National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-10
a aRATEFHL CRnRn

Washington is fortunate In the presence
ofperhaps the most grateful set of gentle
men in the country. lobe sure they num-
Der only small portion of our people; but
Whist they lack in that respect they manage
to make up in cheek, persistency and the
impudence with which they push them
selves forward on every occasion. To give
a few illustrations
Since the days of George Washington,
no President has taken deeper interest in
the Capital than Gen. Grant His messages
to Congress contain more about Washing
ton, what Is needed to make it worthy of
Its position in the Union, the claims it has
upon the whole country, &c, &c, than
the messages of all the Presidents who pre-
ceded him put together. Unlike the last
Democratic President Mr.. James Buch
anan, who drew his salary at the end Of his
administrator, and invested it in Wheat
land or somewhere else, Gen. Grant has
identified himself with the city by pur-
chasing property here, and helping to build
up and develop the waste places Of the
Capital. He has endeavored in every legiti-
mate way to aid the city in Congress and
elsewhere, and 1t is safe to cay that if it
had not been for the support he gave to the
local administration we could not have ac-
complished one half Of what has been &C
complished during the last few years. The
returns made for ali this by the class Of
people TO whom we have alluded is the
grosseat abuse and vilihcation upon every
occasion, in sea5on and out oft
Again: There is General Bslcock. Next
70 Governor Shepherd the city is indebted
70 him for more solid and substantial i'm
proVements than to any man in the Dis
trict. The small and scanty appropriations
placed at his disposal have been used with
so much economy and advantage that the
parks and reservations which contribute so
largely to the besuty Of the Capital are I'M
surpassed in loveliness in any city in the
world. Fountains and flowers and statues
meet the eye at every turn; the whole city,
under his skiIlfnl management has In fact
become one great park. But, as in the case
Of the President, General Babcock is de-
nounced BY the same clique who pretend
to have 50 much interest in the city and 10
be 80 deeply concerned in its welfare. No
one Of them has done the hundredth part
for Washington that he has done
Take another gentleman, Judge Poland.
Last session Of Congress he drew up the
ablsst report upon the relation of the Gen.
eral Government to the city which has been
written, IN which he took the ground that
It was the euty Of the Government to bear
its proportion Of the expense Of the i'm
provemsnt and cost Of the city. What is
the return made to hinf The exscration
snd abuse Of the same parties who are ami
naJsd By 50 much zesl il the advancement
and progress Of the Capital. 4 shout Of Joy
Is sent up over his defeat in Vermont, and
hallelujshs sung that It win not be II his
power to sustain in the House what he 50
hobiy advocated in committee.
Take 3 fourth-Senator Stewart Mr..
Stewart BY the erection Of the splendid
mansion be has built in the northwestern
section cf the city. has done more to in
crease the valuation Of that portion Of the
town than the whole party of obstruction
lists put together. he made what was
waste snd comparative desert a few years