The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-03-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March q

WASHINGTON, March %, 1885.
The political situation iD Washington was
never more interesting than it is now, but
the interest is entirely devoid of sensation
1t will be the province of history with a ret
rospectlon of fifty years or more to portray
the great and important changes, the slow,
but potent revolution that is now taking
place. The observer of to-day can catch
only here and there a scene and a sign in
the progress of events as they are evolved
around him. Mr.. CleveIand's administra-
tion may not be precisely what many of his
supporters have hoped, but their disappoint-
ment cannot equal that of the supporters of
Mr.. Blaine, who see in the wisdom, the eau
tion, and the conservatism of the admins
tration, the refutation of their predictions
and the ruin OF their hopes. With the ex-
ception OF the appointment of the now cele-
brated Mr.. Higgins, malice itsel: has been
able to find no fault with those who have
been placed IN government offices. The
torrent of animad versien that poor Higgins
has received must strike the average govern
ment employe as very absurd, for even If
the worst said of him is true, it follows that
be is only as bad as the thousands of others
whom the party of moral ideas " has cher
ished in its heart of hearts for at least six
teen years. Higgins CANDLES, he stuffs bal
lot boxes. he is smart and tricky, is the cry
of the sanity rascals who supported man
like Blaine, and men like Robson and BeIk-
nap, and who stole the Presidency eight
years ago. Why, a large number of the Re-
publican employees in Office now are drunk
ards and gamblers, men with salaries of
from 81, 900 to 81, 500 year, who would not
be trusted with five dollars, and who would
be dismissed tomorrow If it were not for
the fact that they served in the Union army.
Ye hypocrits, First east out the beam from
your own eyes. and then will you see more
clearly to pull out the mote that is alleged to
have been in your brother Higgins eve be-
fore he was appointed to a subordinate Of
fee in the Treasury department. 1t is Gu
rious, grotesqu9, and mOraesque to see
what a high standard the Republicans haYe
set up for those from whom, few months
ago, everything vile was vociferousy pre-
dicted
great change has come over the city OF
Washington, has permeated all the Govern
ment offices, has affected the homes, and
even the shops of the people. That the new
Administration will fulfill its contract to con-
duct the Government on business principles,
in the interest of the people instead of the
office-holder, is now believed by all. Gov
ernment clerks no longer feel the sheltering
arm of their Republican influence. and are
working in a way that is really surprising.
TPose who before the election were blat-
ant and abusive of Democrats, cannot now
be hired to say a word against them, and
some have even taught their lips to utter
praise. The average Government clerk is
very unhappy. He is aware that he has
very little to do, and that he is not qualified
to do that little. He has heard that the
new Administration will reOrganfze the De-
partments and discharge the useless, the in
competent. the idle, the drunkard and the
gambler. He knows this means him. He
knows that outside the Government Office
he cannot make living that better clerks
are working in business houses all over the
country at One-half and one-thiTd what he
is paid working constantly for ten and
twelve hours a day, while he is doing sham
work for only seven hours a day.
Shop keepers, especially those wEo sell ci-
gars and tobacco, tell that times are very
dull. Government clerks are ecoonmizinp
in preparation for the day of dismissal
10 making aHpointments, l understand
that the Administration will be very careful
to select only competent and sober men, and
it is expected that the moral tone of the
service and of the city will be improved
Improvement is already discernble. Presi-
dent Arthur's administration was COM
paratigely respectable. but it was at best, q
succession of the Grant regime of vuIgarity
and dishonesty, and the Hayes regime o
fraud and hypocrisy. l think President
Arthur thought more of his distinction as
fine gentleman than of his fame as a states
man. There is now promise of simpler
manners, purer laws. Washington during
/ the next four years NAV not be tie Mecca o.
fashion and social ostentation, but it will b,
more than ever the ideal capital of a deceu
/ Democracy, 4.