New-York tribune., 1877-10-27
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
LETTER FROM A. G. RIDDLE.

sit,on. The average mind. disabused OF the ldea
of n geographic centre, hovers about Una, VI
n GREAT commercial emporium or metropolitan
CITY. II can hardly be expected that NeW-Ao'h
vond ccde her great city, with the ten mics sque'
or that PENNSYLVANIA Illinois Missouri would,
for a capital Nor is it obvious what either city
u.opd expect for herself in exchange for State
which !, may control for the name and neglect OF
the nation.
THERE'S something marvellous in the idea, the NE
and eudowments of great city. Who has unfoided
The conditions or analyzed the spirit and life Which
produces and pcrpetuatcs them? Jerusalem DdiiiiS-
ems Alexandria Rome. Venice London, Pans New
York. They strike their roots below the iouhua-
tions of empires and lit their hrows above 'hc oi"
dcms Of kings. maintaining existence lhdol"n"V'''
of political Institutions. surviving nations an" ON
living races If men.
To Ncy-Yok the idea OF becoming the capital
might be allnring. The Republican Court would
,royv, her society," and she might dream Of career
os Grand and more enduring tban that OF Venice
q GREAT free CITY dominating the National Govern
meur fl-hioninC It's policy and shaping the deSt!-
nes Of tie RepUblic, as to some extent she lh&l'.
A Acapital can be made. great city Is a natural
p~oluct of conditions moi always obvious. An
opalysis Of the clements OF the two, might reveal
antag0ui,m in some of thcn., \ great ana rch h"-
1ion can compel the growth Of great city' ana
great capital i'm one. The Capital ot the ErpuOhc
rs the product of pure design by the Natiohai COY
crnmrut marrel by lack of intelligence as h"'h -
by NEGLECT IN its execution Situate SO remote from
the great channels of commerce and communication
as "a, be nninnucnccd by them; nor since the war oi
1910 bas IN. hand of accident disturbed II. Even
ga "a spul4r Government. as our Own within cer'2'n
limit, of hmctUation there are certain things, de-
sirus and traditions, common to all parties never
long lost sight of or departed from. The destiny 81
The Capial caunot as yet hc said 20 bc one Of these
beyond The hard outline fact that II Is the place
where the Executive offices are established WEefc
The President aid Cabinet reside and the National
I.gisla, urc holds its IONS. Beyond these, what
shall D. the character and destiny Of its people as
community. seems never SO much a. to have taken
the form OF ai idea: to say nothing Of there having
eyec been "a Congressional policy on the subject.
The original giouud-p,an Of the city-its extent,
system of ayeu.cs, Streets and public rcservatlonS-
evi.cc conception of great city. as Well as great
,s,itsl winch. when now brought 20 thc notice Of
an exclusive LEGISLATOR, produces in iss mind con-
fa-rd notion of an abstract puzzle, with which he
la.uo practical connection.
Ila,uot tho time arrived. and is not thc Capital Of
srfi ic,j importance, that it, fortunes should be-
come assured Should 10 not now be placed ia The
c4tc-ory of National subjects, ur@er Ga, steady care
q, National policy thing dear to all PARTIES Not
urclv as % collection OF publ" Offices. surrounded
by booths. Shops bo.rdiu9-hon>cs and t3ycras, brt
al.,as the home possession, tire coG,ay Of an i.i-
t.li-eut, patriotic, iudepyudcut American people:
intensely American ia seutino1t a9d sympathy, and
c..-ly allied 3D., blood and fortune With tbc H!a, Of
cit1~ns of ever, state aud Territory ca the Repah-
Hc. and vI, are ou, ol the pale AND protection of
any state.
Clearly. tlc general interests Of the Nation re-
Cuirc tlat The D.-tTc. should cease 90 demand 80