The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-12-12


Yesterday ut l2m. But nowhere within the
reach of telegram or post route does that
mean SO much as here in Washington. In
| tho FIRST place Washington is coagress and
|congross is Washington-espeCially the lat.
her. In other colntries--Englaud, France,
Germany parllmeuts meet in tho fnau-
| cial and commercial, as well as in the pohti-
|cal capital Of the country. Unless you are in
| The topmost circle Of society, you do not
| miss parliament out of Londons great
heart. Paris looks as gay 10 the ordinary
visitor hen the delegates are away as when
they are there, and even Berlin has an OK
|htenco long antedating her parliament and
independent thereof. But Washington
| WAS built for congress to as
|semble in, and for the purposes Of gov
|ernment and no other. 1t has no trade, 10
commerce, no manufactures, II stands alone
|among cities as the United States among
nations, with an individuality SO marked rs
Ito make it sui genera on the earth The
'yerest stranger knows as soon as ha gets
here and looks out on "the avenue" whether
congress is in session or OF. 1t is the veri-
|tabe life blood Of the place, and percolates
Through all its veins and arteries from the
lofty landlord of tho biggest hotel down to
the humDlest lodging house keeper that puts
her hair in Crimp3. 1t brightens up shop
|Rindows with its genial current; it stirs the
| soul OF the veteran lobbyist, if he has any,
Hike martial music does war horse it gives
new v1or to the weary claimant and WHITES
the man with bill.
Well, all this happened yesterday, and l
went up TO the capitol to see it, There is not
much to see in the opening Of
d session, simply blow of the
|gavel from "the chair" prayer
BY the chaplain, the roll call, the announce
|ment by "the chair" that there is IA quorum,
|swearing in OF new members or senators,
motion by some one that the body proceed
10 the transaction Of business, and that the
president be informed of the organization.
Now, tho opeNing of new congress is
Something grander. The big mace, which at
other times rests above "the chair" of the
house, is brought out and figures conspieu-
l must not trouble you with that.
There was the usual joyous hubbub in the
house yesterday, and an unusually large at
tendance at the opening. Sunset Cox pre-
sented the credentials of Mr.. Scoville, new
member for New York, who WAS sworn in,
|and Fernando Wood made the motion to
proceed to business.
There is but little change in the appear
ance of the house. Garheld's empty chair,
bud the absence of two of our own members,
|Culberson and Reagan, were the most notable.
Bouquets graced the desks of the favorites, and
remarked q particularly fine and tasteful
basket of cut flowers on Colonel Mills desk.
General Joe Johnston has black bandage
around the top of his head, and heard he
was badly cut by fall. Hurd, Of Ohio, was
mot in his seat.
Over in the scnate-end of the capitol are
also few changes. Pugh sits in Aouston's
seat and Gordon's military figure is replaced
by Browns awkward, lank, and ungainly
form. Aesthetcally the change is for the
worse, but am greatly mistakenif Brown docs
mot make better senator. He has fine head,
but some indications Of ecceniricity appear
in his face that may make him somewhat
unreliable as partisan. He lisa good Baptist,
however as Gordon used to be-and they are
generally good democrats. l saw Hoar, prim,
smooth, and bland as ever; and Window,
Plump, round and sleek, but missed Carpen-
ter's genial smile, and Logsn's dusky face, and
|Conking's supercilious sneer. They had
mot yet arrived.
1t is very sad, but true as sad, that the
Senate does not listen to presidential mes
|sages with that close attention requisite to
Complete grasp of their full meaning. Yes
|terday they employed themselves reading
letters, and was much interested watching
the expressions of the various faces as each
read letter after letter from the pile on his
desk. Over Blaine's countensnce one OK
preston chased another; elstion, depression,
amusement, anger, tenderness, sympathy,
|mpatience. was surprised that man so
long in public life should have so little power
over his face. Exactly the opposite was
Wallace. His eyes, of course, were hidden
rom me, as l sat in the reporters gallery
| just above him, but so were Blaine's, and yet
bow plainly every other feature, the sensitive
mouth, expressive forehead, and mobile nos
| tris, showed what passed within. But Wallace
thin, close shut lips, not a dilstion Of the
hne sostrils, not frown nor srching OF the
brow not even movement Of the idle hand
That lay on his desk. What the eyes said, l
| DO not know-they are sad traitors some.
Times, and even this strong, self controlled
Scotchmsn may not always be ablo to sup
| press the Are in their blue-grey depths, nor
arrest the softening of their gances.
Our senators were promptly in their seats,
boxing ready for any sort Of work. Gen.
Nsxey seems quite confident of his re'elec-
| ZION, but still thinks he had better go back
and look after his fence; so do |. But it is
quite delightful to feel sure that the interests
| OF our state will be carefully aud effectively
BOXED after, whether Maxey or Throckmer-
Ton be chosen. Both have experience
IN congress, which is great item;
both are men of sonse and Judgment, and
| either would do us credit in the senate-my
| only fear 10 the dark horse, who is generally
untried and consequently uncertain, and the
next congress will be a peculiarly crucial one,
as we have bare majority even with Malone
and Davis, of Illinois, with us, which is by no
means certain.
Gen. Maxey is at his cid place, AIS 4th
street; Gov. Coke 1915 l. street, Judge Rea'
| gan at the Metropolitan hotel and Col. Jones
| at No. 220 lst street northeast. Mrs. Maxey
Is not here but will come with the General
When he returns in January. Mrs. Reagan
|is not here either.
Just here lot me say that by dark
horse l certainly do not mean Judge
Reagan, whose name will also prob
|ably be brought before the Legislature.
10 taraS the parliamentary experience goes
Reagan has greatly the advantage over either
q the others. Nor is he lacking in intellect
q capacity-but the two first mentioned