West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-06-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom our regular correspondent.l
WAsHIEGToE, June 4 1883.

who have 90 loug filled the govern
ment Offices here, aud who know
more about the national political
pulse than many better known poll
ticians,-believe that the next pres
ident will be Democrat. Mr.. Conk
ling 10 on record 40 having syowsd
this belief. Jay Gould who dropped
a tr.he OF 100000 into the Rspub-
lican contribution box in 1880, has
expressed q similar belief. Mr.
Blaine has within the past two weeks
said the same to a friend. The gen
eral concensus OF what may be called
eminent opinion is doubtless impress
G.ye, bat is not more significant than
the haste with which shrewd old
salts who have bunked for years in
cosy places iD 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 dur
ing the Last spring there has been a
marked spirit Of resignation, which
1t not pious, is OF least significant Of
what class, remarkably acute in
political prognostiCs, expect.
The eminent and the unknown Of
the Republican party do not, how
ever, deserve to be classed am oug
the prophets for knowing what is evi-
dent. The grand old party died in
1876, but pr eserved in it's own ven
ON, and such other costly embalment
ao Jay Gould, Dorsey, and Brady
paid fort has 90 far cheated the
grave. 1t is now recognized that its
galvanized and mumifed existence
cannot be longer protrActed. The
loss OF nine states last fall, and the
tact that Virginia is escaping from
the shiny grasp of Malone, ss is
shown in the recent election, is con-
vincing that funeral 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 Repubi-
cana next year in Ohioor in the next
National struggle. This Mr.. Hayes,
by means that will be remembered,
though the man is forgotten, once
sat in the Presid ent's chair.
The ceremony of sire ewing flowers
on the graves oil Union soldiers is
rapidly degenersting into farce.
There is 70 city near which 30 many
Union soldiers lie buried as the city
of Washington, and Congress haze
made National holiday of the 30tb.
Of May as a jour DIES morris, for the
purpose of decorating with flowers
the graves of those who fell in the
war twenty years ago. The holiday
is enjoyed by the government clerk
and his or her sweetheart. 1t is an
occasion for excursions, picnics, and
beer garden sympoAa; celebrated
somewhat like Psrlsian sabbath but
with less taste aud decency. Instead
OF fresh flowers which are so album
| dsnt at this season, Lincolns marble
statue was entwined with tawdry red
and white paper roses. I did not
see real flowers on more than ten OF
the Thousands Of graves at Arlington
Cemetery. Each grave was decorat-
ed with penny edition Of the stars
and stripes. The GENE terry was fire.
| quented by holiday makers very few
OF whom were white. They were
scattered over the immense park
romping, flirting, and munchinC
ginger cakes and could not have en-
!joyed themselves diferenuy had
they been at circus or a camI
meeting.
The ne Tspaper reports Of the eel
ebration described the procession tc
Arlington and the ceremonies there
End at the other national cemeter-
lea in this vicinity as equsling, il
point Of numbers and interest, thos,
OF prior years. 1t occurred to me
however, that there was q very sen
sible falling off in that respect. Tue
procession attracted but very sinai
crowds on the Avenue aud awaken.
cd 10 sort Of enthusiasm. None o
the regular troops Ia garrison par.
ticipated and the city military con-.
panles were oouspicuously absent
The presence Of these would hav,
given more eclat to the occasion, but
perhaps, on the whole,a parade an,
march Of the actual survivors We
more appropriate.
e-----
! TIE Republican parry has past o
which it il not eghamed.-W Y
J TIibuue.
There is certainly no evidence tia