Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-05-10
OUR WASHIGTNON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.

The malaria of Washington is a fruit
full theme to all speakers and writer's
who s%ojourn here. The Congressman
whose idle and dissolute life leads him
into all manner of excuses invariably
assigns, as the cause of his physical
prostration, the malaria of our river flats
and tide swamps. He may have been
on a weeks spree, and with head swelled
with whisky and its effects, yet he will
gravely tell us, Washington is as malar-
ious and unhealthy as Cuba, and that
the city should be removed to to a more
healthy latitude. We very much doubt
whether any city of the Union, with as
large a population, can show less sick
ness than Washington. The Infamous
flats covering hundreds of acres, Great
ed by the causeway Of the Long Bridge
on the Potomac. which lie right before
the White House and are daily barred
by the ebb Of the tide, would seem suf-
ficient in themselves to engender cpl
demic disease. Yet the natural advan-
tages of the city in other directions
serve as admirable correctives. and as a
consequence we fatter ourselves we
have as much cause to be thankful for
our general good health, as other cities.
If we except the terrible mortality
found among the young of the colored
people, then our mOrtuary report would
present a far better showing than any
northern city. Nearly three colored
children die to one white, and this dis
proportion tends to give a serious look
to our death statistics, and to warrant
many writer's in asserting that Wash
ington is a kin to Rome in unhealthfHl-
ness. Our society people were much
exercised recently over the announce
ment in an evening paper that Senator
Mitchell's (of Oregon daughter had
made a marriage clopement. But pro-
longed gossip was prevented by the sub
sequent publication of a letter from one
of our leading Episcopal ministers stat
ing that he had married the couple in
the presence of the brides parents
The marriage has been opposed in the
past by Mr.. and Mrs. Mitchell, because
of their daughters youth, she being but
sixteen, and that Of her husband who is
but twenty. Yet finding opposition
useless they finally gave consent so our
sensationalists had all their wonderment
checked by the quiet home wedding of
the children at the house of the Senator.
Mr.. Mitchell's life has been a varied
one and yet full of interest. \ farmer
boy in early life, he ran away from home
to get an education, Acquiring this he
became a lawyer, and drifting west to
Oregon, he soon accumulated wealth
and a political prominence that put him
into the United States Senate. While
very young he contracted a most I'M
fortunate marriage, but obtained re-
lease from it after going west. His sec
ond, the present wife, is one of the most
accomplished ladies in the Capital, and
this daughter possesses her mothers
graces and beauties of the highest type.
\ most pointed ~colloquy took place in
the House on Tuesday between the
members on the subject of economy,
and Speaker Randall who left his chair
to participate in it had need OF all his
powers of reply before it was ended.
Economy is now the subject matter Of
discussions and, of course, Tuesdays de-
bate was full Of it, Mr.. Randall was
asked why he had voted in former Con-
gress to give himself $500 salary, why
he afterwards voted for the repeal of
the law by which he grabbed that
amount, and why he took care not to
refund any of it. He replied that he
believed his services worth $500, but
as his constituents thought differently
he accepted their wish as the higher
power which had to be obeyed, hence
his vote to repeal. But as he followed
he had a full honest right ia keep what
had been paid him, he used it for pay
ing his debts and his people never
blamed him for so doing, His defence
was a manly one and was well received
all sides.
Mr. Randalls recent letter to Ohio
politicians urging the rcdistricting of
that State in order to ensure the elec-
ton of additional democratic Congress-
men simply shows to what extent the
question of the fall elections engrosses
the attention of all IL statesmen
We hear it on all sides whoever OBJ
control of the next House will
elect the next President" hence every
debate, every law passed and every ac-
ton in Congress has in view, first the
effect upon the fall elections, and, sec
ond the White House. If the confess
sions of the participants in the so-called
Louisiana frauds have disturbed the
political equilibrium here, FOR either dis.
may on the Republican side or joy of
the Democrats we have not been able
to perceive it, they hardly proved a
nine days wonder and no one now in
congress seems to care a pin for them.
One thing seems assured, those who in
Congress voted to sustain the results of
the Electoral Commission, will not now
Join any one to reopen the vexed ques-
ton. Mr.. Hayes came into power upon
an undoubted compromise, and We have
seen no one who was party to it that is
now inclined to undo his action. The
electoral commission bill was found
so full Of flaws in the final contest that
by. Compromise only could the counting
Of the votes be. secured and the gem
orally expressed sentiment is that,
right or wrong, Hayes is President and
must remain so.