The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-18
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

] the descendants OF the Puritansi out py
I the Texan, the Turk, the Russian, the
Greek, the Spaniard, the Norwegian,
and if basketful Of the national birds
called turkeys, going into a side door OF
the legation, is any evidence Of the OBJ
servance OF this New England custom,
even the "heathen Chinee" " and the
dapper japanese have dropped cheer
[ fully into the gastronOmic feature of
the occasion. Quite a contrast this,
with the days when John Quincy Adams
was President. In November, 1875, a
proposition was made to him by DR..
Maurie, Presbyterian minister, to APP
point the oath Of that month a day Of
thanksgiving in the District of COlum-
bia. The proposition was submitted by
President Adams 10 the Cabinet, who
were all against IL; objected to its nov
city, as liable to imputations Of political
purposes, Of introducing New England
manners, Of using high authority for an
inferior purpose, and, as the President
acquiesced in these opinions, the day
was not appointed. It came to us this
year as bright aud sunny and rosy as
an Indian Summer day, aud our people
generally enjoyed whatever it brought
them OF the lat Of the land. The line
Of distinction here between the church
and the theater is so slight that num-
bers, including distinguished Solons,
saints and sinners, who gathered at the
places Of worship in the morning, Pa
risian-like, flocked to the National The
ater in the afternoon and evening to
hear John Mccullough rs Duke Arauza
and Julius Cesar.
The post office has been removed to
the Seaton House, the immense five
story hotel fronting Louisiana avenue
aud c street, near Seventh, and recently
occupied by the Pension Office. Only
the basement aud first aud second sto-
ries are used at present, though the
other three stories will undoubtedly be
taken for some other Governmental
purpose, inasmuch as the rental Of
So. ESQ per year covers the whole build
ing. The Postal Department had grown
to such proportions that the old quar-
tiers were wholly insufficient to accom-
modate the needs Of the General Gov
erument aud the city hence the above
change. Yet many will miss their daily
visit to the prettiest Government struc-
ture in the District. The delicate order
of architecture Of the general post Office
building, in contrast with the heavy
por,icos Of the Patent Office, is attrac-
tive, and few see it without being struck
by its superiority in artistic beauty and
design.
Whatever may Toe said of Secretary
Sherman As party man, he is unques-
tionably entitled to regard as one who
appreciates fully the present and pros
pective growth Of the country in its
material affairs. Under his direction,
we now have more complete reports Of
foreign trade, immigration, etc, than
ever before. He is also one Of those to
whom we shall be Indebted for the most
thorough and accurate census ever taken
In any country.
The Grant "boom" in connection with
high place on the retired list Of the
army is gaining strength quietly but
steadily. A bill, or perhaps several
bills, creating the Office Of Marshal.
Captain General, or other higher rank
than has heretofore been conferred in
our army, will be introduced early In
the session. It is reported that some
Southern members Of Congress who at
first favored such bill have lately in
dicated a disposition to oppose auy
measure Of the kind, but I am unable
to find any one OF them who has done
so.
Washington is believed to have the
best public schools in the country. All
our rulers-and we have had every form
of government from that based on uni
versal suffrage to one founded on uni
versal Acknowledgement have given
particular attention to the schools. The
General Government now pays one-half
our expenses, aud efforts are being made
to give still greater efficiency to the
schools. Much assistance in this matter
is received by our authorities from SEN
ators and Representatives.. I am told
that Senator Hoar Of Massachusetts and
General Butler Of the same Stale have
exhibited great interest in the subject,
and that the latter will submit To the
District authorities at an early date a
proposition looking to the establishment
of a permanent fInd to be used for the
Improvement Of the schools for both
white aud colored children in the Dis
I trict
/ am in "no way desirous Of creating
a boom," but must mention that among
Southern members Of Congress arriving
here there Is general agreement upon
the fact that Senator David Davis would
be an acceptable conservative candidate
/ for President ia the section they repre-
sent Without possessing those quail
ties which give great personal gopular-
/ iiy in the South, the Senator has GER
tainly gained the confidence and re-
spect Of all representative Southern
men with whom he has associated here
A new edition Of his speech at the last
session Of Congress, on the subject Of
the relations between the National Gov
ernment and the South, is being printed
for Southern circulation h.
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