The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-03-08
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON,
Feb. 26, 1875.

GDiTOR DEMOCRAT-
The celebration Of Washington
birthday, this year, was notably ST
perior to many of its predecessor!
Philadelphia especially making tn
most of it as prelude to centennis
business, and our sleepy old neigh
hor, Alexandria, awakening to som
of her old time enthusiasm in the e1
fort to do honor to the day whicl
gave birth to the boy Of "the hatch
et," and the man Of whom Artemu
Ward said sit was the fate of Georg
Washington not to have many tax
copy after him." Alexandria reall,
got up fine military and civic dis
play, in which the celebrated Mary
land Fifth Regiment participated b,
invitation. This ancient city ha
peculiar claims to Westinghouse
honors, for it is associated with til,
entire career Of the Father Of hi.
Country. The Fairfaxes, of Alexan
dria, were the special friends of his
youth, and from there he started, ir
1853, with Jacob Van BRAIN on his
perilous journey to deliver Governor
Dinwiddie's letter to the French
commander at Fort Du Queshe. Il
was at Alexandria he gathered his
Virginia troops for Fort Necessity,
and afterwards became aid-de-camp
to General Braddock. He was lead
ing mason in the Lodge at Alexan-
ria, a member of the Town Council
i'll 1857, vestryman of the Parish
Court, and a representative of the
County in the House of Burgesses.-
He kept his office in Alexandria to
attend to his private business after
his retirement to Mount Vernon, and
rode in twice a week on horseback,
always taking a great interest in the
prosperity of the city and its inhabi-
tants until his death.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that
the people of Alexandria always take
pride in celebrating the birthday of
Washington in becoming manner.
Would that sentiment of gratitude
for his services, and reverence for his
character, would inspire some of our
public men with the spirit of emula-
lion! His example might, just now,
De followed with great advantage to
,he public purse, as well as to the
public morals. For instance, Gene
al Grant might, by imbibing the
'pirit which prevented Washington.
When President, from allowing the
state OF Pennsylvania to pay the rent
# the house he occupied in Philadel-
'hia, as we'll as from accepting gifts
Il any amount from any source, ',ave
onnd worthy precedent for decli-
ing some hundreds ofgift, which he
as felt obliged to return, in Official
L ployment and honors, to the civ
Is. A. I. Stewart was appointed
secretary Of the Treasury, and Little
'oric, OF Philadelphia, Secretary of
h. Navy, because they were subscri-
crs to funds for Grants benefit
l"ar, OF Massachusetts, give him a
lo,0GO library and was made A.:or-
ey General; and Pierrepont, of New
'ork, subscribed $40, 900 to bis elcc-
on fund and has succeeded to the
anne place. Ben. Halliday found re.
ompense for gift horse in good
and extra pay, while the
hole civil service is demoralized
18th the results of gift-taking and
epotism reduced to quite a science.
Again, Washington as General Of
he Army, and as President of the
nited States, refused the salaries
oted him by Congress, and accept
for his services nothing, but al
wed the government to pay, out of
re sums voted him, only the official
spenses incurred by him, Of which
'ere were no no unnecessary ones,
I'd a strict account was kept. That
, would have signed a "Back Pay"
II for Congress containing Salary
rab of $4,000 year for himself is
Try certain; while it is just as GER
in that Grant is incapable of refu- +,
ng anything he can get. Grant
ttons to rich men, and is especially
nd OF liberal givers like Boss Shep
'rd; perfectly Indifferent as to ,
here the money comes from. He {
ID his family and cabinet all at
nded a grand party given by this ;
PRACTICAL plumber and "pestilent !
litician" recently said to be the /
ost extrayagant affair ever given in j
ashington. 1t is nothing to Grant !
u l