The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-05-20
Washin gtOn, Letter.



WASHINGTON. d. c., May 10. 1880.
The great absorbing topic here is the
coming boat race on the Potomac be-
tween Hanlon and Courtney. The
latter is now here, and is under full
training. Referee Blake is also here,
and, in SO far as the public is informed
at present, the race will be had on the
10Th, as agreed upon. Secretary
Thompson will permit the referee and
the invited guests. including members
of the press, to use one of the Govern
ment steamers. and this, with one
other steamer, will be the only boat al
lowed on the river during the race.
So many and extensive preparations
and precautions have been made to in
sure fair and equal contest, that only
the customary racing chicanery will
prevent it. Our District officials, as
well as the Secretary of the Navy,
have entered SO fully into the spirit of
the matter with our people by grant
ing everything requisite to success,
that we shall be most bitterly disap-
pointed if trickery interposes and de-
prives us of the anticipated exhibition
of muscle by these two athletes
Courtney is splendid physical speci-
men of live Yankee. and it is but
natural to give him our sympathy and
good wishes that he may whale" the
Canadian and bear off the palm as well
as the $4,000 at stake.
The inevitable Kellogg case is drag
ging it's slow length along in the Sen
ate, under what seems almost an in
formidable discussion of its merits and
dement's. Yet, aside from the legal
hairsplitting disquisitions of such able
lawyers as Senator Hill on the one side
of the question, and Carpenter on the
other, an occasional argument appears
containing much general interest. One
of these was the speech of Wade
Hampton, who took the ground occu-
pied afterward by Mr.. Carpenter and
others, that, whether elected by fraud
or not, the Senate was now barred from
re-trying the case and unseating Kel-
logg, through the fact that he had been
formally seated, and there was, there
fore, no power existing to undo the
wrong. He said in reply to a personal
appeal from Mr.. Hill, that he had fol-
lowed the palmetto flag on bloody fields
to uphold the honor of his State, and
though he regretted the necessity
which compelled him to differ in opin-
ion upon this question from Mr., Hill.
he but followed his convictions now as
during the war. It is not at all likely
that Kellogg will be disturbed ia his
seat this session, n Notwithstanding the
persistent efforts of Senator Hill to oust
him, for Gen. Hampton undoubtedly
represents the balance of power in the
test by vote, and should he adhere to
the sentiments expressed in his recent
speech, Mr.. Hill will appear in the
minority on the final issue.
For a number of years Congress has
been procrastinating the " Claim of the
Choctaw Nation," but it reappears in
the new Congress to clog the wheels
of legislation and crowd out matters
of national concern. The House occa-
sionally devotes a day to its discussion,
to the exclusion of the vastly more inn
portant matters. Back of this claim
is powerful lobby, which, like the
Pope of Rome, seems to have an inhe-
rent power of perpetuation, for as far
back as the 43d Congress it was push
ing the Choctaw bill as vigorously as
| to-day, and was as successful then as
now in finding champions for the
measure, notwithstanding legislation
is asked for that will enrich many a
spoil-hunter.
Senator Morrill, deserves the nation s
thanks for opposing the proposition to
extend one of the Capitol fronts and
put in the edifice the Congressional
Library. 1t is inexplicable why able
Senators should urge that the grand
outline of the Capitol shall be utterly
destroyed by constructing at right an
giles from its center this proposed
building, which is no more necessary
adjunct to the Capitol than the Patent
| Office. A space of several acres will be
required for the accommodation of the
PACSChC StoCh VA pOONS3 WhAAO PioficioAi
should of course be made for future ac-
cumulations, hence, when Mr.. Morrill,
urges a separate structure, he simply
acts as any sensible man should. The
| Capitol should not be broken in any of
its external proportions or outlines. 1t
is now the finest and grandest legisla-
tive building in the world, and it is to
be hoped that ignorant legislators and
worse architects may keep their vandal
hands from off it.
| One by one our old landmarks are
disappearing under the march of inn
provement. So great are the changes
occurring that soon little will beleft of
old Washington in the northwestern
part of the city. Opposite the Post
office building, on the south side of E
street, few weeks ago, stood the "Sea-
ton Mansion," plain, old-fashionsd
dwelling-house, which bore every mark
of having been erected by a former
generation of people. More memories
of the great men of the city's past
cling to its wall than to those of any
1640. Hardly a notable who figured
prominently in the political affairs. OF
the nation, prior to 1850, but made his
home at some time or other under its
portals. Presidents Monroe, Jackson,
Van Buren, and Harrison, Lafayette,
I Chief Justices Marshall and Taney,
Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot; Clay,
| Webster, Calhoun, Randolph, and a
host of other celebrities were all quar-
tered here. But all these are matters
of the past. All have had to give way
to the necessities of the present. King
Lager Beer has swept every material
thing out of existence, and in huge
| hall erected on the site will hereafter