Evening star., 1869-11-17

The serisus discussion of the rem Dyal of tAe
National Capital il brought on a half century
too soon. The Americans have a practical.
utilitarian turn of n rd. They will probably not
turn to the rats and bats for their pero ,tai
occspation, Public Buildings costing fyrty NH
lions Of dollars, that have just been completed
After more than half century devoted - nt-
ting Public Edinces tor actual use, they, ;, 81
probably not cease to use them Just as they hay.
begun to use them. This would be un-Am ri
can. Tu after they have had the use of these
magnificent new structures in Washington !,
half or three-1uarters of a century, IL would not
be strange If the people should desire that Build
ings OF ,aster proportions, corresponding with
ed, and then the question of location wouli be-
come practical one- Ii the site of the t,api-
tai OF the country were changed o-tlay, il would
buildings could be erected for the accommoda-
ton OF the Governments different DEPART
ments. buildings like the National CAPITOL, the
moot magnificent structure of the kind in the
and Strasburg Cathedrals have been more than
two centuries in building and are unfinished
YET. The best of our public buildings have been
from thirty to forty years in process of construc-
ton. If our Capitol. Patent ONCE, Post Of
ice anu Treasury Buildings are abandoned now
more than half century OF labor will be vast
ed. Forty to fifty millions of property or assets
of the Government will be virtually cast into the
sea. Before we become so regardless of expen-
ses We had better pay our debts. 1t is a maxim
OF the equity courts that one must be just before
n
mcnts crt dtors to eSpend unlimited millions
for unnecessary purposes. We should begin to
live in more gorgeous style when our debts are
paid, not before.
This notion of having the political CAPITAL of
the country at the center of population or the
center Of wealth Of the country, is an impracti-
cable, fancifnl notion. IL it were at the center
OF population to-day it would not be Tomorrow
The center of wealth is perpetually shifting.
Some sections of the country are growing in
wealth more rapidly than others. 1t is vet i'm
possible to tell what place California will take
IN the catalogue of States. San Francisco NAV
rival New York, or Chicago may be second to
neither Ii is just as impossible to tell what will
be the future of the country now as to have pre-
dicted what would be its future when Washing
ton established its Capital on the Potomac
Some profess to be amazed, at Washingtons
blindness, and yet. a hundred years hence prob
ably as much amazement would be felt at the
stupidity VI those who now undertake to fix the
sitv Va the Carital at the center Of wealth or
population. 1t makes butlittle difference where
the Capital Is, provided it is not inaccessible.
Washington is as accessible now from every
natl thirty years ago. Itrequires no longer time
to 60 from Minnesota or California to Washing
ton now than it did to go from Columbus to
cleveland IN 1sfo. The argument in favor OF
change, based on inconvenience of access,
amounts to nothing, because there Is practically
no inconvenience of access, and never will be.
The capitals Of other countries occupy neither
the geographical centers nor any other centers.
London hangs on the verge of the United King
dom. ConstantinOple is on the border of Tur-
key. Paris and Berlin far removed from
the center in any sense of France and Prussia
Where facilities OF travelling are so great as in
the United states, a sufficiently large number of
Offce-holders and Office-seekcrs will doubtless
be able to reach Washington from the remOtest
paris Of the country, for many years to come.
The only present danger to be apprehended is
that this Capital-removing question will be
made political question. Contests for seats in
Congress may turn upon it, and Presidential
aul fafa
National Conventions be impOrtuned to resolve
IN favor of a change. At first view it looks like
a rich vein for first-class demagOgues to work.
but in the end it will not prove productive, rs
the sober sense of the people is against putting
the Capital Of the Republic on wheels. Since
the pro-slayery influence of Washington society
has ceased to affect legislation, the most serious
objection to that city as our Capital has been
1t will probably remain the Capital
of the Republic so long AS we have a Republic
Ohio State Journal.