Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-10
Our Washington Letter.
The Political and Social Re.hRbilitn.
tion Of Washi gtOn---Preparlng to In
augurnte-.The Inaugural Bali-In-
dian AHnirs and the Army.

Washington has, during the pre-
sent week, begun to re-assume its
society smile and political panoply.
The Executive and his Cabinet have
at length settled down in their
homes. Foreign ministers, attaches
of legation, military and naval Off
GERS may be again seen driving or
promenading on the great boulevard
that stretches from the Treasury
Department to the Capitol. Pretty
Government clerks and dashing par
venudom, exulting in Government
contracts, vie in the display of
French costumes and American
manners on Pennsylvania Avenue.
In a short time the Political Mill,
Vanity Fair, and Mammon's Court
will be again in operation at the
only place where they can be seen
in such development on this side the
globe. What are these to us, or we
to them, that we should read about
them, or write about them? Can
not every American citizen find suffi-
cient political excitement or annoy
ance in the affairs of his township,
municipality, county, or state? And
as for the other sex, have they not
social realms of their own-little
pent up Uticas of fashion, narrow
and provincial, we may call them,
but they contain the germ and ele.
ments of all that we see in Washing
ton, Boston, or the proudest courts
of Europe? 1t is we'll for one either
bodily or mentally to get out of his
accustomed environment for little
while, and, as distinguished investi-
gators have not thought it beneath
them to study the lowliest forms Of
existence, the American citizen and
caoyen"e will find their horizon
Lroadened, their pleasure and use-
fulness enhanced. by keeping the
run of political affairs and social
tendencies at the only seat of na-
tional government that is directly
accessible to them. II is a fatal
mistake to suppose, like DR.. john
son, that there is nothing worth
seeing outside of London, but there
are those who are like DIR. johnson
to the extent that they believe in the
universally of their own village.
1t is not expected that the coming
session will be very interesting in it.
self, no one knows what Congress
may bring forth, but there will be
no lack of interest in official and po-
litical circles in relation to the new
Administration.
Preparations for the inaugural
ceremony on the 4th of March are
we'll under way, and the pageant is
expected to excel all previous in
augural displays. Hotels and board
ing houses are expecting a golden
harvest; preparations are making to
accommodate in tents the various
volunteer military organizations that
have signitied their intention of WIS.,
iting the Capital, at that time, to
take part in the inaugural parade.
The inaugural ball will be held in
the National Museum, which has
Just been completed. This edifice is
spacious, having, perhaps, the larg-
est single, unseated hall il the Uni
ted States, and it will no doubt ac-
commodate all who can pay the ex-
orbitant entrance fee usually charged
on such occasions.
One who puts faith in official pa
pers would almost believe, from the
report of the Acting Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, made q few days
ago, that all the bad Indians were
dead and only those who are fitted
for teaching in Sunday Schools sur
vived. Yet there came to the War
Department yesterday reliable dis
patch detailing murders and robber-
les by Indians in the Northwest.
Secretary Schurz is filled with sort
of sickly sentimentality on the sub
| iect of red men, though low more
than suspected OF GOODNESS towards
black ones, and the rosy report OF