Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-08-02
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence OF the Alexandra Gazette


headquarters here this morning were Sena-
tor Jonas, of Louisiana, and Representatives
Gibson and Wilson, Of West Virginia. The
former, who has just returned from New
York, says the democrats there feel perfect
ly assured of Clevelands success. He also
says that in order to show what they think
of the ISLANDERS upon the Governors private
character that have been started recently,
400 of the most reputable and respected cit
liens of Buffalo, the Governors own city, will
come out in card next week, stating that
they intend to vote for him. Messrs. Wilson
and Gibson are Just from their own Stat ,
which they say will give its usual deinorIa-
tic majority. They say that Wilson, III.
democratic candidate for Governor, is -spc
cially strong from the fact that he is All en-.
tirely selfmade man, his father before himai d
he himself having worked in the shops AT
Harpers Ferry, and that though in his ear
lier political life he was sOmwhat demagogi-
cal, his ideas have broadened with his H.
creased years, and that now he is rs con
sentative rs any other politician and is 30 re-
gardod by men of affairs in his State. They
say that there was some squabbling in the
State convention, but that, like the cursng
and damning Of sailors ut sea, that showed
there was no danger to the ship. Wien
there is real danger, Mr.. Gibson says, sailors
pray, and so do the democrats, though
neither are accustomed TO that sort of eXer-
else.
The Chief of Engineers of the Army has
received the annual reports Of all the en-
gineer officers in charge Of coast and harbor
defense. They reiterate their assertions of
last year that the Atlantic coast and lake
fronts are in All almost totally defenseess
condition. The majority of the defenses
are said to be falling into decay, and tho
armament in most instances is so far behind
the time as to be utterly worthless. Gen
eral Newton, it is understood, will in his
annual report urge immediate provision
for the adequate protection of harboIs by
batteries and ratification Of modern design.
Colonel Hams has made his annual report
to General Newton, Chief of Engineers,
upon the detences of the city OF Washing
ton He says that Fort Washington, which
is in an utterly useless condition, and Fort
Foo,e. work Of even less strength, if that
be possible, constitute all the defences OF
the National Capital. He asks for an APP
preparation of 500, 600 for the Improvement
and armament % these Notifications. The
construction of Fort Washington began in
1916, and inasmuch as it was planned
nearly three-quarters of century ago, Col.
guns. Fort Foote was constructed in 1862.
No work has been done on either fort since
! 1874.
Mr.. Barbour has just returned from AL
bany, whittier he went to see Gov. Cleve-
| land, and New York, where he attended
meetings of the national democratic COM
mittee, and of the executive committee Of
| that committee, of both of which he is a
member. He had a long private interview
| with the Governor and was most favorably
| impressed as well by his manners as by his
| good sound, common sense and the evil
dences he manifested of having the will to
| put that sense into execution. Mr.. Barbour
| says the scandal business is never alluded
10 by reputable people of either party in
New York, and that the prevailing i'm
preston there is that Tammany and the
disatlected labor element will be all right at
the right time.
1t is said by those who ought to know
that though many of the department clerks
here say they have not paid and do not
intend to pay their political assessments,
every one Of them has already or intends at
An early day to pay the amount expected
from him.
1t is understood that the national republi
can committee, though asked by Malone
for campaign money, and asked, too, in the
most peremptory manner, has not given him
single cent so far, and that MIR. Blaine,
the national republican committee and the
Congressional committee are doubtful about
giving money to any Southern State except
West Virginia, deeming such expenditures
totally useless, and convinced that the South
is solid. The trains between here and
New York have for some time past been
crowded with Southern republicans"
begging the congressional and national re-
publican committees for funds with which
they say they can carry their respective dis
tricts and States, but they have all gone
home empty handed, and consequently in
no very enviable frame OF mind.
Senator Eoorhe es says he has only looked
at two things in Blaine's book, the account
Of Bakers attack on Breckenridge in the
Senate, and a refence to himself, and that if
all the rest of the hook be as incorrect rs
those, it must be tissue Of untruth. Baker
is described as dressed in the uniform OF
colonel and as wearing his sword, when
the fact is he had no sword, and wore a sack
alpaca coat; and that Blaine speaks of him
az filling his second term in the Senate,
when reference to the Congressional record
would have showed him it was the first.
A dispatch was received here this morn
ing stating that Mr.. Ike Hill, whose death
was reported yesterday, is improving, and
that his friends think he will recover.
II is thought here by some Of those who
have paid attention to the subject that
General Hazen, chief of the Signal Service,
and who superintended the Greedy expedi
ton, will have ITO co." and that the evil
denee Of Greedy, when it shall be taken,
will make his going necessity. 1t is thought
very strange here that Lieut.. Ray, who was sent
to Point Barrow at the same time that Greedy
was sent to Lady Franklin's Bay, was not inclnd-
ed among those invited by General Hazcn to go
to Newberryport to welcome Greedy on his return.
The large new frame building in progress OF
erection on the Smithsonian grounds is tempo.
rary structure for the preparation and storage OF
the Governments exhibits at the coming New
Orleans Exposition.
The crew of the British bark Low Wood,
at Limerick, for Delaware Break water, mu-
tinted day or two ago. The mate was
stabbed, and is in dying condition Two