Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-16
THINGS IN WASHINGTON.
The Peoples representative
Gossip. "a &
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial.

The Peoples representative
Gossip. ia &
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial.
REPRESENTATIVES OF CAPITAL.
OF all shameful things, however, the
most abominable are the members of Con-
gress, who represent certain interest of a
moneyed sort instead OF the people.
The creatures make almost a majority in
the House. Some of them are directly
| interested in the business they represent,
and SO vote money in their own pockets
directly. Mr.. Morrill,, for example, is one
of the owners of the heaviest iron works
in the United States. Every time this
gentleman opens his mouth to speak or
vote, the utterance is one in behalf of the
money he lives on. | believe this is not
denied. / never heard 'of any attempt
even at concealment Mr.. McCarthy.is
said to be heavily interested in the salt
monopoly. 1t is my duty, as it viii be
my pleasure, TO go through the list care
fully before long, and publish the names
and business of those men who unblush
ingly sell out their high positions for the
benefit of their private interests.
And what makes their conduct the
more shameful is that the laborers skilled
and unskilled employed by them receive
no benefit from their unjust legislation.
Increasing every saep their own benefits,
they increase the cost of living while they
lower wages. Protection means, if it
means anything, cheap labor and cheap
material. AS protection prospers, these
-, Ill
goes up full, the other goes down empty.
ROMANCE OF THE ARLINGTON.
Now that the gay season no longer af-
fords occupation for the thousand and one
oilers of Washington, bits of scandal and
strange stories are in active circulation.
Among these is one that has my late hotel
as the scene of action. We had observed
for some time strange sort of woman
excessively given to laces, and queer in
her ways, who was accompanied by
man about as odd in his get up, but evil
IDENTIFY her inferior in address. The two
were almost inseparable, and while the
woman seemed to be disposed to be gay
and chatty, the man was morosc, reserved
and rude. The guests of the house noticed
that the poor woman seemed to fear and
obey her companion, and that he seldom
lost sight of or ceased the quiet control
over her.
OF course all sort of surmises and stO-
ries were afloat, and see in the journals
travelling around, as such an item will,
an explanation which asserts that the poor
woman is Russian Princess harmlessly
insane, aud that the companion is her
keeper. Well, is this so? Idon't know,
and really to confess the truth don't
care. l only spoke of it to call attention
to what amount of mystery Russia is
called upon to solve in Washington. We
have for example, mysterious man here
of diplomatic character. He is known
to the sight of ali, but as well unknown
TO all when his origin and business IS dis
covered. lie frequents-ha may
say-the Diplomatic Corps. lie is fire.
quently seen in close confidential talk
with Charles Sumner, or Gen
eral Banks, while every lega-
ton IN Washington seems open
to him. He speaks every language
known; has the inner history of every
prominent man, and carries on a trCmen-
dous correspondence with distinguished
pumps abroad; while his dress does not
indicate a full purse. lean answer for
his digestion. lie dincd opposite to me
one day, and the amount Of prOvendcr
the unknown diplomat slowed away was
truly astonishing. On Rat-row, among
the journalistic ducks, it is said that he
eats at the British Legation off gold plate,
and sleeps in the Arlington elevator.
| asked no end of people who this
mysterious parsonage could be-and each
one speaking in low tone told me that
the stranger unknown was a ''Russian
spy" d. p.