to resign to enable; you to make Mr. Thompson’s nomination. “I can point to another removal than mine, beyond a parallel, to go down through history when I shall be forgotten. Before Ido so, let me refer, as pToof of your ignorance of public opinion and not of your indifference to it, to what you say in the Sun article of Mr. Burnes, of Missouri, as one not guilty of the annoyance to which you were subjec ed by the country members of Congress introducing to you tbeir constituents, beoause he alwavs presented his constituents at public receptions. If Mr. Burnes were living he could tell you another reason, which he often told to others, that he had been rudely treated by you, and nad no respect for you personally, and ascr.bed the defeat of the Democratic party to your ignorance of it. it was qeccssary that you should make some such explanation for your attack upon the ‘wayback ’ members, but you were unfortunate in the selection of your witness—one of the ablest and noblest legislators in Congress. “But to the case of removal, which must become an important part of the history of the country. 1 was on tbo floor of the House of Representatives during the time the votes of the Electoral College were counted and heard the announcement of tho result—that Beniamin Harrison was duly electod President of the United States ; but ibe Xvords that burned deep through the empty boxes of the administration could not be officially added, though known to be true, in place of Grover Cleveland, removed.’ By whom, and for wlmt cause removed? The answer is now being made in every home, in every business in the" land, ana history will inscribe it upon all its records.” Judge Edgerton criticises the conduct of one of the other Commissioners, without mentioning his name, and concludes us follows: “I am justified in stating one single fact of mischievous distrust and wrong-doing on the part of a‘commissioner in charge.' Collector Magone, of New York, addressed to me a ‘ personal ’ letter, thus marked ou the envelope, the postage paid, no indication mat it could be official, on the inside also marked ‘ personal,’ and this letter was opened and read by tho ‘ commissioner in charge’ and forwarded to the other commissioner, then in Boston, and by him answered before the letter was sent to me, then at home in the West. Erom such sources as this have come nearly all of the attacks upon me, and, I doubt not, most of the misrepresentations of my opinions made to you. Whether they had any influence is questionable.”