The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-06
Washington, Letter.
fFrom Our Regular Correspondent


From Our Regular Correspondent.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 2, 1879.
Our National Fair is the absorbing
subject with us, and thousands of Wis.,
itors are in attendance. The Fair
opened on Tuesday last with a grand
parade and procession of vehicles be-
longing to the business men of the
District. Nearly every firm sent one
or more, and over 1000 wagons, ETC.,
were in line, nearly all of which were
decorated with flags, placards and
wreaths of evergreen and flowers.
One brick firm had out in line all its
wagons, carts, and employees, headed
by brass band, all bearing appropri-
ate devices of ftheirindustry, and MAX
ing most attractive display. So with
other industrial interests. Even old
fogy, sleepy Georgetown sent out a
most creditable delegation of six-mule
and horse wagons, with lesser manned
vehicles, and astonished us by the ex-
tent of her display. When George
town can send score or more of bus
mess men into a public demonstration
with banners and with decorations,
and small army of employees and an
imals, your readers may appreciate the
general waking up and shaking of dry
bones which this Fair has given the
District, and farther, that we may
now take rank with other cities in
real progress and Improvement. We
have been proud of our streets, but
now we feel cause of pride in our men,
for we have live men here as elsewhere
The real extent of our industrial inter-
ests has never been made SO publicly
apparent as in Tuesdays pageant, and
though only local, for we have no gem
eral manufacturing works here, yet it
showed an eXtensiveness Of operation
indicative Of large population that
will not live in the unpainted, un-
washed, antedeluvian manner charac-
terizing Washington prior to the war.
At the head ofour Fair are progressive
men-Young America-who are as
keenly alive to the wants and necessi-
ties of modern business as those old
fogies. and we trust the day is past in
which old fogyism shall rule our Dis
trict affairs...'
Outside of Fair matters we have lit
tie of general interest to note. The
hotels are not, as yet, filling up with
congressman, or those who come here
to spend the winter in attendance up
on Congressional matters, and not un-
til all the fall elections are over and
votes counted will there be any con-
siderable addition to our political or
floating population. The near ap-
proach of the finality of this fall's
political fight OF course arouses the
usual spadmodic interest among all
persons interested ,and both parties are
drumming up their adherents who
vote in New York and Pennsylvania.
So great has become the evil of perju-
ry in our courts through professional
witnesses that our Judges have taken
steps to prevent and punish. AS an
instance of summary proceedings in
this respect, one Thompson, testified
in defence of John Brown, charged
with stealing a pair of shoes, that he
had ssop Brown wearing the shoes
two months prior to his arrest, most
palpable perjury, was asked to remain
in the Court Room and the matter was
at once laid before the Grand Jury,
who without delay returned an indict-
ment. He was Immediately arrested
and is now in Jail to await trial. We
suppose other cities are cursed with
these professional straw bail witness
scoundrels, but it does seem that WASH
ington has her full proportion of them
for if we may credit the recent charge
of Judge Hagner to the Grand Jury,
of the evil, any INSCRIPTIONS Attor-
ney would find little difficulty in SUBJ
orning any needed amount of witness
es.
. With Mr.. Hayes and all his Secre-
taries at home from his peregrinations
among the people, the country, we
presume, is safe. One hardly knows,
when Congress is in session, how much
evil may be inflicted upon the country
through pernicious legislation in the
course of week, and there is more or
less anxiety which takes shape in
wishes for adjournment. With the
here we should have cause |
for a different feeling, even though |
our lilliputian-mentally we mean
Secretary of the Interior, with his |
civil service red tape humbuggery
families to be slaughtered and out
ragged while he is taking his leisure be-
tween Saturday night and Monday