Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-04-17
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.


WASHINGTON. April 1. 1885.
The new Administration has been
at the helm for one month, and Re
publicans profess to be surprised,
aud are perhaps little disappointed,
that the rebel flag has not been
nailed to the mast. head. To de
scr be the state of the average Dem
ocratic mind just how would be diff
ticult. Certain prominent Demo
Gratis here are as,onished and cha
g,ined at the appointment of Mr..
Pearson, a Republican, to be Post
master Of New York City. Other
Democrats, as prominent, consider
the appointment wise and polite,
aud urge that it will win the Admin
istration more friends than it will
estrange. Many consider the APP
pointment concession to the 1nde-
pendents and Republicans who voted
for President Cleveland in the be-
lief that his appointments would be
guided by tie highest regard for the
good of the public service. MIR.
Pearson has never been a politician.
During the canvass he WAS not prom
inent as Democrat or Republican
or Independent. lIo simply attend
ed to his business rs Postmaster aud
kept the employees of the office ct
their work on election day, to the
intense disgust of the Republican
managers.
A great fuss has been made be
cause the Department OF the Interior
was closed on the day of the funeral
of ex- Secretary Thompson, who was
aCabiuet officer during Buchanan's
Administration, but was afterwards
identified with the secession move
ment. To close the Departments on
the death Of q Cabinet officer, or ex-
Cabinet officer, is q custom that
would be more nonored in the
breach than in the observance, for it
has no more solemnizing or edifying
influence than to give hundreds of
clerks opportunity for a picnic or a
spree. There arc ten thousand
clerks in Washington to-day that are
joyously reckoning on the holiday
that Gen. Grants funeral will bring
them, planning excursions, and pre-.
pairing to celebrate the event with
all the good cheer, Tut none OF the
righteousness, Of an Irish wake.
Mr.. Lamar saw fit to follow a bad
custom, and that Mr.. Thompson had
been identified with the secession
movement did not appear to weigh
more with him than did the untitness
Of Mosby and Lonsstreet with Gen
cral Grant; or of Malone, when
taken TO the bosom Of the Republi.
can Senate; or of ex.Postmaster
General Key. who was appointed by
Hayes to a Cabinet position notwith-
standing the fact that he had been
arrayed in arms and had led brig
ade against the Union. The flag of
the Postoffice Department will one
day be ut half-mast, and the clerks
will have a holiday on the occasion
of tho death OF ex.Postmaster Gen
eral Key Evarts. Schurz, and other
Presidency stealers will he likewise
honored, still the fault of the theft
OF the Presidency in lS7G-77 will
not be condoned
President Cleveland is in excellent
health. and may be seen every after
noon in carriage, usually with his
Secretary, Col. Lamont. He is al
ready acquainted with the many
beautiful drives about Washington.
He still uses the horses and carriage
loaned him by ex.President Arthur,
but pair of horses has been pur-
chased for him by friend in New
York. 1t has been announced that
the President will hold his first pub.
lie reception during this month.
1t is believed the Capital will not
be deserted during the Summer, Us
has been the case for the last sixteen
years, hut that the President and
Cabinet will spend their timo here.
Washington has grown to lie the
pleasantest OF Summer resorts. The
broad streets and avenues are now
we'll shaded. Parks and fountains
are found every few squares. To
the South of the White House are
system of artificial lakes. The i'm
provement of the Potomac swamps,
though yet incomplete. has done
much to eradicate malaria. Those
who have seen Washington only in
the Winter know little of the attrac.
tons of the Capital of the United
States. DEN.