Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-25
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 81, 1878.
the Editor Of the Kennebee Journal
CHICAGO AND WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Dec. 81, 1878.
To the Editor Of the Kennebee Journal:
CHICAGO AND WASHINGTON.
Coming from the great city of Rush, with its
five hundred thousand people alive and alert, to
this quiet place, is almost as great a trans
ition as from ball room to funeral; and
in truth Chicago is the ball room of trade while
Washington may, with equal truth. be called the
funeral Of ambitious souls for here is the place that
tries men as in 8 furnace of fire; here is where
the press of the country with the aid of the high
est intelects and the keenest minds builds OF tears
down our eminent men with pitiless hands. In
Chicago every one appears as though hurrying to
catch train, here the reverse is the order;
can do, or is seeking for it while here the major
ity are bent upon doing rs little they can for as
much salary as possible. OF course there are
many exceptions TO this rGle; many hard wo king
men and women in the service; hut as general
thing the great mass of government employees
sooner or later learn to perfection the of show
not to do it," While Washington is a charming
city TO visit or for the wealthy to spend the
winter IN, 1t is by no means a desirable place for
young men II they hold office here they gener
ally become lazy and fall into expensive habits,
while the knowledge they acquire is more apt to
demon alzc than elevate them. Association with
great men ought to bcreft. but unfortunately it
does not often have tina effect here. Like the
wild Indians they acquire more of the vices than
OF the virtues of their supeiiors Lucky is the
young man who leaves Washington after few
years residence here with a conscience as VOID of
offense and al ambition undmmed as when he
comes from his rural home. Straight up and
down virtue Is apt to be gone out of him, though
he may not be really dishonest as the world goes
The temptations TO the young here are aluring;
but the fruit is very apt to be bitter.
CONGRESS.
The session of Congress thus far has been an
unususily tame one with the exception of the pro
ceedngs in the Blaine Investigation. which has
created considerable interest, and great deal Of
talk on both sides; and has in fact been the lead
ing topic. At last the Committee of Investigation
has been formed. There is no Disgusting The fact
that the thing went begging after Mr. Blaine de-
cned to act as Chairman, for reasons satisfactory
TO himself and his fire nds 1t seems to be the
general opinion OF those who are inclined to crit.
else the great Senator from Maine that he ought
to have taken the leading position on the commit
tee, and even his personal friends thought so until
they had time to consider the matter more
carefully. Now it seems to them he adopted
the proper course for him to pursue in view of the
somewhat exceptional position be occupies. In
the hrst place, as reason why he should not be
expected tn be the chairman, he asked for an in
vestigation by the Judiciary Comm ttee, which
was the proper body to take the matter in hand.
To this the Committee demurred and so Senator
Conkling moved a select committee. Conkling
certainly is as much TO blame as any one, for he
stands second on the Judiciary Committee and was
evidently Sinking work and responsibility when
he tried to get that committee relieved. If Mr..
Blaine had moved a select committee, then he
would naturally and rightly have been expected
TO father 1T but Mr.. Conklipg moving the APP
poin'ment of such a committee, stands in that at.
titude rather than Mr. Blaine. As to Sinking
work there is no question but that Mr.. Blaine is
very much less inclined to do ii than MIR. Conk.
Ing for il is unden isbly true that the latter il
about the most uncertain man in the Senate for
committee work. We speak that whereof we
know.
The DEMOCRATIC PAPERS
are making consderab cheap talk over this mat
that your Senator has been sat upon. But moth