The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-12-19

The growth of the Capital of the United
in population and weait-the latter exclusive OF the
cost Of Its public buildings, which now aggregates
about so2 900. Forty years after after Its existence
which less than the Of 1850 gives
In 1850 It contained but 49, 0O0 Including 600 slaves.
the gures are 100 o05ean Increase Of forty-ave per
cent In ten years, or four and one-half per cent
year. The Increase for the first forty years was much
below the increase OF the Republic but for the last
the increase OF the country. Many circumstances
retarded the growth OF Washington prior to 1860. Its
immediate surroundings were swainpy and unhealthy.
Its resident population were IN the main poor. II
was repusiye to Northern sojourners as slave mart
The curse of slavery hung over IL and poisoned Its
social atmosphere. Commerce and manufactures
have never helped Its growth. The Governments
have since become. In 1861 Washington began new
ife The talk OF removing the Capital to some point
in the Mississippi Valley which destroyed confidence
in Its permanence, began to abate when 1t
tained that Chicago did not want the prize, and st.
Louis did not care much forit. Since 1860 many new,
costly and elegant public buildings have been erected
and each Of them is additional guarantee that
Washington like Paris. London, Rome, is to he the
enduring political capital Of great nation sill II
has no commerce, no manufactured, no industry but
politics The history o. the great capitals Of other
in riches, magniacence and population without the
aids which other cities rely and grow. Ancient
Rome and modern Paris are the most apt Illustrations
| tion for commerce. Nor is the situation Of
London I'm this respect nearly equal to that
| OF lzlNeTpOOl OF bTlStOi. gIOWtu vi thcSe
cities and their wealth result from quite other causes,
as will the future growth of Washington. Rome was
for thousand years the favored home OF the wealthy
patriclans of the Republic and Empire These, by
and by, to number thousands and tens OF thou
sands Each had his grand establishment his palaces
waite theatre his army Of rstainers and slaves Still
further along, these wealthy Senator'S citizens and
rsysanes in public buildings temples roads, aqne-
ducts, and ornamentatlons OF the CITY, The Hobbies
and lobbyists that vexed Roman Senate and hrbed its
gregate Of their disbursements In brbes and presents
was something enormous every year. can roads OF
| the civilized world led to ROme.'' And the world
ransacked for contributions to feed hungry
NAV Of Its political centre and capital Paris is the
modern Rome Of Europe. The American snob sud
| denly become rich by some lucky speculation, the
Russian boyard, the English lord. the German prince,
the Brazilian millionaire the expariated dlctators Of
BuenOs Ayres Peru, the Hlndoo mahra1a, tile Parsee
retired merchant the Persian shah as well as all the
rich Frenchmen who aim at Paradise by way OF
mend, but to spend and waste his fortune. London
would be very wealthy city on her commerce alone
but shs derives as much Of her splendor from the
fortune-spsnding nobility and gentry Of England,
| Wales. ireland, Scotland, and the British PROV
inces, as from trade Indeed her trade subssts In
whose "town house, and retinuesof servants would
OF themselves make large city London is the poiti'
empire richer, more powerful, and more extensive
? than that Of Tra1an Of Marcus Aureus.
In estimating the future growth of Washington In
population and wealth, the elements on which Rome,
Paris, aud London grew mpst be kept in view. Sc
keeping them In sight, 1t seems altogether probable
that the growth of the American political capita
during the next century will, even without the aid Of
commerce, strictly speaking, Of manufactures a,
much exceed In Its first forty years 1t fell behind
the average growth Of the country. We have nc
nobility, no privileged class none that claim privi
lege by law. lut we have very large number Of
railway presidents, directors, mining nabobs, banl
officers and others, all rapidly increasing and mos
Of them having an Of some kind other tina
needs or soon will need sharpening Mt the Fedora
Capital. The future Goulds, Vanderbilts stanfords
Col SCOTS, and their name is legion, will each fnt
1t convenient to have bis friend at court his palac
near the White House. or the halls of Congress, AM
his army OF paid retainers. The aggregate OF such
contributions toward the support OF q large ant
wealthy city will be something vaster than en-
tered into the imagination OF the founders OF Wash
ington 1t will be on scale commensurate with tn
wonderfully rapid increase Of the country In wealth
and resources. Once begun, ths rush Of clients an,
attorneys from every direction toward the @
political power and favor will quickly extend to ever
State that has an interest to be looked after or
spool - In formation.
This third stage In the history OF the American
Capital Is already started. Competition will give
rapid development. II will carry the city to popu
afi0n Of 260 600 by 1890, and to l. 0O0 600 within
generation thereafter. II will bring In its trail
spendor In public and private buildings magnincenc
In living, wealth, vice, corruption, but concentra
tion Of political power at the heart OF the RepnbI
which will sffacs the memory Of that sonetiIn
popular hsresy--Stats right-and nationalize pOpula
sentiment In every stato.-San Francisco Chronicle