Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-11-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

The people at large, whatever may be their
politics, whether they reside in Maine or
Minnesota, without regard to occupation
or condition, will gain alike in all the
benefits which may cnsue to business,
should there be any III consequence OF the
Democratic victory. If wages rise in the
country the Republican laborer and artisan
will Get the advance Just the same as
though their politics were OF Il different
stamp, but in this city the case is vastly
different. This city is the home of the
office holder, and the nature of his politics
determines the tenure of his term OF Office
He must be in accord with the vlctors, or
he must step down and out. change of
maiorities signifies to him change OF
habitatiOn and employment. The booming
cannon and the victorious shout OF the
iuhIlant Democrats, are an admonltlon 10
the Republican plaCe-mcn that they must
get up and get TO do this in most cases
means no less than ruin. Many have been
here so long that they have forgotten all
they ever knew about trade and business,
and teaching. and when they have to quit
the Departments. their occupation is to all
intents and purposes literally gone as com
pleteIv as Mr.. Othellos was supposed to be-
But beyond all this the so-called Civil
Service Reform, was accepted by the clerks
here as 4 sort Of insurance OF their sltua-
tions from attacks on the political side,
and hence they have gone into building
associations, contracting 70 pay monthly
sums on shares and loans for five or ten
years, all depending of course upon their
continuing to hold their places. This they
cannot do if the great Democratic broom
sweeps them out as it will if it comes
along. The victory it is true will not at
feet them for more than year, and will
not, if followed up, by others of the same
kind, trouble the Departments for more
;h4n two years. But when the next House
meets there will he new officers all through.
from clerk 10 pages and sweepers OF floors
and stairways. and the old set will have
u retire. The Democrats have called
loudly tor Civil Service Reform, and help
eel To make that thing popular but they
have been shrewl enough not to commit
| themselves To the plan of Geo. William
| Curtis. Their reform will consist in turn
! ing out the Republicans and putting their
own men in. They do not doubt in the
least their ability II find enough good men
of the Democratic persuasion To run the
machine without the aid of Dorman b.
| EI,on's perAmbul4ting examiners, and all
| that sort of thing. The Democrats will
never commit tue palpAble blunder of con
Tossing that they don't know enough to
pick out competent and proper clerks to
keep the books and write the letters of the
Washington Departments, whatever else
they may fall in.
When the Republicans fell into Trun.-
bulls trap and allowed Geo. VIM. Curtis
Ia foist upon the President his scheme
they made the greatest confession otlncom-
potency that party could make. Ii Il
party cannot trust its leaders to select
subordinate officers, in the name of decency
how can it be trusted with anythingl
They have been so lon-.in getting out
The statue al Gen. Rawlins Ahat many pSp-
pie had forgotten who Ra6lins was, and
consequently at the unwilling the other
lay the ceremony WAS not largely attend
eel. The work Is placed in Rswlins Square,
west Of the hex State Department, and
will be quite IN addition to the ornamen-
tatiou OF that part of the city. If Nullet
doesn't hurry up with the construction OF
his new State Department the name of
some other architect will be put on the
building at its completion. The south
wing is nearly done on the outside and
makes a very snowy appearance. Its
height makes il the most prominent struc-
tUrc in the city except the Capitol.
The Unitarian Church here, which was
- have ten Thousand dollars by the will
# Madame KING, Of Taunto, Mass, on con
iitinn THAR u hundred thousand should be
raised within a wear, Is not likely TO get
the legacy. Il is not a strong church
numerically ar financially, and just when
Il might take advantage of this will with
proper effort - strengthen its position and
rear ! structure that would be an ornament
10 the city, it has so little grace as to en-
gage in quarrel with the pastor, the re-
suit Of which is the secession of nearly or
quite one half of the active members. The
,eceders before they decided to leave sent
the pastor a note telling him they were
not edited by his preaching, and advising
him To seek another field of christian work
and warfare. The reverend gentleman did
not see it. and instead of leaving he went
in and got his salary raised, taking the
advice of Sumner To Stanton, to stick
lie was one too many for them, and not
liking that kind of a stick they have left.
50 the Unitarian Church is no longer a
unit
The Safe Burglary trial drags along not
unlike the famous case of Jarndyce and
the people who have read all the testimony
will be in demand when Barnum next re-
pienishes his cabinet of curiosities. Since
it began Mr. Riddle. one of the lawyers.
has completed novel, and It's thought
that before it is through he will have time
10 write two more. 1t may be good policy
to set thief to catch thief" but it does
not follow that it is best to employ Rid
die to solve an enigma.
The Masonic fraternity have taken hold
of the Washington Monument enterprise
with much vigor and it really looks now
as though the thing would be finished.
Let us all have hope.
5EG~By special act of the Legislature of
Kentucky, March lG, 1871, trustees of the Pub
lie Library of that State, located at Louisville,
were authorized to give five gift concerts in its
aid. Four of these concerts have already been
held and the fifth and last is now positively and
unequivocally announced TO take place on the
Both of November. 1874. As no other concert
can ever be held under this charter, the man
agement have planned it upon scale of unpre
cedented lbcrality. No less than 81, SOC, 600
are to be distributed among the ticket-holders,
by lot, under the supervision of EX-Gov. Thos.
+. Bram!ette. associated with several leading
citizens of kentucky. The highest prize is
$3.50 600 and this fortune will become the pos
session of the lucky holder of ticket costing
only $50.
There are twenty thousand gifts altogether