Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-04-04
(From our regular correspondent.l
Our Washington Letter.
WAsHINGTON, March 30.

WASHINGTON, March 80.
The president and his cabinet are pledg-
ed to u policy of reform. The rules that
have been published are already having
an effect upon the morale of the civil SER
vice, and they are also exercising pow
erful, though indirect, influence upon po-
litical parties. But social, us well as po-
litical, reform is IL crying necessity, and
for the former we look, not without hope,
to the wives of the cabinet ministers, and
principally to Mrs. Hayes.
The better-half of the executive has
commenced her administration of the So
cial world, which centres in the National
Capital, most auspiciously, and, it is said,
that the wives of cabinet officers are in
accord with her reform policy. There is
reason TO believe that there will be less
extravaganza in dress and entertainment
than in former times, that return TO the
old time simplicity of attire and repast
Will succeed the diamonds, Worth dresses,
champagne, and loud manners. that have
been prevalent since the war. There are
financial and industrial calamity, hunger
and nakedness, in the land, but while leg
islation and administration are much to
blame, those who sway the scepre over
social realms are not guillless. A dress
reform, different from that of DR.. Mary
Walker, is contemplated by the feminine
branch of the new administration, The
| idolatrv of mere wealth with its vulgar
display and ornamentation is to be frown
ed down, and, if the reform can be carried
out in spite of human nature and dam
ned custom" every thoughtful mind Will
thank heaven and take courage. The So
cial disorder official corruption, the loss
of tone, so marked of late years at the
National Capital, are to be attributed to
this more than TO any other cause. There
was time when Washington was as free
from the influence of mere wealth as any
city of the United States. Long ago, be-
fore Senators purchased their places, the
mere wealth Of II man was no "0pen Sc
So1le'' to what really deserved the name
of the best society, Senator Cass, for eX-
ample, the millionaire senator from Mich
igan, lived in the plainest style, and was
driven about in a one-horse vehicle that a
government clerk of the last regime would
have been ashamed TO own. While Sena-
tor Cass was thought to be misery, his
manner of life did not affect him socially.
But since the war we have seen one cabi-
net minister glad to relnqush his Office
because he was sneered at for attempting
TO live within his official income, and an
other ignored by snobs, because he lived
at Il second class boarding house from mo-
tives of economy.
Wealth rolled in after the war, and
shoddyism, with its splendid equipaSes,
palatial houses, and worship of European
customs, titles and heraldry, and many
Door officials, made of material that was
not first-ratc, finding themselves in COM
petition without the means of keeping 1t
up, resorted to measures that have dis
graced us in our own eyes and in the eyes
of the world.
At present we are becalmed us regards
political news. True the two claimants
from South Carolina are here, and it is the
general belief that Governor Chamber
lain will not return to South Carolina.
Governor Hampton has been received
more like conquering hero than rs II
suppliant for recognition. He has made
a very favorable impression upon the pres
idcnt and his cabinet, and, it is believed
that the troops will be withdrawn from
the State House in Columbia without de-
lay,
The commission to visit Louisiana has ut
length been organized and it will proceed
at once to New Orleans, but the result of
their visit will not probably be known for
three or four weeks,
The hotel and boarding house propri-
eteIs of course rcjoiced ut the prospect OF
an extra session which will convene early
in June, and, perhaps, be protractcd far
into the summer. Washington, as rule,
is empty, stale, and Improbable, without
Congress, but since the extra session prom
iscs to be of unusual interest on account
of the almost numerical equality of par
ties and the many contested seats, many
lobbyists, adventures and adventuresscs,
who would ere this have returned
10 their lairs, are waiting for the assemb-
ling of the Forty-Fifth Congress. If by
that time the southern question in Louis
lana and South Carolina shall have beer
satisfactorily settled, there will be an cX
citing struggle for the control of the House
of Representatives, with fair chances o
republican success. Put if the StatU GU
is maintained with the troops in the Two
states, or in either of them, it is though
that Randall will be elected with but lit
tie difficulty G.