The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspor dent.l

the observers of political events than
that the Democratic politicians can
not, or will not, learn anything-not
even by experience. The Repnbli-
cans here have been Il good deal
amused lately at the efforts of the
Democratic Congressman and leaders
to organize and strike out early for
the ensuing Congressional campaign.
For a number of years the party has
tloundered around without anypolIcy
to speak of, but adopting every eX-
pedient 10 catch votes. They bid
first for the IndeDendent vote with
Greedy in 1872, then for the Green
back vote, and finally in the last
campaign they male a bold strike to
capture the soldier vote for Hancock.
1t has been generally supposed that
the scheme of throwing out induce
ments to catch the soldier element
WAS pretty Ct1ectually squelched in
that cam Daign, but now they come to
J the front with fresh bait on their
hook in the person of Gen. Rosecrans
as chairman Of the Congressional
campaign committee. 1t was most
foolish selection from every point of
view. AS Il Disguised democrat said
after the caucus: ut puts us on the
defensive. We will have to de-
fnnd the chairman of our committee
against the assaults of the so-called
Half-Breed press, because of the as
saulta against dead man. W. will
have to defend him against the as
saults of the Protestants because he
i,a Catholic. 1t was a bad selection,
because Gen. ROSecranS is two .h0us-
and miles away from anywhere and
is no politician" This about eX-
presses the situation as it is. The
more sagacious and business like
Democrats wanted t. elect Mr.. Flow
er. of New York. to the chairmar-
ship, partly because he has Il "bar'"
and partly on account OF his charac-
ter and ability, but they were over
ruled, just as the whole party will be
when the election comes around.
Congress has been for two or three
years discussing measures for pro-
viding some suitable place for our
immense National Library, which
now contains over 100000 volumes
and is increasing at the rate of % 900
volumes per year. A libreary build.
ing is absolutely necessary. as in the
present condition of things the books
can he of little use to anybody piled
and stacked up in rocks and corners
about the place now provided for
them. The delay If Congress to So.
Iect site and appropriate money for
n building led to IL recent proposition
to raise the dome of the Capitol fifty
feet and put another story on the
centre building. The praciicahili'y
of this was referred to Gen. M ,igs
for his opinion rs an engineer. and he
has just sent his reply to the commit
tee. After describing the construc-
tion Of the dome, and the capacity of
the central portion of the Capitol to
bear weight. Gen. MeigS debates that
he does not think it prudent to put
the additional weight upon it. He
says the walls under the dome are
just propnrti0ned tn bear the load now
upon them. TIL" mortar used in the
construction of tie walls WAS made
of lime and sand, as cement was not
used in those days. and the soil upon
which the wallis rest is of moist clay /;
that The key stones in some of the
der the dome have dropped. some
more than others, and upon the
whole. Gen. Meigs says the suggest
ed rising of the dome would he dan.
gerous and fatal enterprise. He says
| it is possible to take the dome TO
pieces and rebuild, but that the pre-
portions of the Capitol forbid this as
vel as any attempt to raise the dome.
In conclusion he says: Nowhere
is to he found n great building of such
rich and graceful composition as The
present Capitol ofthe United States"
And he maintains substantially that
airy change would not only lie dan.
gerous. but would destroy the archi-
tectual beauty of the Capitol.
The old vexed question of official
precedence which has caused heart
burnings and jealousies in Washing
ton society ever SINCE this city be-
came the seat of Government, is
liable to come w and engen,ler al
ie, lings on any occasion of ceremony.
1t caused a lively and very warm
discussion between some ladies and
the doorkeeper of one of the reserved
galleries in the House of Representa-
lives on Il recent occasion. 1t was n
question as to the best seats being
r a