The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-04-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

easy, off-haDd talk once a week with
those who care to follow us in that
style, giving our impressions of mer,
measures and objects of interest at the
national capital in our own way-not to
be eccentric, but to be natural.
Washington is new book with un-
cut pages to those who visit the city
for the first time. 1t is richly bound
volume with numerous illustrations.
We will cut the pages now and then, as
we have leisure to examine the con.
tents.
Before the war our capital was under
dark cloud Of slavery, and was in re-
ality Southern city. Southern ideas
prevailed, and the chivalry of the South
ruled society. Now it is otherwise.
With the waves of the war q better civ.
ilization swept over the capital, and
from being the capital of slavery it be-
came the capital OF freedom. The ef-
feet has been magical-marvelous. 1t
is a new city, and has been made to
rival the worlds great capitals in at
tractiveness-not in gorgcousncss, per-
haps, but in its more simple republican,
or, if you please, Democratic grandeur
| A Yankee spirit of thrift, enterprise
and energy is everywhere visible
Many miles of pavement have been laid
down. 1t is alleged that there have
been fraudulent transactions in connec
ton with this work, which may be true
and if true, the fact is to be regretted
but even this administration implies q
more progressive spirit than that cxhib.
tied under slavery rule, for in those
days there was not enough enterprise to
foster spirit of illegitimatc spccula-
ton.
Well informed parties say also that
the moral atmosphere has not been for
years as pure as it is now. However
this may be, our brief experience here
warrants the declaration that it is a
very orderly city.
The district has what is called ter
ritorial government, but under the con.
stitution this "baby state must remain
forever an iniant-a national pet
This is an anomalous fact, and vii
probably occasion an amendment to tn,
constitution. A very large voting pop
ulation is here deprived of a voice il
selecting the president ard vice presi
dent. Indeed, the president himself, il
he makes this city his residence, will
be deprived of that privilege which is
the prerogative of the most humble
citizen of each State. Certainly the
little estate Of Columbia" would not
be so small in comparison with Rhode
Island as the latter State is in compar
ison with Illinois. 1t is privilege,
perhaps, for any community to be con
sidered the nations pet, but it is one
that Americans do not care to obtain
by surrcndering their rights as citi-
zens.
Concerning the public buildings,
monuments and other attractions of
Washington we will have more TO say
hereafter. Go with us this tire in a
short visit at the centre of all interest
the national capitol building. Of
the building itself u small volume has
been written. We may attempt a pen
picture at some other time.
The house is busily at work. That
gentleman in the chair appears to have
electricity enough in his composition
to magneiize telegraph wire from
Maine to California, and he disposes of
business with telegraphic dispatch.
We do not need to be told that Speaker
Blaine is in the chair-we know it in.
stinctively. In his manner of crowd
ing business forward he reminds us
of Speaker Cullom of Illinois. The
other day lac expressed the opinion
that the house very much needed one
sturdy objector' who would object
when the members propose to interfere
with the regular order of business by
introducing bills and asking special IA
vors, This is fine opening for the
great obiiector Of the Illinois house of
representatiycs-Collins of Kankakee
county. Collins is sturdy" enough
ponderous enough, to do all the object.
ing required by the national lousc of
representatives, In our State legisla-
turc, in season and out of season, his
stentorian voice was heard 81 object"
lie is needed here, and we suggest that
the citizens Of his district would be en-.
titled to the gratitude of the nation if
they would send him here with instruc.
'ions to sit in his place and say Il OBJ.
ject."
| But we are wandering from our sub