Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-14

How ''NationaI" the Capital City Really
is Said to BE.
go n DeNrer .Nlles.

fTOl1t tie Ue1tDef Ns7rS.
WAsHINGTON, Aug. 4.-That this city
is the most appropriate place for Gen.
Grants tomb is true enough, but at the
same time, the loud yocheration Of the
Washington people on the subject is sheer
impudence. Their anguish IS purely that
OF a disappointed boarding house. They
will miss the crowds that would attend the
funeral and the profits that would be
consequent on the crowds, and this
is the basis OF their collec-
tive woe. Nowhere in the country
is there less Of the national spirit than in
Washington. 1t is city OF otiice-holders
and beadlps. 1t lives of Ot the chance of
its location. IL is a pensioner on national
patriotism. 1t is Niagara Falls hack
man depending for its bread aud butter
upon what it has to show, and with no
sympathy with the spirit Of that which
il shows. In all this large city, which
il sending up its howl for vanished
ducats. | have not seen six houses
draped in memory of Gen. Grant, al
though Of all Presidents he did the most
for the place. The nation at large has
the privilege OF making suggestions con-
corning the dead mans burial place, but
the people of Washington have no right
To open their hOtel-runner mouths. They
belong entirely out OF the discussiOn-as
much 80 as the doorkeepers and attend
ants OF a dime museum are beyond the
decision as to what new freak shall be
hired.
Washington IS a national centre which
has become, incidentally, a means OF help
ing along rural shOpmen. Presumably
the heart Of the nation it is the most pro-
vincial and unpatriOtic of all our cities.
IL is between both sections, and has nei-
Their the force of the one nor the spirit of
the other. 10 is a stagrant mendicancy
which is all paw, and the paw is always
Outstretched. is an organized dullness
with a commercial eye and large ear
tapped to the West for the sound of the
wheels of an excursion train. II meets
the nation at the depot with an apron on,
a greedy smile, and hands rubbing with
the itch Of gain. 1t 10 the landlord and
the lackey and the chambeTmaid and the
valet Of our nationality.
think that it was Gen. Grants thor
Ough understanding OF this which in
spired his request TO be buried in New
York. He knew this place. He knew its
small meannesses and it's narrow aims.
He had learned that IL considered a great
memory only as merchandise. He felt
that il was accidentally and not essen
italy the soul of the nation, and that the
inspiration came not from within. but
from without. Therefore he decided not
20 add TO the stock in trade of this city of
shO ~meu. lie did not care to have lot
OF lemonade booths built about his mon
ument, and allow the small shopkeepers,
who always hated him and who now
hate his memory to traffic in his
bones. His recOllectOns of this city
after the assassination OF Lincoln were
not pleasant ones. During his Presi-
Dental term he saw it's smallness and its
time-serylng. BE knew it as a hungry
dog banging about the departments for "A
stray bone. He knew il rs a lacky dane
ing about for a smile. He knew IL as a
treacherOus migrate with nothing but
malice for past favors. Time and again
he expressed his contempt for the place
and the character Of its population. lie
regarded il as g peculiar and contempt
/ lille combination OF treRchery, rebellion,
aud subserviency. And the people here
/ generally seem to have disliked him quite
I as heartily.
The cry against the failure to bring
/ Grants remains here Is simply the an
/ guish of Snowman disappointed in OBJ
/ tanning an especially attractive curiosity
/ The real Washingtcnian never admired
/ Grant. He tolerated him while he was in
/ power because he would tolerate any
/ thing or anybody when there was "A chance
Of profit. One may move among the peo-
| pie native here and he will hear more
/ abuse OF Grant and his career than any
where else. The entire pretense OF indig-
! nation which these people nave set up is
tarcical. They have missed chance u
make money. That is all there is of it.