Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-08-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.

erS VIII nave clear and vivid remem-
brance of the singularly uninviting ap-
pearance of this CITY of magnificent dis
tances." when first entering it in '62,
after the vigorous campaign of the Val
ley" under Fremont, and the subsequent
disasters under Pope. Except the u. S.
Public buildings, and a few parks near
them, everything was shabby, loose, slip
shod, filthy, repulsive, shocking to every
refined taste or sensibility. Shame
Shame We inyoluntarily exclaimed, that
our capital" the "Capitap of a great
Nation, our "CIty of Washington" should
be so shabbily, repulsively clothed in the
dirty rags of foul corruption. We felt
grieved, sorrow-stricken, degraded, in our
own house. And why this saddening pic
ture? Why this lack of thrift? Why
this want of interest so manifest? Why
these villainous filthy streets-these rick
ETY. dwellings?-these swamps of milari-
GUS elements? Why this record of con-
tinual crime and debauchery, Riot, Muir
der, and all manner of wrong? Why this
vivid and discouraging, humiliating con-
trast to all our noble, rich and prosperous
cities North? All! here, right here, we
have the answer unmistskable as the shi-
ming noon day sun. The Beast was here.
His 'marR was upon the City, upon ev-
cry dwelling, every hamlet, outside and
in every street, lane and sewer, every
highway and by way, as you went up or
went down. Every man, and woman,
every child; every countenance, and eV-
cry accent of the voice, even the very
dogs in the street and horse in the man
ger seemed to manifest the effects
of the blighting power of the terrible
"mark.". 1t was evident that it was ut
terly impossible in the very nature of
cause and effect, for City to prosper and
flourish under the influence of such blast
ing elements as were in and surrounding
it. 1t could not be. But the strife and
struggle for ''rule or ruin" had commen-
| ced, had been sprung upon US by the
fathers and feeders of the Beast. New
elements sprang to life. A new spirit
entered the Capitol" A new power
commenced its renovating labor, the foul
and blighting "Mark" was gradually, res
olutely and surely being removed. The
| light of thrift, enterprise and progress
too were here. Their earnest, glowing
cOuntenances, and quick, vigorous steps
were sure indications of who they were
and where they came from, and the pur.
poses of their hearts. The new light
brought new life, and Washington SC
long dead-so long corrupt-so long 6
| byword, shame and stencil, sprang into a
real being in day and night as it were
and came forth clothed in habiliments ot
comparative comeliness, neatness and
beauty. The mark" of shame and re
proach removed, at least over shadowed
| by the glorious and starry flag, emblem
Of universal liberty. Thus we looked up
on our Capital a twelve month or more
ago, when our mighty and triumphant
'Army of the Union" marched so proud
/ ly in grand review through its broad
streets; and it 10as grand review, a mighty
and brilliant military pageant, such as
the world never beheld before. Every
heart felt the unexampled granduer oi
the inspiring scene. Every soul was en-.
larged and more firmly hailowed to liber.
ty and Union by the cheering and ire
sistible influence. There was but one
thing to mar our joys, but one shading
cloud to call forth involuntarily the tear
of sorrow from the heart. The good, the
true, the noble fallen brave, the loved of
every home and hamlet scattered upon q
thousand fields, mourned forever, remem.
bered and honored forever,-and, alas
our "Chief''-that great and noble, that
good man; he who had proved himself
the Wisest and best among millions
That man, whom the soldier, the army,
all leaned to love and revere as father,
had been foully, murderously stricken
from our rejoicing number; that he could
not behold in the flesh the effects of the
great and good work he had done so much
to accomplish. In that hour of rejoicing,
though we so deeply mourned the loss OF
our chief, yet we thought we had anoth-
er, a man good and true to liberty to fill
his place; that peace and quietness was be-
fore us; that our country would grow
and bud and blossom as the morning rose.
| That our "Capital" would receive of its
spirit and profit by its nsl0 life. Our hearts
were hopeful and buoyant, even under
our great Affections, for we had won the
great prize, "liberty for al, ,"-and it SEEM
ed as if we must prosper. A year has roll
led past, and what do our eyes behold?
Our hearts almost stop their puIsating
as we anxiously make the inquiry. What
do we see to day? The business so pros
porous last year. The extensive buildings,
and general improvement then, almost
stopped now. Paralyzed by some power
full influence, some seemingly impending
trouble and calamity. Men are anxious,
uneasy, trembling for the future, not for
want of money, not in fear of CONNER
cial disaster, or financial ruin, not a ques-
ton of that kind, but eVey man feels that
something Is s0rOng. A danger perhaps un-
defnable but surely existing. What is
| it, that thus affects the barometer of the
| public heart? 1t is evident, manifest
treachery, dishonest betrayal of great
trust, by men in high places! 1t is this
abandonment of great principles by men
entrusted with power, that prompts the
question, "In whom can the people relyP,
on whom depend in the day of trouble?"
Yes, sir, that's the cause. Treachery, be-
trayal, broken promises to a confding
and hopeful people. The popular heart
is sensitive and beats quick to such high
deeds of injury. 1t is time to take sound
ings or this "old ship of liberty" will be
wrecked upon the sand bars, shoals and
rocks of new revolution to which she
seems to be rapidly drifting. We are sell
dom alsrmists, but the times are getting
sadly out Of trim. There seems to be men
at the helm, and others that are deter
mined to get there who would ruin the
State if they could. 1t is time to awake
to the great principles of civil liberty es-
tablished by our able Congress. 1t is
time to look to the laurels freedom so
lately won by our armies and their great
chieftains, or they will be stricken from
our crowns of honor and renown. Stand
by the right though the heavens fall
Cling forever for the rights and liberty of
all. Desert not the old ship our fathers
have built, better not have been born,
than stained with such guilt. If the
people but see the danger, they have
the wisdom and power to avert it. We
would arouse them, that they may see IL.
o. E. B.