Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-11-19
[Prom our regular eoHsspondsnt'l
WASHINGTON LETTER,
M.surnaron. ID. O., Nov, IS. 1878,

arts made llght OF " anu thpush' n'' w
pointment, or acceptance, 30 Improbable
that did not refer TO the subject Hut
now the gossips are attacking II again 30
confidently and slyly there may be ONE
thing TO warrant their speeulalions' " u
understood that Mr., Ryarts, who u by
far the ablest member OF the cabinet, ID
considerably disappointed Ia regard 70
the influence and popularity OF the aa'
ministration, and that he feels most BIT
terly the humiliatiag position occupied ny
IL with reference TO the late canvass IN
New York, AZ we'll ~ Ia some other mat
tiers. Then. too, the late attack OF MI
schurz 81, Louis newspaper upon the
State Department has had or certainly
must have its effect upon the feelings OF
Mr.. Eyarts. When Republican Journal
of which member OF the Cabinet IL half
owner makes the statement that the de'
part ment OF the government presided over
by colleague IL the only one where
"rascality earns promotion and honesty
Is punished" Mr., Schurz was violently
assailed for his utterance by tho wash
ington organ edited by the late govern
ment printer, which called upon the Pres
ident to demand his resignation. hut no
such demand has been or ever VIII DO
made. The price Of Mr., sehurz' support
OF Hayes In 1876 was q cabinet portfolio
during the latter's term office, and he can
not be XII cked out. lie dlsclaims oil re.
sponslblllty for the offensive paragraph
aud says through q published card that'
having severed all editorial connection
with his paper upon entering the cabinet
no Ia no more responsible for Its utter
ances than It Is for his Official acts. That
Is al, true as fur as 1t goes, yet It must DO
confessed that It will be difficult for Mr..
Schurz or his friends 10 reconcile Win
good faith or good taste his holding even
a proprietary interest In Journal that
80 sayagcly attacks the ADMINISTRATION OF
which he Is q part The Grant element
In the pa .ty has no love for SchurI aud
will make the most OF any hold they eau
get upon him. II will be remembered
that q sta,wart Senator denounced him
last winter as "a I'D du.ch tramp
But speaciag Of the English Mlssioa'
there Is also the Russian, aud both have
bee held open remarkably long time
Some people who don't know much about
po,,,cs wonder why tbs Is. 1t Is no
secret 10 those who understand the value
O.. such things to "ade, especially with a
rdin. administration like this. But II
We eau get along without any representa-
tlves In these two foreign courts five or
six months at time, why not abolish
them altogether ? 1t would save at least
$4,000 q year.
There Is much speculation and tax
about what Congress viii or will not do
at the coming session. Unusual interest
always attaches to the session just pre-
cediug presidential election because the
Bla,nes, the Conklings AID all the politi
cal shysters, great aod small, are con.
stantly engaged in mancouvers for politl'
cai effect. Nobody cad tell what lot o.
Congressman will do when they get to-
gether, yet am certain that wise coun'
sells will prevail so far as the democratic
majority Is concerned.
Mrs. Margaret Eaton, connecting link
between the present and past Of the po
ltical social history Of Washington wa
buried here on Tuesday. She was thu
widow of Gen. John H. Eaton, President
Jackson's Secretary Of War, and her l'f'
would read like q romance. As ag:ri ant
young woman she possessed rare beaut!
and rac;nation of manner which attracted
the opposite Sex. Her father whose nam'
was O'Neill kept hotel or "tavern" fire
queuted by the politicians Of those day
aud she had many adm :ers among them
Gen. Jackson was an ardent friend ant
persisted in extending to her social re
cognition which. under the laws OF cast
as they existed fifty years ago, was les
tolerable to the ''slsters, and their cousins
and their aunts" than 1t would be to-day
His cabinet was divided and disrupted a
the result. General Eaton was her secont
husband she having previously married
payma ster named TimberlaEe who fell II
love at first sight, as she was leaning GU
, of window one day looking up tn
street. After Gen. Eaton's death sh'
married an Italian dancing master, wht
shortly after eloped with her grand daugh
ter taking most of her money and goins
to Italy where he lived in affluence. TT
listen 10 the Renaissance related by thi!
rema rkable woman in her litter years wa:
to recall the events and characters Of I
long chapter Of American history. Ever
to the last she retained vivid recollection!
Of these events AMI she passed away say
ing ~ am not afraid to die, but 1t Is suct
beautiful world to leave"
The attempt of little crowd Of shyster
|. and pap hunters to make Grant boon
out of the unwilling Of the Thomas statue
next week has proven failure. Gen
George II. Thomas is honored as one O
the gre Atest Generals Of the late war, ant
also for gallantry in the war with Mexi
3 CO. The preparations Of the Army OF tn
, Cumberland for this occasion are on
grand scale and the Mexican veteran
will also participate. Gen. Grants In
ability to be here at that time defeats tn
f efforts OF little clique to turn the oc
| casi0n into n nOliftca1 ahout and hurra