The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-12-17
DoNA1DsoNy111E LOUISIANA SATURDAY, DECEMBER
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Close Of a Strange Year-Arrival OF Men- |
hers of Coneress-The Guiteau Trial-A
Great Rush for Omces-The President, I
White House, etc.
WASHINGTON, December, 1881.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The strange, strange year now nearly
closed finds Congress gathering for work
in carving out the destiny of future COM
ing millions. A few brief months ago,
in the high tide of JOY, the Speakers
gravel fell and Congress adjourned to
mingle in the glad exultation Of 25O,O0o,
people in the Inauguration of one who
was the noble son this great nation de-
lighted to honor. Scarce had the music
died away and the waving of banners
ceased, ere the nation was paralyzed by
staggering blow that brought grief to
Sc, ,OOO, 900 at home and untold millions
in other lands. The warp and woof of
that great grief was inwrought into the
nations life and for eighty days in every
home there was one sick aud dying, and
| at last a dead one whose dust and men,
ory is the priceless heritage of common
country united and cemented i'll stronger
bonds through the discipline Of this
bitter sorrow.
For several weeks the members and
their families have been gathering here
and arranging their homes for the ses-
sion. It is an evidence Of our advancing
civilization that Representatives, III Con-
gress rarely now, as in the olden time,
leave their families at homo. Much OF
the change and improvement in life at
the seat of government is due to the in-
fluence of christian women who transfer
all the sanctity of their home life to tue
! nations capital. Never before was our
! CITY SO overcrowded at the opening of
session. of Congress, aud long before
twelve o'clock of the day Of meeting the
halls were filled and thousands unable
| to enter sauntered through the corridors
The organization of the House was, con-
trary to general expectation, soon accom-
plished. The message was received
! with marked satisfaction, and there be-
ing no bitter struggles now apparent on
tue surface, the Indications are that Con
gress will commit itself to doing good
work for the country. 1t is too early te
prophesy, but such is the tone and sentl'
ment of thought here at the capital.
The most shameless proceeding dis
gracing both the capital and the nation,
is the trial of Guiteau. Day by day this
miserable criminal is permitted to try the
Judge, District Attorney and jury, all OF
whom appear to ,,e OIL trial rather than
he. This cool, deliberate, sharp, dead
beat, with all the expertness manifest III
his past life in beating boarding-honse
keepers, comes i'll court daily, playin
the dodge of an inspired insanity. Qnick
as lightning he sees the purpose OF q
question, and with all the acuteness Of
Judge Porter in his long cross-examina-
ton, only twice did he make mistake,
and then retrieved himself by turning
the answer to his own account. He is ;'s
cool u demon as ever lived, and the ma
tion's honor calls Tor his speedy death
Unless Guiteau dies, the life Of no public
man is safe, and the crarks will be nu-
merous as tramps were before the States
made provisions for their arrest, ;sno con
tinement at hard labor. Hang Gditeau
and insane asylums will support fewe.
/ cranks. The insanity dodge has too long
/ been played by both criminals aud law
| yers. The thousands that daily witness
, the transfer of ,Guiteau to and fro from
{ courthouse, TO Jail would, if left alone
. eud the farce in twenty minutes The
\ experts are letting light into this case
and there is no doubt but he will be
found guilty ana be hung, and all the
r people will say AMEN.
:. The record in the Guitoau case, nov
: comprises 500 pages Of printed matter
7 It is published from day to day at the
Government Printing Offico in pamphlet
t form. The indictment and the examina
t ton of jurors and talesmen occupy LII
5 pages, the opening argument and testi
: mony for the United States 156 pages
}. and the argument and testimony for thu
defence 543 pages. The testimony of tn
prisoner in his own behalf occupies 2O(
pages. Three days were spent i'll getting
: a jury, four days i'll the testimony 70
o the government and fourteen days i'll tn
Ii testimony and argument for the defence
g The record contains verbatim report
. eyery word uttered on the trial bein
IS preserved.
Y The rush for places in tho Department
IL is simply crushing. There seems d gen
l. eral decentralization amongst young men
e An Office or clsrkship seems to be the'
d highest aspiration. A strong, robus
is Young man who takes clerkship i'll on
o of the tombs in the Treasury Departmen
p had better be buried i'll the grave var
u at home. and unless lie wants to destro
is all his hopes and future cxpec tations b
ID should abandon all thoughts of goyer'
A ment pap aud, taking the advice