The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-01-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, jan, 18th, 1884

| fkOM OUR REGOlAh OOhhboE 4. !
WASHINGTON, JAN, 18th, 1884.
The monotony of the week that has
passed was broken by the celebration
Of the anniversary of the Battle OF New
Orleans. "Jackson's day" as it is call
ed. The election of Jackson marked
the overthrow of a corrupt party des.
potism, and it was fitting that the names
of Jackson and Cleveland should be as
sociated in celebrating the victory of
New Orleans when the country is re.
joicing in the overthrow, though Cleve-
land, of the gigantic and despotic oil
garchy of Office stealers and holders
known as the Republican party. The
celebration here was Democratic, elo-
quent and successful.
Another event was the advent and
departure, all in forty eight hours, of
Col. Lamont the private secretary of
the president-e.ect Col. Lamont came
to loook for home, and to scau the
field of his future labor. He had not
been in the city before. He has wife
and children and must have house.
He did not succeed in getting house,
but will try again, after the fourth OF
March, when few hundred residences
will doubtless be vacated.
1t is difficult to believe that only SIX
weeks more remain of President Ar.
thur and Republican administration
Preparation is sleepless, and expecta-
tion is on tip-toe for the fourth OF
March. 1t is estimated that there will
be 250,000 visitors here at the inaugu.
ration. l cannot think that there will
be so many, but the number will doubt
less be large. As a usual thing the
interest of the country in Washington
matters ceases with the adjournment OF
Congress, but this year it will grow
with the Inauguration of new presi-
dent, new policy, the appointment of
new cabinet, and numerous other
changes in all the departments of the
public service.
1t is edifying to see the desperation
with which large number of drones
and sinecurists are trying to get them.
selves converted into real little civil
service reformers and democrats. Many
of them are shufiiing over with an
alacrity that is not graceful
Congress is at work on the appropri.
alton bills. The Navy bill has been
passed by the House, and the consular
and Diplomatic bill is under discussion
heard Republican statesman, SC
called, bewalling the fact that the train
ed and improved consular and diplo
matte personel, which he said had been
established in the last eight years by
Evarts and Frelinghuysen, must give
place to Democratic bummers and
ward politicians. Well it will be a
pity if it is so, but if this noxious class
must have offices, by all means let's
send them TO the foreign courts where
they will have nothing to do, and vii
therefore be incapable of harm. Mod
ern diplomacy is an anachronism and {
farce. There is not the slightest ne
cessity for our sending representatives
to foreign governments, or for foreign
governments to send representative,
here. We have no foreign relations
Steam and electricity, and the pres
have made the embassadorial establish
ments of contiguous states useless, thei
how utterly needless to keep them ul
between our country and trans. Atlantic
powers. 1t would be better to recall
our fimsy ships, cruising in foreign seas
exposing our weakness, and costin!
millions annually. 1t would be bette
to dismantle our diplomatic establish
ments in European capitals. The pres
with steam, and the Atlantic cable will
furnish us prompter and more at
information than can possibly be oh
tained by our heavy representative
abroad. We will state secrets as sool
as they are known by kings and thei
ministers, for we will get them iron
the same source, the press.
was walking on Connecticut aven
ne yesterday, which is the fashionable
Sunday promenade of the city, an,
among other noted people was Mr.
Blaine the late candidate. He wa
walking with Miss Loring, daughter o
the Commissioner OF Agriculture, ant
another young lady. The ex-candi
date, or, should say the perpetua
candidate, is looking pretty strong, bu
he has a sinister face, a face in whicl
his vaulting, foiled ambition is dark,
written, face that seems to say,
swould rather be first in Hades thai
second in Washington.
The situation of the Blaines in thi
city is not happy one. Mrs. Blain
is not magnetic, she is repellant. Sh
has taken occasion to snub many ladie
in society here, who openly rejoice a
her disappointment and humiliation
now. Mr.. Blaines course since his de
feat has been such as to estrange man,
personal friends that he had among tn,
democrats In the long years and tb
new epoch that will date from tn
fourth of March 1885, the capital o
the United States ought to be an un
congenial place Tor malignant disunion
-. FL. L.. - Dlo..-