The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-15

expenses, and now that it proposes to
pay one-half, our people are satisfied.
let, TO their intense disgust, Governor
Clailin, Of Massachusetts,, has tackled
upon this bill provision granting uni
versal suffrage. Not one-hundretb mart
Of our taxpayers have asked for this,
and they have protested I'm every possi-
bic way against this extension Of the
ballot to the masses. They are perfectly
satisfied with the government of the
past three years, desiring no change,
and if Congress forces upon US this pro-
vision of Governor Clahiu, there will
be an end TO all economy in the admin
istration Of our finances, for there will
be nothing to prevent our roughs and
shoulder-hitters receiving our defunct
legislature. We don'twant to trade our
king log for king stork.
MAIL LETTINGS.
There has been so much good ground
for the complaining Of the contractors
in regard to the favoritism and frauds
Of the Post Office Department, in the
matter of mail lettings, that Mr. Key
has been compelled 10 introduce new
aud extended precautions against these
Irregularities, with a view to put an
end to them. In the past, clerks were
entrusted with all the proposals, and
there was absolutely nothing to prevent
suborned persons from examining the
bill in advance and substituting new
ones.
Carpenters celebrated picture Of the
Reading of the Emancipation Procla-
nation" is, at last the property Of the
nation, not by direct purchase, but by
gift Of Mrs Thompson, of New York,
who presented it to Congress, and it
graces, as it should, the walls of the
Capitol.
The reception ceremonies of this me-
mortal picture Of Mr.. Lincoln were i'm
pressive, though short. Aside from its
questionable merit as a work of art, it
illustrates one Of the gravest acts Of
craftsmanship in the history of our
country, and will occupy its prominent
niche in the Capitol as long as the can
vas will endure. The Senate at two
O'Clock entered the House, and was re-
ceived standing by the members stand
ing. After taking their seats and the
announcement of the Vice-Presideut
that the two houses had met to accept
the picture, Mr.. Garfield made an elo-
quent speech Of acceptance, and was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Stephens who, in his shrill,
clear voice, gave US an intensely inter
estiug political speech, in which he
/ took strongest patriotic grounds for the
| present and future. We were reminded
by some Of his remarks of Fred Doug
lass, who, in his Grafton at the unveil-
ing of the bronze Lincoln monument,
in Lincoln Park, would not give 8Ir.
Lincoln any personal credit for the
Emancipation Proclamation. Heargued
that as Mr.. Lincoln had Joined with
Congress in 1852, in saying that the war
was not one against slavery, the eman-
cipation act was wholly due to divine
he or she holds his or her personal rights
subject to the will of those who hold
the political power. Upon this basis
power above. Mr. Stephens hardly
avoided thesame statement The grand
est figure of Mr. Lincoln in the city is
the one which Mr.. Douglass unveiled.
The penny contributions of the colored
people in the United states furnished
the necessary funds TO cast it, and the
artist, in rendering US a figure Of Mr..
Lincoln as natural as life, and surround
ing him with most eloquent symbols of
disenthralled slavery, has made work
Of art unsurpassed here. It is a relief
to turn from our huge works of bronze
called equestrian statues in which i'm
possible horses violate all ideas of the
the noble animal given By love Of or
contact with him, aud study the gift Of
the freedmen to US.
The statue Of Peace at the entrance to
the Capitol grounds is finished, and is a
fascinating work Of art, which will ever
attract the attention Of the visitor to
our city. Though large, yet il is so
pure aud delicate in its conception that
no taste seems violated, either in its
emblematic figures or their grouping.
FEIIN.
Washington, D. c. February Is, ISIS.
The newspapers are fond Of telling
stories about the cowardice which wom-