Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-08-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
fFrom oar Regular CorrespopdepLI


[FrOm or Regular Correspondent /
WASHINGTON, August Is, 1881
While the dullness of midsummer has
lately pervaded the National Capital there |
has been rather more to occupy attention
than usual at this season. The anxiety |
over the condition of the President has |
overshadowed everything else for six |
weeks. and though Government business
has not been at a standstill. it has, never
tn eless, been considerably lost sight of
except to those directly interested. But
with all their watching and the absence
of customary consultations, the Cabinet
officers have found time to attend to
their duties, as well as to take few
breathing spells between bulletins, and
the current business has not fallen be-
hind. In the Post Office Department
there is about as much activity as ever
and the proceedings in room SO are said
to be as mysterious if not interesting as
ever. The preparations of the star route
cases to be presented to the Grand Jury
next month will be very elaborate. These
cases promise to furnish series of State
trials more important and interesting
than anything of the kind since the ar
raignment Belknap for selling post trader
ships!
| Some Of the accused profess to believe
that there will be no trials, and their
organs here are very spiteful, but it is
difficult to see upon what ground they
base any such exception. There will be
trial and strong evidence produced.
Every unbiased man, woman or child
will be convinced that their is undoubt-
edly guilt; yet there may not be any con-
viction. Ex-senator Dorsey appears to
have vanished from public view. AT
least he shows desire to do so and has
gone off down into New Mexico or some
where in that direction. Poor Dorsey!
What fall was there Is it not warn
ing. From being feted and feasted as the
hero of campaign and the saviour of
Indiana, to hunted quito asst accused of
theft and robbery. A friend who knows
Dorsey we'll, told me when the exposure
first came that the Ex-Senator's skin was
very thick; that he would not feel much
hurt provided he escaped. But from all
/ can learn he does feel it and is complete,
ly broken and wrecked. Brady shows
much the greater thickness of skin, for
he stays here, buys ysnewspapers to argue
him into an honest man while they abuse
the Administration and every one connect
ed with the prosecution.
Secretary Kirkwood's S big Indian pow
, WOW assemblies here in few days. 1t
will be a peculiarly interesting gathering
of the noble red men. The object of the
council IS to investigate and discuss
charges that have been made at various
times that unauthorized persons, Ameri-
cans and foreigners, have been engaged
in furnishing several of the Western
tribs with arms and ammunition. In
the event of the charges being sustained,
and the indications are that they will be,
the Government will take immediate steps
to secure an indemnity for all who have
suffered by such action. "Dr." ]. S.
Cannon, chief guide and interpreter for
the United States, has been engaged in
: working this matter up for more than a
year past and has collected large amount
of evidence. Delegations from nine tribs,
representing about ninety thousand In
: dians, have been summoned to attend the
: big council and some of the most promi-
: nent chiefs are expected. Spotted Tai
J. was to have been among them had not
o Grow Dogs bulied interfered with hi
+ plans. The twelve hundred Indian chill
y dren at the Carlisle School will also be
: here. 1t will be the biggest pow-wow
) ever held here.
e At this season Of the year when hens
II are off their reservation, invading the gar
&c dens of peacefeI people in order to han
is the wild earth-worm and the timid grub
II the amount of injury inflicted upon thu
: Vegetables and tempers of men probably
l. exceeds that caused by Indians on th'
g frontier. And it has just occurred to IL
It that the Government has no hen policy
q 1t simply ignores the existence of hen
! and turns deaf ear to their wi&d war
t. whoops and the indignant language o
.e their victims. While we have an Agri
d cultural Bureau where much brain ant
+ money has been expended upon expert
q ments in raising boiled potatoes ant
"a growing granulated sugar, why shoult
! we not have Hen Department tina
J. would give attention to producing breet
;, of hens capable of laying soft-boiled o
- scrambled eggs. We have too, an Indial
= policy which is the pride of our civiliza
- - ton. In the Winter the Indians, lik
- the hens must remain in their wigwam
' and be fed. The Indian Bureau feed
them and keeps them warm, and in tn
o *, Spring when, like the hen. they go fortl
" upon the war-path to prey upon the sett
| lcI uilu ueStIOy HES ouUotStuCSs GiIcy ttI
- furnished with guns and mildly invite'
70 % to come back next Winter and get SOM
70 70 more rations.
!. This lack of hen policy is unquestion
u u ably due to want of perception on tn
's part of the Covenant of one Of the fin
est opportunities ever offered to enter
i prising politicians. If we had Hel
" Bureau what wealth of new Office
would be opened to earnest workers
e and what splendid fortunes would b.
l. placed within the reach of true states
e men? Suppose the Government were t.
Is assume the management Of all the tribes
= There would be room for housands of hel
:. agents whose duty it would be to suppl.
o the hens under their charge with corn
h worms and other necessaries of life. 1
n every agent sold for his own benefit onl.
IS two-thirds of the corn. designed for th'
l. use of the hens, he could grow rich in
8, few years and feel the proud satisfaction
4, of having abstained from initiating tn
,r gross rapacity Of Indian agents. Th'
j. Government could keep hens on their re