The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-11-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Ouk WASHINGTON LETTER.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW N,op-r,,,,ys,-.
Our city is not at all excited over the
erection news. Not a ripple has been
seen OF felt upon the surface of our DO
iitical sea as a consequence Of the unex-
peeteu ebnllltions in the Western eIac-
lions, and our people are moving aIono,
as quietly as though no battle had taken
place out there Change of dynasty
does not effect US materially one wav or
another. When Congress convenes. We
have the same old contest repeated over
the spOils and appropriations. Our
boarding houses and hotels fill up with
members and visitors, as ever in the
past; our shop-keepers sell the same
amount; our streets and sidewalks show
new life; officials hold their customary
receptions, and in every wise our stream
moves plaeidly along, whether Demo-
Gratis or Republicans hold the helm;
hence, little enthusiasm displays itself
here over the recent elections. We are
like the miller, sit all gives toIp' to US.
Governor Shepherd has returned from
st. Louis, where he went TO superintend
the fitting out of relief boat for Mem
phis, and other afflicted cities. It is
surprising how much more respectfully
he is spoken OF by his old opponents
now that he has turned his huge brains
TO charitable matters rather than to
things political. We have been told by
engineers that when pushing the i'm
pTOvements of our streets and city, he
had mapped out in his mind every ditch,
sewer or piece of work under contract,
and could at once, without the aid OF
notes, refer clearly and intelligently to
it with directions for change or cOntinu-
ance. In the matter of yellow fever
contributions, his power of combination
aud execution was brought to bear upon
his being put at the head, and his de-
vised scheme of affording relief seems
unexcelled in effectiveness. That he
will yet become as popular here as ever
unpopular, no one can doubt who
watches the toning down of viIlainous
epithets once so fashionable when speak
ing Of him. Some of those most abu-
siye have always resisted the payment
Of taxes OF any nature, aud We psesume
that were their taxes remitted, they
would join in praise of Boss Shepherd
Mr.. Blackburn, of Kentucky, said last
winter in the House, when speak, ng Of
one Of these chronic villifiers, that "nO
bill could be drawn which would satisfy
hi
his taxes, and gave him a bonus be-
side" De Witt Clinton made himself
the object of intense hatred and abuse
by his ''big ditch," the Erie Canal, but
time brought him full reward aud praise
for his courage and sagaeity, and We
doubt not such will follow Boss Shep-
herd for changing Washington from its
old dilapidatiOn of streets and build
ings into the finest city in the union
one that We, at least, are proud or
Rev. Harrison, the young revivalist,
continues his labOrs in the Foundry
Church, and draws as great crowds as in
the past, hundreds being unable to gain
sdmittance Into the building during the
service. Hundreds profess conversion
at his hands, thus giving evidence of
his power in swaying the masses.
Another colored murderer shocked US
} recently with the killing of his wife
aud attempted slaughter Of his sister.
His wife, from some cause, refused to
5 live with him, and had taken rooms with
her sister up town. He often had made
threats Of taking her life unless she re-
turned to him, but she paid no atten-
= tien to them until he appeared, armed
; with a razor, on her premises. He first
= caught the sister by her hair as she at =
7 tempted to escape from him, and with a
e quick motion of the razor, cut her throat
: from ear to ear, severiug one of the
e jugular veins, and thea seiziug his
: wife, he nearly severed her head
from her body. The wife is dead,
tut the physicians hope to save the
sisters life. The murderer is reticent
r. in prison, aud evinces no sorrow or
contrition over his acts.
Our courts have been the scene of a
-. judicial farce in the trial Of the case Of
sam strong vs. Z. % JOIN
district for 100000, an amount due him
upon a Boss Shepherd contract. His
and the government attorneys entered
into a stipulation in regard to the trial
ii which Judge Humphreys, who presided,
1t ignored, and ordered the trial to proceed.
is Atthis, all the counsel refused to act,
- and retired from the courtroom in high
dudgeon, under a fine imposed by the
J. Judge for contempt, and Strong, acting
, as his own counsel, tried the case and
d obtained verdict in his favor for the
full amount. Judge Humphreys is one
4 Of our district judges, who needs a
}, Father Matthew or Murphy pledge.
J. FELIX.
Washington, D. c., October II, 1873