The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-20
Washington Letter.

ne llF>t week III COuSIcsS was PaoSON'
without event of particular note. The we'll
broken Legislators took to their work very
kindly and the start was made without a
balk. The tariff question, which it has
been predicted would sleep through the
present congress, was sufficiently awake to
spring up on the first day. Something
must be done with the hundred millions of
dollars that are pouring into the t. 5.
treasury each year, bursting its granite
walls and creating a disgraceful and dis
honest scramble among the old boys that
the people send here to play at the game
of government.
Mr.. Blaine arrived during the week. He
was met at the station by his son, Walker
Blaine, and Hon William Walter Phelps,
of New Jersey, and taking the arm OF the
latter he walked through the room where
he had witnessed the Garfield tragedy, to
Phelpss carriage, and the three were drlv-
EN- 10 Mr.. Blaine's new home on Massachu-
sets avenue, where he has rented the
house of ex-Secretary Window. Invita-,
tons TO dine have been pouring in upon the
ex.candidate from prominent Republicans,
and he will dine consecutively with Mr..
Phelps, Judge Grey of the Supreme Court,
and Senator Hoar Mr. Blaine's stumping
and hippodroming have evidently improv
ed his health and since the monstrous
falsehoods he has told have not stuck in
his throat there is reason to fear that Satan
proposes to use him for future mischief,
and there can be no doubt that his politi-
cal friends like Phelps, Hoar and others
are in accord with the purposes of Satan.
The Washington monument Is finished.
see from my window the national flag
floating higher than any flag ever tioated
before, fifty feet above the 80 feet eleva-
ton of the monument The cap,stone was
laid on the 9Th inst, in driving rainstorm
and the completed wonder now awaits the
dedlcating ceremony on the 22d of Febru-
dIN, OI ltllltl lllt -'it, loi VIC --u thi' WI
comes on Sunday. Very imposing cere-
monies have been planned for the dedica-
ton of the monument 1t is expected that
the city will be overcrowded, for already
has nearly all the available room at the
principal hotels been engaged for the dedi'
cation of the monument and the inaugura-
ton of the president.
1t is quite evident that Mr. Clevelands
wish 10 have Il plain and quiet induction TO
office will be thwarted by an overwheim'
ing majority The loyal Democrats here
and elsewhere will not torego their celebra.
ton, and while there may not be as much
"style" as has been displayed in recent Re.
publican inauguyations, there will be a
larger and more respectable gathering of
people than has appeared in Washington
for years.
The social world is all at sea. The govern
ment clerks, those who dance, lost so m lch
money in bets on election that they cannot
buy fashionable rai-.ent, Their tailors
will not trust them because they do not eX-
pect to draw salary after the 4th of March
Society is making an effort to pull itself
together but the Republican defeat has dis
organized and -demoralized it. II will re-
form again hut on different lines, and with
different personnel, after the 18th OF March
Washington will continue to be the socla!
center of the country, and those who think
there will be even Il momentary hiatus IN
the growth and Identification of the CAPT
tai of the United States know nothing OF
the external and internal forces that enter
prise and patriotism are bringing to bear
on city which will now cease to be a
mere gambling and junket place for east
ern millionaires and western parvenues,
and become the capital of the whole
country.
Three important measures will probably
come up this week in the senate, viz: the
house hill to declare the forfeiture Of GER
tain land grants to aid the construction OF
IA railroad in Oregon; 2d the admission OF
southern Dakota as state, which VIII
doubtless arouse political discussion; ana
Sd, the interstate commerce bill.
In the house. Representative Reagan In
tends Ia press the interstate commerce Dill
discussion OF which was begun last week
II is thought that vote will be taken on
this measure by Thursday. Mr.. Hewitt
will endeavor to bring up the Mexican re
ciprocity bill this week, and MIR. Psyson
will urge his bill restoring To the pubic
domain all lands within indemnity limits
for railroad and wagon-road companies
He says the passage of this bill will open
for settlement more than l20OO0,OOO acres
of land.