The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-07-27
Our Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, d. C., July IS, 1878.
EDITOR CHIEF:
There is never session of Congress
but has it's scandal. In the last it was
OF Representative Acklen and Mrs.
Godfrey. A year before it was rela-
tive to Mr.. White, and year before
that it vas Belknap and his wife.
Nobody's character is too sacred to
be smirched in these days, and the
Acklen slander shows upon what q
slim foundation the scandalmongers
can erect an elaborate fabric of sensa-
tional misrepresentation aud bosh.
Newspaper reporters who get hard
pressed for news pass beyond deeen-
ey's bounds for the sake of procuring
an item. interviewing has become
profession in which he succeeds best
who dares be most inrertinent. Con-
fidential letters and communications
are published, private interviews are
reported, and, indeed, there seems to
be no such thing as privacy now
adays. A reporter here, whose servi-
ces are of much value to his paper,
has been known to invade bed
chamber for an item, bore Il hole in
the ceiling TO hear the evidence OF an
investigating committee, and even to
hide under desk in the corresponds
ents' galleryin the Senate Chamber,
to take down what was said in execu-
tive session. This is fast growing
evil. No longer ago than Buehanan's
time the Disclosure of what took place
III Cabinet meetings was considered
heinous offense, whereas it is now an
almost com mon occurrence. At the
breaking out of the war something
was said about what transpired at
Cabinet meeting which reflected Sc
riously upon Bucllanan's reputation.
Secretary Stanton and General Holt,
members of the Cabinet, wrote to the,
President, volunteering to publish
over their signatures statement of
what took place at that particular
meeting and thus refute the scandal,
but Buchanan, thanking them, re-
piled, " Cabinet meetings are secret
and confidential, and 1 will not per-
nit the disclosure of what took place,
even to vindicate myself
Neither the adjournment of Con-
gress, the quietude of the Potter COM
mittee, nor the grand stampede from
town caused by the intense heat of
the last twenty days, have any effect
upon the new party-wOrkingmen's
nationals, communists, or whatever
they may be called. Outdoor meet
ings continue, at which great crowds
assemble and long harangues are in
dulged in, the speakers usually re-
.joicing that they " work for Il living
and don't own il dollar in the world.n
Ben Butler appears to be a favorite of
this class. He is undoubtedly laying
his wires for the leadership of the
National party, should it gain power
in the land. / don't know why Gen.
Butler is called " Widow Butler," but
such is his appellation far and wide.
| fail to see the significance of the
sobfiquet, if any there be. The man
is widower, to be sure, bu. so are
numbers of our Congressman, none of
whom are called Widows except
the slant-eyed Essex statesman. Bluff
and rough as Ben Butler is, low and
coarse as he often is, away down in
his deepest nature there is tenderness,
refinement aud true gentleness. This
is shown by his great love of flowers,
and by his affectionate department
toward his home friends. His chill
dren relatives fairly idolize him.
The weather is much too hot for
comfort, and it's most noticeable effect
is the exodus of our people in search
of cooler latitusles. a great number
of the 5000 government clerks have
already vacated their desks for a
month or two. Few of the high Of
ficials' families are left in town. Sec
retary Evarts is on his Vermont
farm, Secretary Schurz is at Deer
Park, Md. The President is at Sol
diers' Home. The people who are left
in the city are here from necessity
rather than preference, and are exist
ing rather than living.
SENTINEL.