The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-11-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


To the Editor Of the ENTERPRISE.
After the smoke of battle it is well to
look over the field and if possible find by
our sad experience, something that may
be of future service to us and the noble
party that has been so signally rebuked by
vox populi at the ballot box. 1t may as
well be recognized once for all that the
people in spite of bossism are determined
to rule in this country. Their will is
mightier than that of the Camerons, Conk-
lings, ct al. The people desire honest legis-
lation and fewer River and Harbor Bills
Campaigns conducted and directed by
National Congressional Committee here at
the Capital, with funds arbitrarily levied,
though to hide the lie claimed to be volun-
tarily given, is a system not very popular
with the people at the present time. The
coalition made between the Readjusters,
alias Regulators of Virginia, and Repub-
licans, does not appear to have strengthen
ed the party at the North, that strange as
it may seem have an abiding sense of hon.
or, and believe that debts of the State as
we'll as the general Government should be
liquidated on the basis of one hundred
cents on the dollar Millions of voters
entertained the wish to bury with the dust
of the beloved Garfield, the memory of all
the unfortunate scenes that led to his tax
ing of, but disappointed in this hope, they
have by their passivity or their votes,
made proof of their utter disgust, and
buried stalwartism and its over jealous ad-
vocates so deep that it can never be resur
rected. Those who have been instrument
tai in forciug this issue, while they have
nearly destroyed the party, it is some con-
ISOLATION to know that they have committed
hari-kari themselves. The people of this
country are tolerably independent. They
are the sovereigns, are loyal to the old flag
and to Republican principles, and this re-
buke speaks in thunder tones as danger
signal. Meanwhile let us correct the evils
that have crept into our party management,
repair the leaks and trim our sails, and
with some magnetic leader sure to rise, let
us with high hopes prepare for the contest
of 1884 All is not lost. The party that
saved the country, still lives.
'Fear not each sudden sound and shock;
-Tis Of the wave and not the rock;
'Tis but the tapping of sail,
And not a rent made by the gale.
In spite OF rock and tempest roar,
In spite Of false lights on the shore,
Sail on nor fear to breast the sea,
Our hearts our hopes are all with thee"
The Washington monument now reaches
the lofty height of 322 feet and 20 feet will
yet be added before cold weather fore-closes
the work. Stone-cutting will go on through
the winter and large amount of material
will be at hand to be laid into the shaft on
the opening of spring, Col. Casey expects
TO complete the marble shaft by June 1st,
1884. Great interest is now taken in the
design for the terrace about the base of
the monument, also in the material to
be used in the cap or roof, which will ex-
tend in pyramidal form, fifty feet above
the summit of the marble shaft 500 feet
high. Iron and glass have been proposed
as the proper material, and it has also been
suggested that the cap should be covered
with slabs of marble. Designs have been
drawn by Architect Clarke, of the Capitol,
for the terrace. One plan contemplates a
single terrace, 900 feet square, with wide
flights of stairs, and snother double ter
race-there being an inner terrace imme-
diately about the base of the shaft. The
four plaques designated by Mr.. Larkin
Mead are provided with places in Mr..
Clarke's design in the massive walls of
the terrace, one being placed on each of
the four sides. These plaques were de-
signed to be placed about the shaft itself,
near the base but objection is made that
such disposition of them would destroy
the grand effect made by the solid un-
broken shaft of marble. This completed
monument win be the highest shaft in the
world, and with its enormous elevator and
iron stair case it viii furnish to visiting
strangers view of the city of surprising
beauty while at night from its dizzy height
an immense electric light will be seen in
the territory surrounding for fifty miles
away.
Postmaster General Howe will urge
upon Congress several important measures
that are greatly needed by the wants OF
the people. He feels that the public have
too long been compelled to pay tribute tc
the greed of mammoth telegraph corpora
tions, whose manipulators have grown
rich by stock jobbing at the expense OF
the people. The Government holds the
exclusive right to control the slow process
of transmitting, through letters, all com
munications, but permits these corpora
tions to monopolize the faster methods
The Postmaster General justly believes il
to be the business of the Department tC
facilitate prompt and rapid intercourse be
tween the people. In his opinion the Pos
Office Department ought to be equipped
with every facility for postal telegraphy
The Government can do it cheaper thar
companies, and certainly with the same
promptness. AS 10 the means, the Post
master General has not yet outlined his
report. His object is to press the matter
upon the attention of Congress and le
Legislative wisdom devise the best method
for practically carrying out the system
PHAKs.