St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-06-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
JUNE 18th, 1885.

green SWdFu anu al hLGlACid1 IdhS W
the Washington Monument and be-
yond down the broad Potomac, COM
manding view seven miles in extent.
For fifty summers the Presidents of the
United States have stood on this porti-
co of Saturday afternoons, chatted with
their friends, and listened to the music
of the Marine Band from the green
sward below. President Cleveland
last Saturday and hundreds of Wash
lngtonians got their first glimpse of his
strong rugged face and non-Appollo-
like figure. 1t was curious sight to
see several hundred people standing
below looking up at the President on
the portico above. The gazers were
mostly of the Government clerk class
and their faces wore an expression of
anxiety, curiosity, hope and fear. /
looked in vain for an expression of res
ignation in their government pap fed
faces. 1t may be said with emphasis
that they will not resign. They were
trying to read their fate in the face of
the President, and with curiosity that
was more natural than polite they
stared in silence by the hour.
The reader who is not an Office seeker
or office holder will be more interested
in the appearance of the President than
Of the crowd. He looks ruddier and
healthier than when he delivered his
inaugural on the 4th Of March, His
manners are unaffected and pleasing.
He greets those whom he knows with
an unstudied grace-cordial but not
effusiye. He wore Prince Albert coat
and fashionable silk hat. In greeting
those who called he would remove his
hat, and while talking to ladies, would
stand uncovered for few minutes.
But the rays of the sun made it neces-
sary for all the gentlemen to wear their
hats most of the time.
Mr.. Cleveland adheres to his early
hours and habits Of hard work and in
these respects he is initiated by all the
heads of Department.
Visitors have no trouble in seeing the
Cabinet officers. 1t is only those who
come late who have any trouble. Two
of the best business men in the Cabinet
are Manning and Whitney. There was
some criticism at the time Of their ap-
pointment because two members from
New York were placed in the Cabinet.
Tried by the test of experience they
have proved to be among the best se-
lections that the President has made.
1t is further proof OF his good judgment
that these two men were personally
known to him. His weakest selections
have been those which were recon-
mended to him by other people. The
Treasury Department. is now in better
hands than it has been for number of
years. Mr.. Whitney is thorough man
of the world and has his department on
very good footing. He is polite to
every one and does not annoy his call
ers with the constant declaration made
by some of the new officials that his
time is excessively occupied and that ii
is with only the greatest difficulty that
he can afford to give a few seconds OF
his time to any individual. Any one to
see him with bis visitors would think
that he was the easiest going and most
thoroughly good-natured member of the
Cabinet.
Gen. Sparks the new Democratic land
Commissioner has issued an order for.
feitinp the bulk Of the fraudulent Max.
well land grant. This will throw oyel
to public entry over 100000 acres
Through fraudulent surveys and cor
rupt official bargaining at Washington
this grant was stretched so as to include
100000 acres of land. This order d
Mr.. Sparks cuts down this grant to it
original dimensions. If Mr.. Spark
could never do anything more in BIZ
office beyond striking down this gigan
tic fraud, he would be entitled to |
monument at the hands of his fellow
conntrymen. This grant has beeI
hacked hy some of the most powerful
financial and social influences eve
known in the history of Washington
intrigues. Gen. Sparks would not b.
able to strike this blow if he were no
firmly supported by the Secretary o
the Interior. OF course furious appeal
will be made to Secretary Lamar t
auspend the order, but the Secretarr.
will be found as immovable as a rock
He ia thoroughly familiar with the fact
in the case and will sustain the Ian!
Commissioners. This order, taken Wit
nrayinus ones releases over S,0O0,UOU