The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-10-10
CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON,
Oct. 3, 1914

Among aShlhStonlanS Cne par
tial burning of the magnificent Pa
tent Office building is of greater in
tefesty titan Political events. Mr.
Hayes and his rangers came home
few days ago. from the South, bat
all Washington was meaitating on
the fire, and no one met him at The
depot. Indeed, this city is so free
from fires, and so accustomed to
high officials, that the burning of a
corner grocery will attract a greater
crowd at any time than the coming
or. going of President, fraudulent
or otherwise. The actual pecuniary
loss by the fire is now estimated at
nearly 81 600, 900. The loss to the
country by the3owering Of the digni
ty Of the Presidential Office BY Mr..
Hayes electioneering trip cannot be
counted; Most Of the models in the
patent Office have been saved, though
some valuable ones were lost which
cannot be replaced. The Washing
ton relics were saved by great exer-
tion,x but Mr.. Hayes was, at the
same time, wantonly disregarding
the far more precious example of our
first President by making a political
tour through the States. Public
sentiment is very strong now against
putting up any other but strictly
fre-proof buildings. When Con
gress meets trust Suggestions here
tofore made in this correspondence.
that the Government cease to keen
its records in finder box buildings
whether hired or mot, will be lreeded.
The fire will have Its effect of
scattering the different Bureaus of
the Interior Department. Numerous
buildings have been rendered to the
Secretary, ..andthe' employees will
soon be at work again.
Six months ago | wrote you of the
expected death of Alexander H. Ste
phens, then believed to be diving at
the National Hotel in this city.
Soon after that the wonderful man
started for his home in the South.
and last evening he returned to us to
take part in the Extra Session of
Congress. He is apparently better
than at any lime for some years
He is being called ON to day by his
numerous friends.
A delegation of Indians is here to
make a treaty, We ought long ago
to have outgrown the folly of max |
ing solemn treaties with bands of In
dians whose condition forbade their
understandings the force ofsnv agree
ment, and the more especially as the
constant extension of our people
westward made it impossible for us
to live up to the letter or spirit of
the treaties. A treaty which one of
the parties is incapable of under /
standing and the other party of oh
serving, is not such an one as ought
to be made: Perhaps the turning
over of all the tribes to the War De
partment with provision that Gen
Howard shall be kept out of the In
dian country would be the best that
could be done, and we may expect
great effort in that direction this
winter in Congress.
There will be unprecedented eff !
forts made this winter to secure
Federal aid in some shape, to the
Texas Pacific Railroad. Col Tom.
Scott will occupy large house here,
and "entertain." He believes, evi
IDENTIFY. in reaching the Congression-
al brain. through the Congressional
stomach. There are evidences, too
that various Southern members here
tofore not favorable to such aid by
the Government, as prepared to sup
portH subsidy Just once On the
whole, this will be the great ques.
ton of the session. Next in impor,
lance will be the lobby in the inter
est of aiyigorous policy which
means warm our dealings with
Mexico. This is probably the most
mercenary and soulless lobby that
ever existed. | do not believe any
man of national reputation will he
found doing its bidding. Randall
will be here soon and will have rooms
for few days at Sanderson's Hotel.
His coming means that he is deter
mined to be Speaker if he can.
About four people in every five here
expect his election, and the fifth
man is fearfully divided among the
other candidates. Randall is very
popular here.