Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-08-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Aug. Sd, 1886.


But little is talked about IN Wash
ington besides the hot weather and
the Grant obsequies. The political
campaign in Virginia is exciting
some attention but it is yet too early
in the engagement to rivet the inter-
est even OF the professional polit-
icians Of both parties, who crowd
Washington. 1t may be said that
the professional politician as well as
the Office seeker are much scarcer in
Washington than they have been
for some months past. First the
President turned a cold shoulder on
them, and now a succession of hot
waves have made life in Washing
ton pretty hard living.
The White House has been closed
except to those who have business
appointments. Only routine work
is going on at the Departments. On
next Friday the President and his
Cabinet will leave for New York city
to attend the funeral of General
Grant, and unless something unex-
pected transpires he will not be seen
in Washington before the middle of
September. His plans for seeking
quiet repose in the woods of North
ern New York have already been
sufficiently published. He evident
ly intends to come back fresh in the
autumn for the hard work that must
precede the session Of Congress and
indeed, must continue while Cen
gress is here.
1t is said that joint resolution
has been prepared to be presented
in both the House and Senate, when
Congress assemblies, declaring it to
be the wish of the nation that the
body of General Grant be placed in
custody of the nation, and that it be
inferred at the Capital in order that
national monument to his memory
may be erected over his remains. 1t
is believed that the Grant family
will be influenced by such an express
sion cfthe National will.
The idea is not to at once remove
the remains from Riverside Park
but to allow them to remain there
until the completion Of q grand
memorial, which shall at the same
time commemorate the restoration oil
the Union.
The movers in this matter have a
bill which will follow the passage OF
the resolution proposing the extern
sion of the main building of the
Capitol toward the East, and they
propose to have tomb placed in it
after that OF Napoleon in the Inval
ides. Another idea is for a grand
national valhalla like Westminster
Abbey to be placed opposite the pro
posed national library, to the east
Of the Capitol. It's certain that the
idea of bringing Grants remains to
Washington is fixed and will not be
allowed quickly to die out.
Considerable difficulty was expert
enced in locating all who had been
selected by the President as pail
bearers, and General Joseph E
johnson, at present RAILROAD Com
missioner of the Interior Depart
ment, was not communicated will
until last Friday night, when it was
learned that he was at Portland
Oregon. He at once started East
and will be at New York on time
incidentally it was learned at the
White House, that General Grant
had high regard for General John
ston, and always referred to him as
one of the leading minds of the Con
federates. 1t was upon the receipt
of this information that the Presi
dent selected General Johnston to
be one of Grants pail bearers.
Nearly all the colored servants
who were at the White House when
General Grant was President will
attend the funeral ceremonies at
New York, the President having
given them permission to do so.
1nasmuch as the horses attached to
the hearse will be lead not driven,
Albert Hawkins, the Presidents
coachman, although he will he in
attendance. will not drive the hearse
as he expressed a desire to do.
To THE EDITOR Your cores.
pendent, presuming on your kind
indulgence, will now take a two
weeks holiday in the mountains of
Virginia he will then resume his
work, and hopes to write better let
tiers by benefit of much needed
rest. G. A. s.