Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-09-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Corresponding
WASHINGTON. Sept. 10th 1881.

Since the removal of the President to Long, Branch
the White House presents deserted appparence as
also does newspaper row, most OF the correspon-
dents having followed the patient. This together
with the hot weather has made Washington about as
dull as l ever saw it. Still, boating regatta
on the river and the than usual anxiety over the
bulletins from the President there has been In
terest left in the minds of our excitement seeking
population. Perhaps there is no city where constant
change and excitement political or otherwise is 80
much clement Of every day life. Yet we have our
dull season, begininning usually with July and end
ing with September. But where there Is quiet now
there will be activity. Citizens and officials who
have been off to the mountains or the sea shore are
now returning and residences which have been closed
egin to open while the public business in the vari
GUS Departments, which has been allowed to drug,
will soon move on again.
walked past the white House this morning and
was struck with the marked change about the premi
ses. Never before probably, has there been so much
anxiety centered between the four walls of that hsto
rfcal edce has dwelt there from the I'd of July to
Tuesday morning last. Soldiers paced slowly and
regularly about the guarded gates and physicians,
journalists, VISITORS distinguished and otherwise
members of the Cabinetan other officials con-
stantly seen passing in and out while around the
gates the outside has been IN anxious crowd seek
ing for the least information from the sick room.
This has been the daily condition for eight weeks, but
now all is changed The gates are no longer guard
ed and the soldiers have disappeared from the in
closure. But nobody wants to go in for there Is
nothing TO sec. All life has Disappeared from the
mansion except the ushers and the clerk up stairs.
and the surroundings have never before seemed so
Lonesome. This is not the first time that the Ex-
ecutive portionof the Government, Cabinet and ali,
has been removed to Long Branch, but it has never
before gone there under auspices SO sGd as the
present. ....
The 'fnability'' question is being discussed pref
ty freely, especially by the National Repubfcdn OF
this city, and other journals belonging rather to
what Is termed the stalWart element. II is held by
most of them that Vice President il the sole Judge OF
the emergency and that he should step toward and
h..,, llrnlx.
lie men about the matter and there is wide differ
ence of opinion to what constitutes the inability
contemplated by the Constitution, but there Is Also
pretty general opinion that it would require gOod
deal of the article popularity denominated che, H.
for the Vice President to come toward and assume to
be the sole judge Come to analyze the agitation
the demand that the Vice President shall act, ey-
IDENTIFY springs largely from source where strong
reasons exist for desiring Mr. Artlurs ascendeUcy
at this time Mr. Dorsey Mr.. Brady and some otli-
ers who are warm personal and political friends o.
the Yice-President very anxious to him weild
the scepter fer a little while
As matter of fact the Government is not suffer,
ing through the illness of President Garfield Dur
ing the summer months, from time immemorial, tho
business Of the Departments has been Of n routine
character merely, and only on very occasions Is
the personal attention OF the President required.
The heads OF Departments are geperaly away and,
was the case during Prcsidents Hayes admins
tration, the Executive sometimes leaves the Caria.
for two months at time. There period In the
| last administration when no Cabinet meeting was
held during an interval aimostas long as hatin which
he President has been confined to his II is Il
fact that the only matters al present requiring tht
Official attention of the President are the appoint
ment of an Auditor of Railroad A ccounts, Of Pay
for tile Navy and the exercise of the
pardoning power, If need be- in the case OF thres
men sentenced to be hanged at Fort Smith, who are
expecting rcprives. 1t is stated, however that they
deserve camency, and II they do the Presidents
well enough 10 sign the necessary papers.
The Cabinet might be expected to send at once ioi
Gen Arthur should hts presence at any time become
necessary to keep the wheels of Government from,
clogging But it may be stated that every member OF
the Cabinet hns expressed the opinion, either directly
orindirectly and with apparent honesty which is
not to be doabted, that the business of his Depart
meIt is not suffering through the lack of an active
head to the Government. One Cabinet i officer III
stating that he could transact MI his business with
President Garfield in one minute, outlined the gen
eral situation Of affairs. tEiaG tt4 &TA 6lrt