The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.


From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, June At is becoming more
and more evident that the professional poll
ticians who have 81 leng filled the Govern
ment offices here, and who know more about
the national political pulse than many better
known pcliticians-bslieve that the next
President will be Democrat. Mr.. Conkling
is on record as having ayowed this belief: Jay
Gould, who dropped tr1ie of $780, 600 into
the Republican contribution bsx in 1880, has
expressed a similar belief. Mr.. Blaine has
within the past two weeks said the same to a
friend. The general concensus Of what may
may be called eminent opinion is doubtless
impressive, but is not more significant than
the haste with which shrewd old salts, who
have bunked for years in cosy places in the
Departments here, are casting about for other
means of livelihood. 1t used to be said of
clerks in the Government Offices that few die
but none resign. But during the last spring
there has been marked spirit OF ignation,
which, if not plous, is at least significant of
what class, remarkably acute in political
prognostics expect.
The eminent and the unknown OF the Rs-
publican party Go no.. however, deserve to be
classed among the pr0Dbet. for knowing what
is evident. The grand old party die in 1876,
but preserved in is Own venom, aud such
other costly embalment as Jav Gould, Dorsey
sId Bredy paid iOr, IL MS 20 far cheated the
grave. 1t is now rscoguiz d that its galvan-
IL end m uni fed existence can not be longer
ITotTsc'f6. The loss Of mre States last fall,
III d the fact that Vireiria il escaping from
The 81 my g,esr of Maho e. - ~ shown 10
lie Jecrnl tl.cuu,', is convincing tn4s =
funeral cen Ing much lor ger he dels' ed. A
senti. nan y Ia hes talked sim Mr. r. 3
Hsyes very recent y ssvs mat Mr. Hayes has
70 h;pe 5,r ire RauublicenS next year in
Ohio or in The ~ X, Matter al struggle. This
Mr. Esyes. ~ mems fhst will be ramem-
beTtd though, the man is fOrgo;t-n, once sat
IN the Presidents chair
TIE cers mcBy Of strewiog II ,wers on the
graves OF Union soldiers is rapidly degener-
ailpg into farce. There n 10 city near
which so many Union soldiers lie buried as
The city IF Y sSbing On. sun Congress mas
ms0e National holiday NJ the 30.h of May
as jour Ges morris for the purpose of decor.
stiU with flowers the graves of those who
/ fell in TIE War tRenty year ago. The hoi
| dsy il 81 loved bS The Government Clerk and
/ his or her sweetheart. 1t Is an occasion for
! excursions, picnics and beer garden svui-
posia, celebrated somewhat like a Partisan
Sabbath, but with less taste and decency.
] Instead CT fresh flowers which are so abund-
/ ant at this season, LiDc0ln's marble statue
was entwined with tawdry red and white
4 parer roses. did not see real flowers on
ROIe than ten of the thousands of graves at
Arlington Cemetery. Each grave was dec
Grated with penny edition of the stars and
stripes. The Cemetery was frequented BY
holiday makers very few CT whom were
white. They were scattered over the im-
Rense park, romping, flirting and munrhing
/ ginger cakes, and could not have ebjoyed
themselves differently had they bean ct a
circus or a camp meeting.
The newspaper reports of the celebration
/ described the procession to Arlington and
the ceremonies there and at ths other Ma
tional cemeteries in this vicinity IS equal
/ ing. in point of numbers aud interest. those
/ of prior years. 1t occurred to me, however,
I hat there was g very sensible falling nff in
/ that respect. The procession attracted but
/ very small crowds on the avenue and swak-
eDed no sort of enthusiasm. None of the
/ regular troops on garrison participated, and
/ the city military companies were conspica-
olEly absent. The presence of those would
have given more eclat to the occasion, but
] perhaps on the whole parade and march OF
/ The actual survivors was more appropriate.
BIJOU.