The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-01-09
Washington Letter.

come! IL IS not the province OF q cur
rent letter writer to mOralise or engage
much in retrospection, yet he, more
than any other, perhaps, realises how
speedily the events he writes succeed
each other, and how rapidly the years
roll after them. The New Year" re-
turns too frequently by half. 1t is only
twelve months to the next one, and
twelve months to busy toilers, whose
days are slipping from them is but lit
tie time. It would seem SO to a man
condemned to be hanged, though pos
sibly not to one going into enforced se-
clusion. Goodness! Scarcely more
than six weeks ago, it seems, met a
man who smiled good naturally, and
said "a happy New Year." and just
now that same man was around again.
stab myself with a tooth pick, to find
out whether am alive, or whether it
is dream, but reflect that we have
passed through the seasons of seed
time and harvest, from summer heat
to winters cold again that we have
seen the roses bloom and the leaves
bud forth, flutter in the breezes and
fall again, within the period that seems
so short.
The notable public events of the
year are not numerous, yet it has been
n twelve-month fraught with impOr-
tant national concerns. The country
has been pssing through the gradual :
transition from hard times to better,
from depression to confidence and from
distrust to signs of returning prosperi-
ty. The harvest has filled our grana-
ries fuller than they ever were before,
while greenbacks and gold and silver
have come together, thus removing the
last remaining obstacle to settled busi-
ness activity. The "good time COM
ing" for which everybody is looking
has not arrived yet. The days of ex-
travagance and sudden and easy for
tunes are not likely to return soon, but
there are signs that the timidity of
capital is departing, and that business
enterprises will gradually multiply, Of
fering a fair living to all who are will
ing to work for it. The most prOmin-
ent names OH the mortuary lists of the
United States for 1873 are Gideon Wells,
Benz. f. Wade, VIM. Cullen Bryant,
Joseph Henry, and Bayard Taylor.
During the same period five members
of Congress have passed away, viz {:
Representatives Leonerd, of Louisiana,
Welch, of Nebraska; Quinn, of New
York; Williams, of Michigan, and
Douglas, of Virginia. md
New Years day is more of an occa-
sion, perhaps,i in Washington than any
where else. The custom of calling is
carried to greater extent by our society
people, partly, no doubt, from the en-
couragement given this sort of thing
in throwing open the White House
and the residences of Cabinet Officers,
ETC., and blythe customary formal call
upon the President of foreign legations
in court dress, and army officers in
uniform. There is some interest in
seeing these bodies file in and out of
the White House. It is one Of the
days, here in the Capital, when ga cat
may look at the king" asit were. The
humblest citizen may call at the pri-
vate residence of the highest officers
of the government on New Years. day,
and if he leaves his card bearing his
address he will some time during the
season receive an invitation to attend
a reception. But many humble citi-
zens who visit these stately mansions
think they would not change places
with some of their occupants, especial
ly with Rutherford B. Hayes. I don't
know how it would be if they were
put to the test, but it is creditable that
there is still in the contempt for ill
gotten power and gain, of contempt
for the man who smiles insipidly and
sings pslams, while he draws another
mans salary.
Congress reassembles on Tuesday,
and there will be no lack of juicy sub
jects. Among other things John Sher-
man will probably be called upon to
explain his extraordinary accOmmoda-
tions to New York bank, in the pos
session of which he has rested some
forty millions of gold without a shad-
ow Of security. Mr.. Hewitt started
the inquiry into this matter before the
recess, and it created quite sensation.
1t is asserted that Sherman is largely
interested in this bank. There are a
few other things John will likely be
asked to explain, including something
about certain stone contracts in Maine.
Mr.. Murch the successor of Eugene
Hale has been here string that mat
ter up. That ancient mariner, John
NJ. Robeson, will also be called upon
to toe the line. The four weeks allow
ed him by the Naval Committee ex-
pire in a few days, and there is little
doubt that a report will then he pre-
sented to congress, demanding his in
dictment. He got himself elected to
the next Congress expecting to be
placed on the Naval committee, where
he could manipulate and smother the
evidence of his corruption. But he
won't get on the committee, nor can
his enormous steals be passed by. The
State Department have struck oil in
the investigation of the Shanghi con-
sulate, and will report Mr.. Seward to
the House as a contumacious witness.
These matters with the army bill, and
the more importantappropriation bills,
over which there will be some disa-
greement between House and Senate,
will furnish food for reflection for a
little while. The Teller scb-commit-
tee left for New Orleans Friday morn
ing, where, it is said, they expect to
ind . lot of ready-made testimony of
.he jerks and Eliza Pinkston order.
They took along as clerk one Redpath,
4 wholesale outrage liar, whose busi-
ness for a couple of years has been to
stuff of that sort for thu |