Daily Republican., 1880-01-30
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
some Interesting Faeta ana Notes
AbOOt the Capitai-KessOn Why
GeDerai Grnpt should be the
Republican Nominee for PreSl.
Anz1f

| Republican Nominee for Presa'
dent.
Special Correspondence of tho Republican.
WAsHISGroN, D. c., Jan. 2Stb, 1880.
To the transient visitor the Capita
OF this great country presents magnifi
csnt public buildings, and these art
to him the great point Of attraction
While the beautiful residences, the
nicely paved streets and sidswalkt
with their double rows of shade trees
are almost entirely overlooked, more
for want of time perhaps than from a
desire TO admire the beautiful. Most
persons who have visited the large and
celebrated cities OF the Old World and
who have remained Ia Washington
long enough to take in all its beauties,
agree In this one fact, that Washington
Is more beautiful city than any city
In the world.
1t would take weeks to examine care
fully the whole city and take in all it'
beauties both of public and private
buildings. Its we'll cared for public
parks and reservations. No more beau
tiful building in style, symmetry AND
finish can be found in any country than
our own U. $. Capitol, standing as II
does some two hundred feet above tide
water, overlooking the whole city and
country for miles upon miles, snrronn-
dsd by le most carefully kept grounds,
u i.h the broad Potomac lying almost
at the foot of the hill, while Arlington
and Georgetown heights make promi-
nent figures in the background. Afact
that is not generally known is that
when this site was first selected for the
capitol Of the country it was Intended
that the land east of the capitol should
be- the site for the city, but spectators
purchased the land and held 1t at such
exceeding high prices that the people
moved westward and occupied the low
swamp lands rather than bs imposed
upon by land sharks.
Ths same class OF men seem to live
in every city, and by combinations Sc
cure ali the available land for business
and other purposes, and hold 1t at such
high rates that persons either avoid
settling in the city or else purchase in
less eligible places. The land on East
Capitol Hill can be purchased to-day
for less money than it could have been
nearly one hundred years ago. Leaving
the Capitol by the west, we come upon
Pennsylvania avenue, wide, spacious
street, upon which are the principal
stores. and which for many years was
the principal street Of the city. The
bed of the street is almost as smooth as
an ordinary floor, being macadamiSed
once entirely and thoroughly coated
with aEcomposition of asphalt sand, !Sc.
On this avenue may be found the
Pension Bureau, tae old Sheppard
building and the Quartermaster -Gener-
al's Office. There are hundreds OF young
women who fad employment in these
Offices and who seem always to be busy.
The person who imagines he has in
clerkship in either department an easy
situation makes great mistake, the
writer has frequent occasions to call in
at both Offices and truth compels him to
say that the employees earn their salar-
les. Going along the avenue to 18th st.
the Treasury building stands out
in full relief, beautiful marble build
ing occupying the entire frontage as
far up as Pennsylvania Avenue
distance of at least eight hundred feet.
Here too are busy employees.
Over the department presides John
Sherman rs Secretary of the Treasury,
who stands prominently forward as a
candidate for the Republican nomina-
tion for President. Whether he will
be able to reach so distinguished a po-
sition Is for the members of that party
to determine. 1t is doubtful If more
honest man can be obtained. Mr.. Sherman
is thought to be making a desperate
struggle for that honor, and 1t is charg-
cd that he is using his position to effect
his own nomination, whether this be
true or not cannot be known to the gen.
eral public, and therefore like many
other things the less said about it the
better.
A little further west of the money
is the White Houses plain
comfortable looking building, which
must be admired more for its simplicity
than its style.
Here have lived most Of our Presi-
lentS, and here have lived some OF the
most honored men of this nation and
me of the most hOnored of the world
No man who has occupied THE simple
I'D building ever attracted the atten-
ion and received the hOnors of the
whole world as did the last occupant of
he White House, General Grant and J
II our Judgment no lnan deserved the
lonols more. And yet there are men
alling themselves Americans, nay men
Who profess to be Republicans who are
onstantly assailing him as of no earth
y account. The man to whom all Eu-
ope bowed and feted.
The man who when at Appomattex
eceived the sword of Gen. Lee and
handed it back TO him
gain and treated him as friend and
'rother. Never was more noble gem !. .
rous deed, and it should win the ad-
airation of the men of the North as it
yer has the men of the South. The !
opular uprising of the American peo- =
le North and South, wherever Gen.
rant has appeared shows to my mind
that there is away down
I the hearts of the masses, and they u
re the people who make Presidents, q y
incere love for the man aud love that ;,
ill show itself at the polls, should the :,
omination be rendered to Gen. Grant. y
My sincere regard for him has drawn =
10 somewhat aside from my original -
urpose and | will conclude this letter >
break off the train of thoughts which Il
re storming within me. Asking only "
lat the Republicans of the country
no are such from principal abstain