New-York tribune., 1884-11-30
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
SIGNS OF THE NEW sESSlON-SENAToK
SHERMAN.

tv,ox Az occ.s,osAI CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE ]
WAsuINGToN. Nov 2s.-This week the Washing
ton atmosphere palpably thickens with the shadow
of coming events. All the fashionable residents Oh
West End. those who can afford to come and go
l,La swallows with the change Of season. have re-
turncd and settled in their long disuscd houses.
score or more of Senators and thrcc score Represent
atives are already hero aud others arc close Dehhd
them ON the arriving trains. The Capitol after its
long process of summer cleaning has Mt length bceh
aro0mcd into complete form for tho open
ing of the session. The walls throngh tho
whole interior OF tho building havo Dcch
thoroughly secured and rctouched to their
ceilings fresh carpets are laid on the iioors OF tno
Senate and House; and as wa'kcdto through
the eastern wing tho final tints Of now paint were
being brushed into the doors OF tho luxurious cor
rdors leading to tho famous "Marble Room"
Tho Democrats arc going to take clean aud COM
Portable seats at the beginning Of thcir first ad-
ministration after n quarter Of o century, whether
or not they long preserve them. TO show how
every sail and craft here has veored TO eaten
prosperous breczes, the souvenir and photograph
woman who keeps her stand in the western lobby,
paying mo the compliment OF suspecting me to DO
n returned Bourbon Of tho lower House. hailed
me as | passed to say: We've had
change at last. and, think. sir, for the botter.
shall do well thi, session." Washington just now
is a den of courtiers Fortunately. howevcr. tho
Democrats have not quite yet captured the United
States Senate.
day or two ago found Senator John Shurman
smoking his after-dnner cigar before blazing
wood fire IN his commodious library on K-st. He
has been in Washington for a week. fle spoke
freely of politics and the recent elections. The
Senator smokes small cigar and dainty One Asho
sat and talked observed the traits OF his face moro
closely than 1t has been my opportunity to dofo
years. His counten rsines rather than hardens
with the advance of years showing the right
metal of a man and statesman. But his chirac-
terstics are stamping themselves, as is usual with
growing are moro firmly along the lines of tn face
AMI skull. The Senator has been charged with
possessing deficient sympathes 1t is not defect,
however His nature is as kindly that OF Others,
only his qualities have different combination
His head is high rather than broad. The basal and
animal qualities which give color and cflusion are
swept upward ia his brain to where his skull towers
like peak His face has o firm serenity
seon in few American public mon. l have
already in the columns of THE TRIBUNE likenei
the Senator to Mr.. Gladstone, Of whose command
ing presence and air no always gives suggestion.
The atmosphere Of political affairs seems as natural
TO him as to the Englishman On public matters
lie speaks with equal force and with even greater
directncss and precision than Gladstone
"This Democratic victory" the Senator said. 81
regard as q great misfortune to the country but
misfortune tempered by a small m1jorty. IL could
have been much worse. II might havo happened
four or even eight years ago. 1t was thing sooner
or later TO be expected. The long tenure of power
by tho ReJublican party made this necessary as
a temporary accident. But coming into power at
4 1, lar iefi nirc st1n fhc
Denocra is will not dare as they might have done
at an earlier m omont to lay violent hands the
body of Republican legislation in the matters grow
ing out Of the ewar-reooustruction and tho negro.
Besides we still have tie Senate which is most
| said to tho Senator. al How do you think the
Democrats will use power now that they havoItf :"
he he Sov po ,S nndeT asG
way. But | think their leaders, aud especially
those hero in, the House and Senate
w and aoT Tp, e we s' shn at .asi G'nS have s Is
trouble in the Senate. These gcptemon are ambi
tious of long lease of place Tho election OF
President has given them. as they know an i'm in
mcnse advantage. They will try to keep 1T. The
South t1cy have got fixed and SOLID. There ~ no
longer any kepubican party there.nonc possible
ulation of the executive patfopage to keep tho
States of New-York and Indiana and retain the
Federal administration Any ilagiant abuse Of
power would. Of course. cause revolt
against them. But this thoy will seek to avoid
by Keeping tho rank aud flo Of the party
under dis ,iprnc and even possibly by treating tho
Southern negroes with greater tenderness and far
ness which is u result greatly 10 he hoped for
single bepefaction from Donocratic rule"
what u yOlir judgement 7" ! asked. Of MI
Ccyoand'g professions Of Intention with reference
10 Tho Ciyil Service, etc. !"
"Mf Cleyeiand." !" The Senator answered. knows
very liitle about what le Ia wing aud what lie IL
coming "a deal with 10 beeina 10 by u faifsneaD
Ing, aulisbfelied sort 6f man, making promises
which le believes ioihhps l' los Tie fotolniiOn
LIT. Ia At.
revolution ~ ijemotniie ifhdiIonh against bis
party n be does, we may live 10 soo IL do not
think y AZ nll pIo9nbl,'
Dwelling op political topios hnd speaking fur
thsr, IN friendly way Of certain mistakes OF hiH
friends ara party "a ,he ca.ppaianl Mr sherman
hoUtlefn issue not after the e.ectlOn. but in the
beginning 0f the canvass. In Ohi0 I aud many
Others made Il rcpresen alton Of the case on the
stump SIMILAR to the one which Mr. Blame makes
n0w-and gaiuel votes by It,"
Thanksgiving has passed here in the usual selate
Washington fashion, a few bands of negro militia
with dram. brass band and shalOs, monopolIz-
ing tho streets The cooled citizen still taxes
to an Oscntatious and ebnllent holiday.
ho vii! 10 properly entitled to it for g.ncrati0n
TO come having gone for "a century or two without
any celebration OF which he WAS an independent
part: aud II he is a FREQ clt1zen anywhere il ~
here in Washington, where ms pretensons to be
an integral part of tho body polite and
social include those TO a free use Of the
razor and pistol III the way of homlcide-
pretens ions which, according to the criminal
docket. he has o. late not much neglected.
Thanksgiving being dis non Tor the depart-
ments well AZ tine business population, eyery-
BODY including The Justices of the Supreme Court
stayed thin doors TO eat his turkey. The Govern
men clerks believe that they have eaton their last
here as official persons, There is not one of them
to the last of the ten Thousand that does not be-
Ievc, Ia spite of Mr.. Clcvelaads bland ssurances
that unless by some miracuiOns grace, his Official
days arc numbered According to Me.srs CIeye-
land and Peudicton appointments to Government
service will still continue 10 bo made after the fonrth
of March nv the rules of the Civil Service Dis
missas Will be made by the rule OF Andrew Jack
son. Such is the Democratic saving clause The
hungry and thirsty Bourbons will stIll salute MIR.
George William Curtis.
Ihave not of late made the tour of the Avenue
but am told that the hotels are already filling rap
idly from The incoming crowds To be present at tho
oneninp OF the sc SION of Congress Eroln thn be-