St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-06
Our Washington Letter.


exercising a powerful, though indirect
influence upon political parties. Blu
social as well as political reform is ;
crying necessity, and for the former We
look, not without hope, to the wives o
the cabinet ministers, and principally
to Mrs. Hayes.
The better half of the Executive ha'
commenced her administration of the
social world which centres in the Ma
tional Capitol, most auspiciously, anC
it is said that the wives of cabinet
officers are in accord with her reform
policy. There is reason to believe thai
there will be less extravaganza in dress
and entertainment than in former times
That a return to the old time simplicity
of attire and repast, will succeed the
diamonds, Worth dresses, champagne
and loud manners, that have been prev.
alent since the war. There are finan.
cial and industrial calamity, hunger anG
nakedness in the land, but while legis-
lation and administration are much tt
blame, those who sway the scepter over
social realms are not guiltless. A dress
reform different from that of DR.. Mary
Walker, is contemplated by the fem
mime branch of the new administration
The idolatry of mere wealth with its
vulgar display and ornamentation is tC
he frowned down, and if the reform can
and damned CUSTOM" every thought
full mind will thank Heaven and take
courage.
The social disorder, official corrup-
ton, 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 "a time when
Washington was as free from the intiu-
ence of men of wealth us any other city
of the United States. Long age, be
fore senators purchased their places, the
mere wealth of man was no "Open
sesame" to what really deserved the
name of the best society. Senator Cass,
for example, the millionaire senator
from Michigan, lived in the plainest
style, and was driven about in IL vehicle
that government clerk of the last re-
gime would have been ashamed to own
While Senator Cass was thought to be
misery, his manner of life did not af-
feet him socially. But since the wal
we have seen one cabinet minister glad
to relinquisb his Office because he was
sneered at for attempting to live within
his official income, and another ignored
class boarding house from motives OF
economy.
Wealth rolled in after the war, and
shoddyism, with its splendid equipages,
palatial houses, and worship of Eu-
rOpean customs, titles, and heraldry
and many poor officials, made of ma
terial that was not firstrate, finding
themselves i'll Il competition without the
means of keeping it up, resorted to
measures that have disgraced us in Oul
own eyes and in the eyes of the world.
At present we are becalmed as re-
CARDS political news. True the two
claimants from South Carolina are here,
and it is the general belief that Gov.
Chamberlain will not return to South
Carolina. Gov. Hampton has been re-
ceived more like conquering hero than
as the suppliant for recognition. He
has made IL very favorable impression
upon the President and his Cabinet,
and, it is believed that the troops will
be withdrawn from the State House in
Columbia, without delay.
The Commission to visit Louisiana,
has at 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 pro-
prieIOrs are of course rejoiced at the
prospect of an extra session which will
convene early in June, and, perhaps,
be prOtracted far into the summer.
Washington as rule, is empty, stale,
and Improbable, without Congress, but
since the extra session promises to be
of unusual interest on account of the
almost numerical equality of parties
and the many contested seats, many
lobbyist Adventures, and adventuresses
who would ere this have returned to
their lairs, are waiting for the assem-
bling of the Forty fifth Congress. II
by that time the Southern question in
Louisiana and South Carolina shall
have been satisfactorily settled, there
will be an exciting struggle for the con-
troll of the House of Representatives,
with fair chances of Republican success
But, if the statu quo is maintained with
the troops in the two states, or in either
of them, it is thought that Randall will
be elected with but little difficulty.
X. Y. u.
The Wade Hampton Gush.
The Springfield Union very pointedly
puts the other side of this South Caro-