The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular correspondent. }
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. 18th, 1877!

|
We are now IN the midst of preparation for
the event Of the year, the opening of the con.
gressiOnal session. Washington is cleaning
house or, to speak accurately, cleaning board.
ing house with hurry and confusion that be.
tray too little acquaintance with cleaning pro-
cesses, and reek of dust and smell that pro.
claims long diSuetude of soap and water. All
this means that congress is expected, though
TO wash anything for congress seems like a
work Of supcr.lrrigaton. Congress is coming
with its immense clientele, Its nondescript ret
inuc of heralds, followers, attendants, depend.
ents, plaintiffs, defendants, lobbyists, hobby
lists, jobsts, snoblss-in short such p0tpOurri
Of the beau monde, demimonde and has.
monde As Out-crops, in so limited an area, no.
where else on this hemisphere. 1t is expected
that the city will receive its complement of
visitors earlier than usual this winter. 1t is
already rapidly filling up and the approach
ing reunion of the Army of the Cumberland
and the Thomas memorial services, ii Is
thought, Will bring $4,000 people to Washing
ton. Local committees are hard at work per.
tecting arrangements for IA great pageant, and
if the weather shall be favorable, the unwilling
of the Gen. Thomas statue will doubtless be
attended with great eclat. The ball which Is
to follow the White House reception will be a
very grand affair. A large number OF army
and navy officers will be present in full dress
uniforms. EX-voluntcer officers Will also at
tend in uniform and these with the attendance
of members of congress, cabinet officers and
distinguished men from all parts of the coun-
try, Will lend unusual attractions to the event.
An immense tent with capacity for seating
ten thousand persons has been secured, for the
use of the Society of the Army of the Cum
berand and is being erected today. 1t will be
! fitted with flooring and arrangements for ilu-
minatlon with gas, A resolution was adopted
that reserved seats with suitable facilities be
afforded gentlemen of the press The statue
OF Gen. Thomas arrived to day and was trans
ported to the l4th Street Circle, where der.
ricks guys etc. are in readiness for mounting
| it IN position. The material for an immense
amphitheater of seats has been transferred to
the Circle and accommodations for seating ten
thousand persons are being prepared.
Since the recent elections politicians seem
to be very much at sea. The Bayard and the
Seymour booms are assuming formidable pro
portions, while on the Republican side there
seems to he Il general feeling that it will not
be indispensable to nominate their strongest
man, but that they can elect the nominee no
matter who he may be. The star of Tiden
has declined until 1t scarcely appears above
the horizon; it may arise again, but at present
there seems to be little prospect for that ex-
ceedngly unluckey man. Tie Democratic
organ here which up to the time of the New
York election was one Of his staunchest sup
porters has now conspicuously abandoned him.
There is a rumor that Mr.. Tilden will estab-
fish a new Democratic newspaper in Wash
ington and that Henry Watterson and Mont
gomery Blair will be the editors. Mr.. Tildcn,
whose motto in spite Of his luck is nil desper
aRdUn, sees the importance of having jour
nal Of his own placed daily in the hands Of
the Democratic members OF congress. He
doubtless, has the means, if he is disposed to
employ them, of founding paper here that
would soon swallow up the disatfectcd organ.
The editorial combination proposed Is queer
The brilliant young Western journalist and
the old cabinet officer will make a ,feStina Lente
yoke that would appear highly incompatible.
Mr.. Blair writes in style of past age, with
cumberous Johnsonian rhetoric. Only read
erS of unlimited leisure can get through his
leaders. &. A. S.