Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-08-02
FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
WASHINGTON. D. c., July %, 20.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 26, 20.
Editor Republaaa:-The city in
sumner is something entirely different
from the city in winter, mainly, [ pre-
sumo, because everybody Of any conse-
quence is out of town and rusticating
in the country. Private houses are
shut up, many hotels closed, the streets
almost deserted in short everything in
dicates that whoever can is having va
cation. The only ones left are the
officials in the several departments, and
the trades pcople-and finally the Ku
Klux Investigating Committee. Ev-
erything, from politics to business, is
dull, and for manyit must indeed be a
dreary time, without any amusements
whatever to drag through the summer
months. Only once a week, on Satur
day evenings, the dizziness is broken.
wheA the Marine bard furnishes music
in the garden of the White House
consequently these concerts. though
the music is very far from being good,
are we'll patronized; old and young,
rich aud poor, white and black here
mingle among each other, the men to
admire, the ladies' to be admired, the
former ones forming circle inside of
which the last mentioned ones prone
made in view. With this exception
there is absolutely nothing under the
head of "amusements' going on here.
But Washington has many attractions,
and a person, even if he be resident
of the city, can proftably spend few
hours of leisure every day. The beau
tiful grounds of the Smithsonian Insti
tute, the Botanical gardens, rich. in
magnificent flowers, many of them un-
known in your climate, the neat and
attractive parks scattered around the
city and at last the splendid scenery,
that environs the city on all sides, af-
ford pleasant attractions for all, who
are fond Of admiring the beauties of
nature.
POLITICS.
The political life is almost at stand
still ; the President, most Of the Cabi-
net ministers, many heads of depart
ments, and inferior officers are absent
in the country, or on the ashore.
Only in local politics is there consid-
cradle life. The Transformation of the
government of the District,into terri
torial one seems never to have met with
the approval of the people, and the
dissatisfaction has increased by the
authorization by the legislature of a
four million dollar loan for in ternal
improvements large amount it must
be confessed for population of some
thing over 100000 people in city,
where already many Improvements
have been made under the authority
Of Congress. The Civil Service COM
mission, which, as you are aware, con-
vened here short time ago and re-
manned in session ten days, before it
adjourned, drew the modest little sum
of $500 for each of it's members for
services rendered in that space of time;
this is at the rate of $50 day, and
must be considered good pay for doing
nothing The Ku Klux Committee
remains in session, examining witnesses;
the last one examined was Judge Chris
ty, prominent Democratic politician
from Georgia be considered the Ku
klux, he says, as an amusement" To
show the temper of the people in some
parts of the South, / send the you the
following dispatch just received by
private parties here in the city; it is
from Yorkville, S. c.:
"The Subcommittee on Southern
Outrages arrived here yesterday eve
ming. At the supper table at the hotel,
the Hon. j. E. Stevenson on the Com
mttee and the Hon. A. J. Wallace,
the Representative of the district, were
assaulted, as they took their seats, by
Major James Barry, prominent citi.
zen, pitcher of milk being thrown
over them. Wallace drew a revolver,
but Major Barry was surrounded by
his friends, and left the hotel. AT 9
o'clock the Committee was serenadsd
by negro band, and crowd collected.
As the band was retiring, an affray took
place, and one negro was shot, receiv-
ing three wounds. No arrests have
been made"
Fine amusement this 1t is some.
what remarkable fact, that many Dem
ocratic witnesses have failed to appear,
though summoned, while others have
left the city suddenly without examin-
alton.
[ have seen few Wisconsin visitors
here-strangers generally being very
few at present. Judge Barron is at
his post in the Treasury, pleasant and
genial as ever. Senator Carr enter and
Mr.. Eldridge, NJ. c., are in New York
and will probably, at least the former,
arrive here in a few days. He has, i
am sorry to say, not covered himself
with glory in the case with the I'rib
alne correspondents on the publication
of the treaty. They have been indict-
ed by the Grand Jury here. and are
now awaiting examination.
W.