Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-06-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent,

/
1t is becoming more and more
evident that the professional poll
ticians whW have so long filled the
government offices here, and who
know more about the national pO-
litical pulse than many better
known politicians-believe that
the next president will be Demo-
crat. Mr.. Conkling is on record as
having avOwed this belief. Jay
Gould who dropped trifle of $780,
600 into the Republican contribution
box in 1880, has expressed similar
belief. Mr.. Blaine has within the
past two weeks said the same to a
friend. The general cOncensus of
what may be called eminent opin-
ion is doubtless impressive, but is
not more significant than the haste
with which shrewd old salts who
have bunked for years in cosy pla-
ceS in the departments here are cast
ing about for other means of liVeli-
hood. 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 resignation, which, if not
pious, is at least significant of what
"A class, remarkably acute in pOliti-
cal pronOstIcs, expect.
The eminent and the unknown o.
the Republican party do not, how
ever, deserve to be classed among
the prophets for knowing what is
evident. The grand old party died
in 1876, but preserved its own VEN
ON, and such other costly embalm-
ent as Jay Gould, Dorsey, and
Bradley paid ior-it has so far cheat
ed the grave. 1t is now recognized
that its galvanized and naumified
existence cannot be longer protract-
ed. The loss of nine States last fall
and the fact that Virginia is eScap-
ing from the Shiny grasp of
Malone, as is shown in the recent
election, is convincing that Il funer-
al cannot much longer be delayed.
a gentleman who has talked with
Mr.. r. B. Hayes very recently says
that Mr.. Hayes has no hope for the
Republicans next year in Ohio or
in the next National struggle.
This Mr.. Hayes, by means that
will be remembered, though the
man is forgotten, once sat in the
1E6Slu6ulS cIldlT,
The ceremony of streWing flow
ers on the graves of Union soldiers
is rapidly degenerating into a farce
There is no city near which so many
Union soldiers lie buried as the city
Of Washington, and Congress has
made National holiday of the Both
of May as jour DIES morris, for the
purpose of decorating with flowers
the graves of those who fell in the
war twenty years ago. The hOlj-
day is enjoyed by the government
clerk and his or her sweetheart. II
is an occasion for excursions, picnicS
and beer garden symposia; celebra-
ted somewhat like Partisan Sab
bath but with less taste and decen-
cy. Instead of fresh flowers which
are so abundant at this season,
LincOln's marble statue was entWin-
ed with tawdy red and white paper
roses. l did not see flowers on
more than ten of the thousands of
graves at Arlington Cemetary.
Each grave was decorated with Il
penny edition of the stars and stri-
pes. The cemetery was frequented
by holiday makers very few of
whom were white. They were
scattered over the immense park,
romping, flirting, and munching
ginger cakes and could nOt,have en-
jOyed themselves differently had
they been at a circus or Il camp
meeting.
The newspaper reports of the Gel
ebration described the procession to
Arlington and the ceremonies
there and at the other national
cemeteries in this vicinity as equal
ing, In point of numbers and inter-
est, those of prior years. 1t occur
ed to me, however that there was a
very sensible falling off in that re-
spect. The procession attracted but
very small crowds on the Avenue
and,awakened no sort of enthusiasm.
None of the regular troops in garri.
son participated and the city mill
tary companies were cOnspicuOusly
absent. The presence of these
would have given more ecl0t to the
occasion, but, perhaps, on the
whole, a parade and march of the
actual survivors was more apprO-
pirate.
Washington, June 4th, 1888.