The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Nav G, 1877.


lery goddesses, fail TO excite the devotion, the
enthusiasm, the romance of the little divinities
with whom, years ago, he exchanged furtive
glances and apples in the school room, ".llasm
said Charles Lamb, as he passed the play
ground Of II boys school, "i makes me sad to
think those fine youths will soon grow up to
be frivolous members of parliament" There
are some ladies in Washington who ought to
be pretty well acquainted with the legislative
history OF their country, for they have, to my
knowledge, displayed their exquisite para
phernalia, from the galleries, almost daily for
six consecutive sessions. Then there are 9TH
ers who come only on OCCASIONS The occa-
sions are when their Hon, husband, or father
or brother, or uncle is to make his creates,
effort
THY voice is heard in rolling drums,
! That beat to battle where he stands;
Thy face across his fancy comes,
And gives the battle to his hands.
l \ moment, while the trumpcts blow,
He sees his brood about thy knee;
| The next, like fire, lie meets the foe
And strikes him dead for thine and thee"
1t is remarkable, If true, that some star-cyed
woman is at the bottom OF all this The de-
sire to make himself attractive to the tcathered
coquette incltes the forest songster to split his
tuneful throat and Darwin argues that it is
the same force that causes Mr. Garfield TO trlll
revolution. Well It beats Keely's motor the
electric light, and the latest improvement in
churns.
If the editor Of This paper has relaNc! his
RULE not to admit trash to his columns, the
reader has discovered ere this that l have not
much to write about this week. 1t is not my
| fault that there are no news. If | had my way
there would be a congressional, a cabinet and
a social sensation every day; but then, fan
cy, the monotony OF emphasis would soon be-
come as monotonOu> a. the monotony of Ca
dcnce. Monotony is monotony whether 1t is
altissimo or inferno.
The veto thunderclup has almost ceased to
rcverberate and the pros and cons are stagger-
ing hither and thithcr trying to brace for the
next bout The democratic papers OF the city
are trying the effect of pictorial editorials.
The Pest has ballotboX supported by bayon-
cts, aad til, Sunday G0zctto has large pro
phetic wood-cut, representing the polls in 1890
guarded by soldiers with provost marshal
endorsing tickets, and permitting only those
whom he plcases to vote, The picture in the
gazette is much the finer and more artistic of
the two. Can it be that the public Is bcCom
ing tired of political literature such as it is,
and is craving the grosser and more palpablc
expression of caricature? BY looking at a
picture we take III the whole story ut glance,
without an eternal procession OF words, words,
words, and our brain, if we have any, is rested.
Apropos Of newspapers, do you know that you
can buy the large New York dailies and the
Philadelphia Times cheaper in Washington
than you can in the cities where they are pub
ished? buy these papers sometimes for two
cents. The newsboys become overstocked, or
stuck" as they call it, almost every day, and
are compelled to unload at 4 sacrifice. Wash
ngtonians are forced to read papers published
elsewhere to learn what goes on in Congress,
and in their own city.
Last night there was a mass meeting az
Lincoln Hall in sympathy with the Kansas
emigrants. Speeches were made by Senators
Windham, George c. Gorham and others. y
soil, saying that he would gladly have accept
ed the invitation to address his fellow citizens
at Lincoln Hall, but from the fact that the con
trollcrs of that building had passed resolution
denying him the privilege of speaking withIn
its sacred walls but that he enclosed 800 TO
and a little go great cause Mr.. Fred. Doug
lass has been making speeches on the opposite
side of the question, and employing all the
powers of his remarkable eloquence to per
suadc his co-colorists to remain where they are
He told them at Baltimore that they were tropi-
cal plants and that he could think OF no more
melancholy and nharmonious picture than a
niger IN snow bank.
\ caucus of Republican members Of Con
grcss was held last night to consider what &C
ton should be taken by the Republicans on
the bill introduced yesterday ito prohi bit mill
tary interference at elections" There was 4
free expression of views by Senators Edmundsy
Conkling, Ex-Secretary Robson, Hawley and
others Mr.. Conkling held that the presenta-
ton of this measure in advance OF appropria
tions was Il scheme to eoerce the President,
and differed not in effect from the rider that
had been attached to the vetoed bill, and right
or wrong the measure should be resisted on
that ground. 1t was resolved that it was the
sense of the caucus that the bill should be de
teated. It is expected that the Democrats will
endeavor to pass the bill without debate, but
the Republicans will contend for time to argue
its measures. and for an opportunity TO offer
amendments. I. A ,.
4 shocking elevator accident occurred at the
fremont House, IN Chicago, on Wednesday. =
Mrs Lghtner, lady from Peoria, % years OF
age, in company with her husband, had step