The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


northwestern storm brought Us heavy
rains and shut out our warm, bright
sunshine with which March has been
favoring us, with clouds and chilling
winds. With the grass springing up
luxuriantly in our parks among the
trees, whose swelling buds and blossoms
betoken the near approach Of settled
weather, our people must perforce, in
their perambulatious, continue their
heavy clothing and appreciate that
"winter fingers in the lap Of spring"
Apricot and peach trees, in many places,
are ga flil Bloom and offer a tempting
morsel for Jack Frost TO bite, should he
I pay US a visit, as we fear he may, when
We hear OF freezing SHOWS further north.
II has been several years since February
and March have been so devoid Of cold
and frost as in 1878, and we seem to be
entering upon an early aud a warm
summer, aud we hope upon an unin-
jured fruit crop. Loss of fruit falls
heavy upon the agricuturists Of this
vicinity, for, as a rule, they an improve
ished class, whose entire crops are often
narrowed down to a few peach and ap-
pie trees, with few square rods Of peas,
beans, cabbage, etc, and whatever
shortens their limited stock for market
ing produces corresponding curtailment
Of comfort.
/ We have not in the past extended
much favor to the Union Pacific Rail-
road, and certainly feel no sympathy for
/ il, now that able Senators are endeavor-
ing to compel it to disgorge some Of its
ill-gotten gains made by depriving the
government of ITS just dues. To the as
/ touishment Of his friends, Senator Mat
thews, Of Ohio, appeared in the Senate,
a. an advocate Of the measures urged
by the sOulless corporation, as the basis
Of the sinking fund compromise between
it and the government, aud of course
he urged his views with all the vigOr Of
his undoubtedly great intellect. Were
he the lawyer, his speech would be a
monument in honor Of his legal lore
and ability; but as Senator, it will only
serve 10 bury him, should the future
bring his name up for preferment, at
the hands Of the people. The act of
/ Congress giving subsidies to this rail-
road was right-the theft Of the securi-
ties by the railroad corporation was
wrong, and we have no patience with
any man who puts himself between the
brotherhood Of thieves found in this
corporation, and full restitution to the
government. AS such We interpret Mr..
Matthews action. The Southern Pa
cific Railroad is still begging to be al
lowed to extend its track from its pres
ent terminus at Fort Yuma, in the
southern part Of California, to the Mis-
sissippi River, but is defeated so far at
all points by the Union Pacific influ-
ences. It does not ask for lands-we
should give il as much as any other
railroad-and agrees to build its track
without any kind OF grant, if the gov
ernmeut will permit Its representa-
lives here urge their views very warmly.
But it seems fated from some cause OF
other to suffer defeat, and because Con-
gress won't give some other corporation
immense subsidies, we fear we will not
soon get another Pacific railroad. It is
) mortifying that We cannot get one, now
j that one can be had by simply granting
it permission to build, aud we give VI
the conuudrum involved Of, why cannot
+ permission be had ?
y most disgraceful spectacle was wit
messed in the House recently. Mr.
, Douglass, member from Virginia, wa.
z beastly intoxicated, and insisted on in
] terrupting member who was address
?; ing the House. The speaker, aftel
. vainly calling Mr.. Douglass to order
= directed the sergeant-at-arms to remov,
{ him, which was done. This membe
has been constantly under the infiuene,
. Of liquor since Congress convened, an,
e should be summarily expelled, as he i
}. at all times wholly unfit TO sit as a leg
islator. In the past he has had higI
4 rank as lawyer, but be is an ute
= wreck now, and there is constant neet
e in the Capitol for Murphy.
Our courts have acquitted Genera
e Howard. Years ago the goverumeu
y entered suit against him to recover Ger
y tain moneys alleged to have been re
= tanned by him when in charge Of th
Il Freedman's bureau. But on its appear
= ing that his subordinate officers got tn
moneys, and not he, the court directe
the jury to bring a verdict of acquitta
n which was done, so the Generals lon
h fight is ended, though at fearful cos
IS as all his property has been sacrifice
,e to meet the expenses involved. w
,s will not discuss this matter at length
E. though ws.have strong feelings upon il
Ia We served under him when volunteer
- and know him incapable Of theft {
ie conscious wrong doing. That he ha
D. men around him who would pluck tn
D government, and to whose hands none
- would stick, no one doubts; aud yet b
A. was as innocent Of their malfeasane,
as President Grant was of the shor
, comings of the internal revenue thieve
-, or as a corps commander could be of II
Il. pilferings of a quartermaster. He
~ perfectly childlike, and so honest With
u that he never in the past has been a0
so to comprehend that professions Of piei
rs aud humility may emanate from
Uriah Heep. Reduced now to his pa,
ans with his home and nronarf- win,