The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-06-08
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
From Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 18th, 1888
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Perhaps nothing lmpresseS one more WIZ Tx
rapid march of events. or the Kaleidoscope ch#ages
of this cencury's history, than an intelligent &C
ouaintance With the Forty-ffth Congress o. the
United States. Here are men who staked theT all,
and lost: who, like the ex-President, Ulysses gimp
SON Grant, DESTROYED their first rounds built GU the
ladder of fame, and have built up from the gEound
again; men Of the South, who in the reverses OF
our great national struggle have endured tInger
and want, but who now stand side by side W.tn the
leaders from the North, their voices equally respected
in the council chambers of the Union. This is not
only a rare phase in the chronicles Of a people, but
il is replete with significance, and testlhes to the life
and tenacity of our republican Institutions. By far
the most dramatic and most observed figure on the
floor of the Hall of Representatives is
ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPHENS,
OF Georgia. Since Mr.. Stephens took his seat three
years ago CATER an absence dating from the Twenty
ninth Congress), every consideration has been shown
him by friends and former foes. Such a man, under
all circumstances, through his wise forbearance, his
established integrity, his wide culture, and his great
wealth of governmental experience, commands a
certain Difference; but as the Vice-President of the
"Lost Cause reinstated in his old relations to this
Government, his feeble form assumes a dramatic
character. and for the moment it might seem that
we are all playing q part, so wonderful has been this
transition. None save those who have seen Mr..
Stephens can realize his extreme feebleness of body,
which, joined to a brain ever on the alert, ready and
eager for the mental combat, seems even more
emaciated and helpless. His petite form. which is
never seen erect, as he does not attempt TO walk,
might be mistaken for q lad of fourteen playing in
his grandfather's chair, when he is slowly rolled
into the hall on wheels. He only weighs eighty-four
pounds, and his placid face has the paleness of
death, which has left no trace of pain, while all the
soul, all the purpose of the man, seems concentrated
and finds expression in his wonderful eyes, which
are large, dark, and glow with genius. When he speaks,
which is NOT often, his utterances are shrill through feeble
ness, but slow and well chosen. AS soon as the Speaker rec
ognizes him, silence settles on the House. All listen with
attention to that which may be his last expressed opinions.
He lives very quietly at his hotel, yet not unlike the surround
ings in the way of attendance that John Randolph of Roanoke
preferred; for the member from Georgia. has several old
servants who, though freemen, have not left " old master"
Spending an evening in his parlor several winters since, the
manner of his life revived some old pictures Of the South. Mr..
Stephens expressed a wish to wash his hands before taking his
Shallow basin, a second followed with a towel, while the third
brought some homemade soap" in a gourd. At the whist
table Mr.. Stephens seems as much determined to win as in a
parliamentary discussion, and a wise opponent is the one who
a aniT sx hi II Te c xep in out aaf by his 'a afte e1DosFj f6 M1; s we s01I Is
add a full score to that number. He is very conservative on
al. the exciting questions of the hour-indeed, has ever been,
for when borne away by his theories of State Rights, and the
resistess torrent of rebellion, to sign the Ordinance OF Seces-
sion" he exclaimed, :" 1 do this with a solemn protest. He
was a great admirer of General Grant, and used to go often to
the White House. Upon such occasions the President would
always come out 10 meet HIM, and giving his hand, help him
out of his carriage, which was in itself picture of Peace.
The House has accomplished more since the letter sent your
paper on the 18th than in the months previous. The district
bill has been passed, and very able discussion has been given
the tobacco tax bill and the tariff bill: Mr.. Wood, OF New
York, introduced this latter, and its friends are chiefly those
whose constituency is deeply interested in the protection OF
commerce. Possibly no protective tariff ever has been con-
ceived strong enough TO meet the demand of Mr.: Kelly, of
em i ma "nom nc 49, VI 20 a. $40
Reciprocity Treaty. So violent is Mr.. Kelly as a protectionist
that there has been given him the very significant appellation
of Pig Iron" As a speaker he is not ready with retort, but
ponderous with statistics. General Nathaniel P. Banks has
also been active in debate during the last few days. He will
also be remembered by your readers as the most determined
friend of the Hawaiian Treaty. He is a man Of remarkably
fine personnel. His head is finely shaped, and his heavy suit
of hair silver white. His voice is a grand basso profundo, and
with the speakers theories. A bill for the re-endowment Of
William and Mary College, Virginia, has engaged considerable
attention, but it was tabled until next session, as the very
word appropriation" seems to alarm the modern legislator.
Mr.. Randolph Tucker, of Virginia, is one of the most able men
in the House upon judicial or educational themes. He was,
previous to his election to the Forty-fourth Congress, Professor
Of Equity and Public Law at Washington and Lee University,
Lexington, Virginia. He is of the best type of representative
men from his Old state-large and chival5'9 IN n bearing ing.
closest judicial reasoning. The interest of the tobacco regions
tleman is one of the workers of the House, and perhaps there
is no representative from that prolific State more esteemed for
sayler and ex-secretary Jacob d. Cox, such well known
legislators as James A. Garfield and Charles Foster.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The House bill of the Pacific Railroad has happy prospects
in the Senate, with such championship as Senator Thurman,
of Ohio, and Senator Johnston, of Virginia. This is one in
which not only the South, but The whole world is interested, as
it proposes a route from "blue to blue" 1t will be seven hun
considerable item to the traveller. But statesmen touch sub
sides gingerly now, and will not consider railroads unless they
be so guarded with restrictions as to protect Government from
the sharp practice it has experienced from corporations. The
people are getting very tired of monopoly, and if hydra headed
Communism ever becomes a terror to this land, as seems
imminent, railroads will have to answer dearly for their greed.
FLORIDA.
THE cloud no larger than a mans hand" yClept Z" Florida
Investigations" has grown apace, and on the afternoon of the
18th burst at last suddenly upon the House. Mr.. Potter, of
New York, introduced a resolution asking that a Special Com
mittee of eleven members be appointed by the Speaker to in
quire into the alledged frauds: Mr.. Potter's resolution was
based on the action of the Legislature of the State of Maryland,
in which allegations it was stated that E. F. Noyes. now Min
lister to France, was party to the frauds, and accuses the
Hon. John Sherman, now Secretary of the Treasury, of having
knowledge of these illegal transactions. The excitement in
the House was intense. Many Senators were on the floor, and
there seemed for a few minutes a complete CONSERVATION.
"rather suffer for the ills we have, than fly to those we know
not of" but a few hot-heads bent on improving "Ihe lesson of
the hour" (such men of course never do learn a lessonl. but
rush on inconsequently, and %unhapPiIy take many with them
into turmoil and discord. The resolutions provide, or ask TO
provide, that said Committee be empowered TO act after the
adjournment of Congress, if eedful, so that the dread Of being
whatever is shown by this investigation, it is not supposed
that the result will be the unseating of Mr.. Hayes; and Judging
from that serene individuals placid countenance. he has no
fears. He is the living, healthful embodiment of the old saying
ing the peaceful serenity of the Executive brow, his position is
not to be enYied, if only in consideration of the disaffectiOn of
certain leading men in the Republican party.
PROFESSOR JOSEPH HENRY.
Amid the tumult and the wrangle of legislative excitement,
the Speaker nigo, was 8, called al sm upon to announce Gn1fs,, the ID. death tba of DR.;
of this great man Of peace-this truly good man-was a
Henry was in the eightieth year of his life, and his days have
closed upon a career of unsurpassed eminence in this land,
father of science in America, and the man who pre-eminently
enriched the world through his practical adaptation of pro
telegraph. Morse, when a poor portrait painter, learned from
that signs and symbols might be transmitted through this
medium. He then, assisted by Mr.. Vail, experimental until
the glorious result was obtained. Not a fortnight since. at
the call OF Professor Henry, the National College of Scientists
convened at the Capital: and their octogenarian President,
promptly and lovingly refused by his admiring colleagues,
instead presented MIN WITH M little sum OF forty
thousand dOllars-a very substantial compliment, as this de-
voted scientist had been too intent on higher things than the
amassing of a fortune, and too honest when solicited TO lend
his eminent name TO speculative schemes which would have
been good as gold. Professor Henry leaves a widow and
daughters. and this sum of forty thousand dollars is after
death TO revert 10 the Smithsonian Institute, and be
known as The "Henry Fund" Was not this a graceful act
gracefully performed?
LITERATURE.
Literature is a dissipation in Washington, from the begin
OF the Lenten season until the warm weather drives all
social life 10 the mountains or the seashore. A week ago,
it was quite warm, a rapid exodus was anticipated; but
or the present the weather is SC cool that il is quite phenom-
Without, the roses, the pansy, the lily, and the column
line are in full bloom, while within doors the furnace fires
laye all 20 be again started. This is comforting to Congress-
who were beginning 10 complain Of having 10 remain here ]
n such hot weather, and it also keeps alive the literary spirit :
# our social life. which is quite exceptional. There are o !
number of musical, dramatic, literary, and art clubs, or 4
ircles, which, though each based on an individual basis, are
mixed one within the other until the circle is complete, and
find a perfect prototype in the circle of the linked chain
( the old Franklin paper dollar of revolutionary fame. The
evenings are sometimes in the parlor, then in the
tudio. At them papers are read, pictures exhibited, music Of l
IL varieties rendered, recitations, humorous and grave, given, 2
nd dramatic performance not infrequenuy is the order for the 3
vening. This winter there has been a decided preference 4
hown to the lectures or reading of papers. Almost every 5
ism" OF this progressive age has had its representative at the 6
'aPial, and a large proportion of them have been gifted wo-
zen, who have "discoursed diyineIyn uDon their sDeciaJjes