Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
,eoIAL CORRESPONDENCE oFrHE MONITOR.
WdshiRqton. March. OH

have transpired at the capitol since /
last wrote you. The recently elected
president of the United States has
pronounced his inaugural address
and taken the oath of office The
city has doubled its population and
again divided it. The new cabinet
has been officially announced and
confirmed by the senate, now con-
vened in extra session. and the new
democratic regime has started upon
its course.
Everything in connection with the
festivities oe the 4th inst. was salts
factory, complete, and impressive.
Even the weather amicably fell in
step with the occasion and showed a
fairer face than it has worn for twen-
ty-live years. Never on similar
occasion has Washington been so
thronged with visitors or looked so
gay. Pennsylvania avenue was a
mass Of flags and bunting, the
amount Of material used being be-
yond estimate. No serious occurrences
married the effect of the celebration
as whole. The people and the pa
geant lived up to the weather. There
were some almost unprecedented
jams, such as that at the Inaugural
ton ball, which drew from President
Cleveland the remark, 81 have never
before seen anything like this" and
on the white house LOT where the fire
works were displayed. But there
were no railroad accidents, no plat
forms broken down with their burdens
of spectators, no street broils occur
red. no jealousies nor no misunder-
standings to break the harmony of
the day. AS the procession moved
over the broad asphalt avenue to the
capitol, and afterwards as the long
column defiled and stretched away
fully four miles to the westward,
accompanied by the harmonious din
Of 125 bands of music. and the
Haunting of national banners, the
scene was grand and inspiring. But
must turn from the day to the man.
The new occupant of the white house
has had ample opportunity already
to realize the strain to which he will
subjected during the next four years.
The city is still full of visitors, and
some of them are unwilling to depart
without shaking hands with him, and
receiving an office. Several times Mr..
Cleveland has felt constrained to
leave his official duties and hold in
formal receptions.
The presidents first official act
was the nomination of the cabinet
and the second was the signing of
Gen. Grants commission as an Off
Ger on the retired list of the army
with the rank of general. Secretary
Lincoln brought the commission to
the white house and laid it before the
president for signature. The presi-
| dent glanced at it and laid it aside,
remarking, II suppose there is no
hurry about it," Secretary Lincoln
picked it up and said, swell, the
fact is, Mr.. President, one of my
highest aspirations before leaving the
cabinet is to attest this commission,
and you will personly oblige me by
signing it now" "Maybe Mr.. En-.
dicott, as secretary of war, shares
yonr aspiration, Mr.. Lincoln" quiet
ly remarked the president, again lay.
ing the paper aside. Secretary Lin
coin, some what abashed, took his
leave, and later President Cleveland
signed the commission, as did also
his secretary of war.
The new cabinet seems to be on,
designed for hard work, and wei
equipped for its duties. For som,
days it was known who would com
pose it, save that slight uncertaint,
clouded two of the names. There
fore the full list occasioned little sur
prise. The fitness of senators Bay
ard and Garland for their respectiv,
desks is acknowledged, while tn
value of Senator Lamar's presence a
the presidents council board is ais,
conceded. OF the men less know
in Washington, Mr. Manning come
to the head of the treasury with
high reputation for executive abilit
and good judgement as politician
1t is thought Mr.. Villas will make a
efficient postmaster general. MI
Whitney has shown great energy an
tact as lawyer and politician, an
will bring these qualities to his neV
duties at the helm of the navy dc
partment. Judge Endicott is know
as an able lawyer and a man of grea
firmness of character.
The new president is confronte
each morning now with a steadily ir
creasing volume of mail. OF cours
he does not see one-fourth of tn
matter that is addressed to him
That would be impossible, even if b
occupied every hour he is awake
; the task. The letters, too, embrac
every conceivable subject. Som
are congratulations. others relate t
appointments, and one New Yor
. man wanted the president to sen
him a dancing programme of th
: | ball.
: The First Steel Pen Makers.
The word Ben in the Holy Scriptures
: refers TO either an iron STYLE or to