The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-08-26
our WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, Aug 10, 1876.
70 the Editor u the woRkNoEAS's ADVOCATE
To come from Philadelphia to Washing
ton, is q change somewhat like transition
from the city to the country. The spa
cious, smooth, cleanly-swept avenues, and
numerous parks Of the capital, are in
marked contrast with the narrow cobble-
stoned, i'll swept streets Of the Centennial
city. 1t is supposed that but little inter
est attaches to Washington except in winter
and during the height che fashionable sea
son; but this summer is an exception.
Congress is here. The President, for the
first time in eight years, is compelled to
remain in the city to sign bills enacted by
this long winded congress, and shake hands
with the almost interminable stream Of
summer tourists who "take in" the White
House among other Sights" when they
come to the National Capital. Then we
are in the midst Of a political campaign,
and an additional interest centres here, as
the headquarters Of the Republican politi-
cal array. If the political sentiments Of
the country were reflected in the local
population here, it would be easy to fore
cast the result of the election. Hayes and
Wheeler banners are displayed on almost
every street. Almost every state has its
representative Republican campaign club,
with large room full Of political paDph-
let's, and furnished with tables, chairs, pens
and ink, and nightly government clerks,
from the respective states, employed in the
different government offices here, assemble
for the purpose Of directing these docu-
ments to individuals, OF to supply the
wholesale demand Of branch organizations
IN the different states. The Democrats
make but little display if there are any
Democratic clerks in the government
Offices, they are no very solictious Just now.
To- have their politics known. The civil
service has reached the sublimation Of
ignoring the politics and considering solely
the efficiency of its employees, only in theory
and political platforms in practice. it is
somewhat deterrent. fear Just the re-
verse.
/ have seen but one TiIden and Hend
tricks banner, and that on F. street. n
front Of the Democratic congressional
campaign committee rooms. Washington.
as the capital Of the greatest republic, is in
a somewhat anomalous condition polite
ally. She is neither state nor territory,
and Is without representative government.
Her rulers are the Senate and House of
Representatives.. The members from Ore
gon and Florida have a voice IN her affairs,
while resident citizens repaired to the
states IN which they lived five or ten years
ago to vote. But it is better for Washing
ton that there is no representative govern
ment here. The experiment has been
tried with not very encouraging success.
Much Of the insubstantial public improv-
ment Of streets and parks was effected
during the Shepard regime, when laborers
imported by the thousand from Maryland
and Virginia elected district legislature
that squandered millions on fiimsy wooden
pavements aid imperative sewers. Al
though much of this street paving has been
done in the last FIVE years, the streets
paved with the Nicholson blocks, are in
wretche ly worn condition, and it will be
necessary to entirely repave them, for they
have been patched until they are in state
of uniform ruin.
Washington has long escaped the wide
spread financial and industrial depression,
but she begins to feel it now, while large
mercantile houses fell, and factories were
were stricken dumb, in other cities, from
the panic, the government employee, who
Is the typical citizen here, continued to re-
ceive his monthly stipend. There is moth
ing so stable as taxation, the fund from
which he drew, but many of these clerks
will now be discharged, and the pay of
those who Lave salary of more than Sl,-
800 per annum, will be reduced ten per
cent, and the pinch of hard times is begin
ming to be felt even here.
1t is well enough for the student Of his
countrys institutions, and Of her great
men, as they are called, to spend q few
months in Washington. 1t il an excellent
place TO have the illusions Of hero worship
dispelled, operating somewhat like q sea
voyage upon billiOusness. But, for the
man who wishes to live in the world, and
act his part with political and social ident-
ity, it is better to go west" or to any
other cardinal point, and come to Wash ing
ton only when he is elected to congress, or
gets contract to pave a street.