The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-04-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondent
WkSIIISCTnN IL a. April T.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., April 8, 1888
On Wednesday the President, return
ing from his usual drive, stopped at &
bookstore to look up some reading mat
ter with which to beguilc the tediun
of his long Southern journey. Before
he could step from his carriage to the
door he was observed, and in q few min
utes crowd gathered and blocaded the
sidewalk to the extent Of compelling
passers-by to take the middle of the
street, and the services of policeman
were required to prevent the crowd
from invading the store. Truly, great,
ness and distinguished position are sub.
jected TO ordeais terribly trying to a
satiated appetite. do not wonder that
the President pants for a little obscure
ty, for the depths of some vast wilder.
ness, and is betaklng himself to the
dense shade of the Florida orange
groves. And yet, if he is still an object
of curious inspection in Washington
where Presidents have always lived,
moved and had there being, what may
be expected to remain of him on his re-
turn from his trip to the far south, where
the natives have no conception of real
live President! Think of the cxcrucia.
tons in store for Inn during the next
few weeks, when even for some time
past he has been sickening and turning
livid at the sound of the airs "lIail to
the Chief" and "Sce the conquering
Hero comes" He lett the city Thurs
day morning ut ii so o'clock, on a
special train, accompanied by Secretary
Chandler, Mr.. Mile, OF New York, and
Private Secretary Phillips, and many
kind wishes that his journey might he
pleasant and his fishing good.
Before his departure he named the
new Cabinet Officer, Judge Walter Q.
Gresham OF Indiana. The appointment
is extremely well received in Washing
ton. Judge Gresham has the reputation
of being a man of decided force ofchar-
acter and has been mentioned for posi-
tons of the highest prominence for
years. His courage on the field during
the war attracted the notice of General
Grant, and the warmest personal friend
ship has existed between the two men
ever since. He says ms appointment
was entirely unsolicited and unexpect.
ed by himself. Ills political enemies
accuse him of intense partisanship,
which means that he is a strong Re-
publican. His home is in indianapolis,
and he is said to be an Unsuitable reader
Of books.
On Tuesday, the close of Mr.. Mer.
rick's cross. examination Of Ex-senator
Dorsey, marked an epoch in the star
route trial. In spite of Mr.. Dorsey's
evasions, convenient memory, and par
tial blindness, Mr.. Merrick succeeded
in extracting from him some important
admissions for the Government. 1t is
claimed by the prosecution that Dorsey
was the instigator and organizer of the
conspiracy, and the cross-examination
developed good deal in support of this
theory. 1t has shown that Dorsey fur.
nished the money out of his own pocket
to start and equip the combination. The
headquarters wcfc in his own residence
on street, and he personally watched
and directed the preparations of bids.
In carrying out the scheme he had de.
vised, he sent to postmasters whose con.
tinuance in office largely depended
upon him, even if they did not owe
their original appointment to him, Ger
tain bonds, in blank, with the request
that they procure sureties and certify to
them, without even knowing the char
acter of the bonds. IN one case at least
q postmaster Indignantly refused to
compromise his honor, even at the re.
quest of U. 3. Senator who might be
able 10 put him out of Office.
Senator Jones, Of Nevada positively