The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-01-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 1879.
NrIcsaIrPV Rr1-JyJuy

l'I MISSOURI KU-KLUX.
Doubtless, your dispatches some days
since informed you that on Christmas Day
! the Ku-Klux made concerted attack at
Marshall, Saline county, Mo-, and vicinity.
All business was suspended and mob
+ violence reigned supreme. The account
has since been confirmed here, that it is
not known how many negroes were killed,
the facts being strenously suppressed, but
at eleven p. M. one man saw the dead
bodies Of five negroes hanging by the neck
and three lying in the road, another with
his shoulder shot away. A crowd of armed
men started out with the avowed purpose
of clearing out every negro in the county,
or exterminati.g them. The negroes arc
panic-stricken. This is the State where,
according to Carl Schurz's Chicago speech,
giving the power over to the Democracy,
by Schurz and his Conservative allies,
caused all feeling of contention to end in
grand dissolving view of peace, fraternity
and good fellowship.
Query--Is Carl Schurz a prophet, or a
son of a prophet?
WASHINGTON ON NEW YEARS DAY.
Among the peculiar features of life at the
capital is New Years Day. In most
places New Years calls are fashionable,
and in New York and Philadelphia are al
most universal but they are devoid of that
official character which here predominates.
It is expected that the male clerks,
laborers, messengers and other employees
shall bid "a Happy New Year., to their Off
cial superiors, beginning, if not with the
President, at least with the head of the de-
partment, and descending to the head of a
bureau and thence to the chief of division,
section, common boss, &c. So universal is
this system that among the several hum
dred receptions advertised we notice that of
the chief messenger of the Secretary of the
Treasury, (colsred) as well as that of the
Secretary himself; but whether they ex-
changed calls, we are.not informed.
Considering that day had been preceded
by several days Of nasty fog, and opened
with drizzling rain, and that many of the
streets and sidewalks have been broken up,
these callers who could not afford car
riage, presented sad sight, though they
walked on tip toe and skipped and jumped
across the street crossings. Boots which
looked yellow like those of ditch diggers
were decided contrast to the glossy black
attire prescribed by fashion.
AS usual, the Ambassadors, Senators,
members, Heads of Departments, &c.,
have special time set apart to call upon
the President, but between one and two
O'Clock, formerly between twelve and two,
the masses have a chance to enter the pre-
cincts of the White House, and generally
there is a fierce struggle to get in, because
the time is insufficient to admit them all.
The President looked exceedingly well,
wearing that imperturbable expression
which could not be moved by the shells
and shot OF the enemy, nor can it be ruff
fled by the meaner, though more harmless,
attacks of Carl Schurz, Dana, & Co.
Secretary Belknap is one of those gen.
erous, large-hearted, joyial and broad
gagged, Western men, that it gives you
double pleasure to greet him, and to see
the heartiness with which he returns the
happy New Year. Although little known
to the nation when invited by the Presi-
dent to become Secretary of War, he has
managed so well that for wonder he has
even escaped the assaults of political enc
mics.
Secretaries Fish and Robson received
together. Robson is oyial bachelor
Shortly, however, to be married, if news
papers are to be believed,) who almost
wrings off your arm, and who would treat
you to punch and champagne, if fashion
this year had not pronounced against liquors.
This year, however, his demonstratiye man
ners were toned down by the presence of
that icy responsibility, Secretary Fish.
whose lady is at her home in New York,
to avoid the necessity of giving receptions
and entertainments, which, for the last two
or three years, have largely encroached
upon the secretary's private fortunes.
Next, let us call on Secretary Boutwell,,
whose name is a household word. We find
him residing in very plain and small
house, which scarcely affords the necessary
facility for grand reception, and in o nom
fashionable neighborhood. We presume
that being prudent man, he desires to
IN this his private financeerng is as ccono-
mical as his ministration Of his public trust
for which he is justly renowned.
n AT Governor Boutwell's home you are
at once impressed that here resides fami-
lly OF plain people, for which New England
beats the world. This remark is not in
tended to convey the meaning that the
ladies' are not well dressed, or are plain in
features, but that all the surroundings wear
that air of solid comfort and design for use
which distinguishes the useful from the
mere fashionable and ornamental.
Passing from the official receptions to
those of more private character, where
the greetings come from personal friends,
and where the cold Official etiquette does
not chill the natural promptings of the
heart, only allude to one of the many as
a specimen. Judge Edmonds, formerly Of
Detroit, more recently Commissioner Of the
Land Office, and now city postmaster, re-
ceived a very large circle Of personal
friends. The Judge, although Of quiet cx-
terror and ssnsitively shrinking from all no
toriety, is one of the ablest political mana
gers in the country. He is natural or.
ganizer, the father of the Union League,
and of all kindred organizations designed to
uphold and defend the Republican organi-
zatlon, There are comparatively few who
are cognzant of his activity and his per-
fectly unselfish political labors.
There are SO many men in this city who
are under personal obligations to the Judge
that his annual receptions partake largely
OF the character Of a tribute of personal
respect to q good and great man.
The limits Of this letter prevent me from
and brilliant r, Ar