The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-08-14
NJ \ N | |. .B'IER J 49.
Our Washington Letter.

The Alabama E1ecton-A Solid South
i Portended The Tanner Fast-Hov
i Strangers are Fleeced- -W Washington
Monument approaching Completion.
WAsII1NaToN. D. q. August 4. 1850.
EDlroa CH1Er:
All the Democrats in this city re-
ceived the news from Alabama. piy-
ing account Of the election, with q
complacency that indicated advanced
knowledge. They have been sure Of
tue State, aud feel and express abso-
lute certainty in regard to all the
Southern States. I am not writing
now Of what the Congressional or Ma
tiopal COMMITTEES representatives say.
they would perhaps claim, ~ Is the
custom among politicians, All IN
sight" The resident Democrats here.
outside Of the committees, are prob
ably bett11 informed as to the South
ern politics than the people Of any
section. hear no doubt expressed
by any Of them as to Virginia, while
Democrats North are fearing, and Re-
pnblicans hoping, that by some means
| the Republican ticket ia that State
may receive = majority. II the party
managers expect any such result, they
are mistaken Or the Washington DEM
ocrats are sadly In error.
DR.. Bliss Of this city, who was q
prominent surgeon in the army during
the war, and now IN large practice
here, is Of opinion that Dr.. Tanners
alleged fast in New York is a humbue.
He says the reported absinence flom
food is IN impossibility, 90 shown.
not only by every scientific test, but
by all recorded experience. At the
same time, it is certain that all Of
Washington's medical men pay close
attention to tho progress Of the
"facts.' Generally, find, they agree
with DR.. Bliss that Tanner must be
receiving nourishmeut in some form.
Washington IL afflicted with 4 hand
Of sharpers who prey npoD straDgers
and sight-seers, and who, from the
small territory Of the District, have
here exceptional facilities for carry
ing on their work without fear u
punishment. A trip Of two miles from
the Capital takes one to Maryland Or
Virginia, where orr police arc pewer-
less. The usual plan is for the sharper
to offer his services as guide, and take
MIN to some real or imaginary object
Of interest just across the District
line, and always to point where,
because of the scant population, there
is no prospect Of interference. Once
across the line, il the victim refuses
to enter into any Of the snggested
games Of chance" or is unwilling to
submit to extortioD, violence ID fire.
auently reserted to. At or near tue
District border one or more persons
join the "guide" and tile stranger.
The added rogue suggests the swind-
ling game by which the traveller il to
be victimized if he plays. If he re-
fuses, they make the party 30 strong
that resistance to robbery is useless.
Several Of these scamps have been
punished, bnt their number does not
decrease. Their operations on Visitors
to the Capitol, are reported 10 the
authorities daily, though, doubtless
most of the victims pocket their
!" lossesD quietly rather than have
any exposure in their cases.
Some dissatisfaction is expressed
by resident and visiting Democrats as
the slowness Of the Congressional
Committee, whose headquarters are
here, ia getting to week. It is COM
planned that nothing Is being done.
while Secretary Mcpherson OF the
Republican Committee is busy, and
has a large forea nf anhnr.j;na...
Ynnr corrasnnndsst .;.;."1 .,. ~. - ',rs.os as
,,craf;c cnnn;t,aa r.'s.ss se1 .". a.o IN
and saw No hns;nass - nn..1las.aa s.a'
cent hr eler.. whn rafnsaa ..u = 81 "a
amnlnyment r. ,.any ~ 'oi.s. ei4..na.k :. kse
nlicants ' e'"'o' oss sp-
The wnrt I'm tho w..h;,cto. r..
nmant ia ha;nn ..ns,.s.s @ = sa..s .pa nun
onslv Gen Gaaag La l,aa =. aas..n..,;1 s,a x,s"l
the nreat feat IN on oinas. mo- ~ ,.s':ss ....:
out hy naa,s af snaes.a; @ =. aaAAne
- 'sso~s ~ ouSSossiVH tHnHeiSs