Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-06-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.
WASHINGTON u G. limo % 10

Correspondence of the Bulletin.
WASHINGTON, d. c., June ~, 1877.
Uunder the intense heat now pouring
down upon us, our city is assuming that
quiet appearance so general in Southern
ATTITUDES in midsummer. But it does
not carry sunstroke and prostration with
1T as 1T does in more northern cities. 1t
seems rather singular that high Their
mometer in New York causes an alarm
ing increase Of the mortality list, and
yet, under the same temperature here.
further south, does not produce nearly
the same disastrous effects Sunstroke
seems consequence Of city life, and
that to Tar greater degree IN New
York than in New Orleans. 1t is posi-
BILE that the true Southern habit of do
ing little work or taking scarcely any
exercise during the heated hours of the
day may have much to do in preventing
prostration from sunstroke. Sunstroke
is rarely seen in Havana, and our expe-
rience in living in Southern Alabama,
shows us that we have as little to fear
there from prostration as here. But we
endeavored to conform to Southern Gus
toms, and avoided MONDAY exercise as
much as possible. The hegira of our
citizens to watering places has begun,
and among others preparing to join in it
is the President and his family. Sec'y
Schurz recently made a happy hit in one
OF his afterdinner speeches before some
gathering, in saying that reform in GOV
eminent consisted merel y in the intense
desire of some out of office to get in. for
when once in he invariably did as the
person ousted. This witticism applies
somewhat to Mr.. Hayes Among his
promised amendments to the course pur-
sued by Gen Grant was one that he
would remain here during the summer
months, in order that government might
not be upon wheels more than necessity
compelled. The Soldiers home was fit
ted up for him with grand flourish of
trumpets. But among the announce
ments OF his future movements is one
that he will sojourn at some one of the
Virginia resorts during a portion Of the
approaching warm season. Secretary
Schurz has shown himself to be a thor
ough and skillful organizer, and to be in
earnest in carrying out his IDEAS of re-
form. We doubt not he will make his
hand felt throughout his entire admins
tratiOn. The greatest and most unscru-
pulous abuses of the whole government
have been found in the Interior Depart
ment, and a shrewd, honest heart is
needed at its head in the future, to pre-
vent continuance of the huge unblush-
ing frauds which had rankest growth
prior to Mr. Chambers incumbency.
While we have little sympathy with one
of Mr.. Schurz' S pets-Civil Service Re
form-in so far as it tends to keep men
in office, and to bar the new blood which
the people find necessary in political
life outside of government executive
department, still, as we know him to be
a Jealous officer, we can well be patient
with his favoritc hobby Change of par
ty strength will give us a new admins
tratlon Tor many years to come, and, it
so, MIR. Schurz may rest assured that his
scheme will vanish into thin air, under
the dogma that to the victors belong
the spoils, as suddenly as Ariel's pa
geant vanished at the sweep Of Prospe-
ro's wand So long as we have our pc
culiar American characteristic, that one
can do whatever another does, so long
will Mr. Schurz $ theory, the executive
appointment shall cover the appointce' S
lifetime, be repugnant to true Republi-
canism. Fraud in every department
comes in through its old clerks-men
versed in all the intricacics of accounts
and we firmly believe in new blood,
new men, and change everywhere. The
Washington Monument still adds its
weight to our situation. A Board of
eminent and experienced Army Engin-
GERS were designated to examine the
foundations of this huge pile of stones,
and in full accordance with the West
Point and regular army etiquette, which
bars the superior officer from doing any
duty that can be imposed upon junior
they detailed chip of Lieutenant
who did not know as much about sur
veying as a country surveyor IN rural
district and ordered him to determine
among other things, whether the Monu-
ment had settled or not. The result
was a report the merest tyrO IN survey
ing would be ashamed Of and we have
the spectacle of Il Board trying to white
wash its own published statements
Gen. Phil. Kearney attributed our ma
ny failures at the beginning of the late
war to the Justification of the brains of
our regular officers, while commanding
two company posts on the frontier, and
we feel assured that this Justification
process is continuous, since we have in
| this Washington Monument muddlo
such fine exemplifcation of West
Point : success in how not to do it. The
theoretical knowledge Of West Point
or in comparison to the practical power
of an experienced civil engineer, is about
equal to the intellect of ii boy in con
trast with that of man. It's good SC
far as it goes, but looking at frontier os-
sitications and home stupidity, it doesn
go very far Henry Ward Beecher is
here, but is so quiet and reserved that
his presence was not generally known
He is one of the grand army who come
here to solicit office-not for himself
however, but for friend We're Brook,
Ign half so patriotic as Baltimore, she
would send regiment instead OF Beech
er alone.
THE INDIANS.
The Administration is sorely veXeC
at the recent Indian outbreak, and vii
take as vigorous measures to repress II
as the limited means will allow Doubt
less little of Gen Sherman $ eXtermi
mating policy would do vast amount OF
good with these irrepressible savages
1t would seem by the report of the com
mittee of investigation, that the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing has been con
Quoted in very loose manner in the
past arrangements. For instance, one
man with truck is now able to do tina,
which required l6 women i'll the past.
FELIX.