The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-01-14
WASHINGTON.
The Nationsl Capital Alphabetically Con-
sidered-National Harmony and the Cur
rency-The Centennial, Etc., Etc.


most Americans because our people
being themselves the final governing
power, must pay large attention to pub
lie affairs. But Washington is an In
teresting city for other reasons also
One may every day see here not only the
great representative men-the President,
members of the Cabinet, Senators and
Representatives in Congress-but here,
and in the Capitol itself, is the most ex'
tensive library in our land, access to
which is free to all during all hours OF
the day, with the privilege of examining
books and papers. We have here an ART
gallery also, owned by wealthy private
citizen, but which is opened to the
public portion of each week and at all
times on the payment of nominal adj
mission fee. This, the "Corcoran Art
Gallery" is one of the finest in America,
and will probably become the very best
of all before many yea :. We have here.
beside, the Smithsonian Institute,
which may be briefly escribed rs a
mammoth academy of sciences, where
are great collections of almost all manner
of things which men look into and study
in the pursuit of knowledge. The Patent
Office also is place well worth a visit.
There are models of about all the patent
right machines that have ever been invent
ed, and great number of curious his
torical relics, all arranged in one vast room
| M
There are great many other places
and matters of interest here, but after
all our people look to Washington more
for political intelligence than anything
else. Hence, this correspondence will
be largely devoted to the mention of
political affairs, to the sayings and do
ings of the Government in its different
branches. L ought to say right here,
however, that / shall have no word of
party politics and no bias for or against
any man or men because of political
opinion. / shall be perfectly impartiaI
observer of goings on ut the National
Capital, with the OBJECT of giving your
readers fair and trustworthy account of
the more interesting and important
events as they occur.
The present Congress, being the first
since 1860 in which one branch is OPP
posed to the other in general political
doctrine, must needs attract the general
attention. Very little has as yet been
done, fact which does not subject Con-
gress to adverse criticism for two reasons:
First, because nothing of consequence
ever has been done, since the railway
era came in, before the holidays. You
can't expect men, in view of jolly good
time in the bosom of their families and
plenty of turkey and mince pies, to
disregard - time-honored precedent "
for the sake of the American eagle.
But, secondly, legislation is a thing
which has to be quietly considered and
matured before it is acted on. 1t thus
happens that nine-tenths of the palpable
legislation of almost any Legislative body
is nearly always done, SO far as the pub
lie knows, near the close of O session.
In reality the heavy and important work
has preceded this. So now, though but
one act-a trifing matter of routine
has been passed, good deal of prepare
tory work has been done. Members of
the Committees on Elections, Ways and
Means, and Appropriations, especially,
have been getting ga good ready" for
work, and l think we shall soon see that
much has been set agoing, notwithstand-
ing the holiday season.
Still it is yet too early to predict what
will be the probable estimate in which
the House ought to be held, rs COM
pared with the average of its predeces-
sors. There are many more new mem
bors than usual, and it always takes at
least one session, generally more, for q
new member to thoroughly understand
the parliamentary ropes. Let us hope
that the antagonism of the two branches
of Congress in party affairs may result
in no harm to the country. Ii the action
of the session should be of ben6t to the
people generally, it would be especially
gratifying, because i'll that case the
credit therefor would fairly be divided
between the two parties, and, as a great
statesman used to say, rythine
would be lovely and tine goose hang alti.
tudinum."
NATIONAL HARMONY AND THE CURRENCY.
/ may observe, however, that on two
topics Of general interest the sense OF
the House has been taken in such way as
to show the evident feeling of a majority
of both parties. A member from Indians
offered resolution fully recognizing the
return of harmony and good feeling
between the different sections of the
country, and it was unanimously carried
This may be regarded as an authoritative
admission by the Representatives of both
the Democratic and Republican parties
that the last relics of our civil war have
been buried, and that our future con
hicts are to be peaceful.
On the currency question the expires
, sion has not been so emphatic, but it ha!
, been sufficiently so, perhaps, to indicat,
the feeling of the House. A Missouri
I member introduced resolution con
, demning any contraction of the curren
cy, and only fifty-four members voted t,
, suspend the rules upon it-but it'll,
/ more than one-fourth of the House. 1t i
, believed, especially since this vote, tina
, il anything shall be done by thi
Congress to change existing Legislation
1 on the currency, it will only b
: that which will aid Secretary Bristow t,
{ resume specie payments in 1879, accord