The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-10-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom III regular Correspondent.i
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2Stl,, ,Sj.

break the political ca!m during the
past week. The bitter contest. wagcd
in Ohio, Virginia and New York are
not felt here. This is unusual for ii
has been the habit Of previous admins !
trati"nS to throw themselves into the
mih,t of such contests with all their
patronage, prestige, and influence.
President Cleveland however has said
that he Will take no active part in til.
state elections and his Cabinet have
shown Il determination to initiate his
example. But this refusal to enter tho
tray must pot be construed into any
lack If interest in Democratic success.
1t Is the belief of the resident and
his constitutional advisers that they
have ii work before them of the grand
Democracy i'll state elections will be
brsi promoted by the general govern
ment in an example of rigid attention
TO the work that strictly belongs to it,
The question as to who should be the
successor of Prof. Hilgald as Supelin
tendent of the Coast Survey, has been
the subject Of mature consideration OH
the pant al the President ever since
the first irregularities in that bureau
We're discovered. There are so many
aud such weishty interests involved
that it was a difficult question to de
eide Who would be the best man for the
place. 1t requires il man of good exec
utive ability as we'll lis of eminent sci
entitic qualities. 1t appeared to the
President that these qualities were uni
ted tn the person of Prof. Alexander
Agas-iz's and he accordingly, through
the Secretary OF the Treasury, wrote
to him asking him to assume the super
intendency of the Coast Surrey Bureau.
Prof. Agassiz's name was the choice
Of the President himself. No one re
commended him for the position, but
his selection was the result of q desire
of the Administration to secure the ser
ces of the very best men possible and
as Il recognition Of his eminent scienti
fc attainmeuts. 1t is understood tina t
in the letter the President sent to the
Professor he strongly urged him to give
the country the benefit of his knowl
edge in the practical manner which
would be open to him through the bu
reau were he to accept the superinten
dency.
Prof. .Agas> a man of large
wealth aud influence and one Of the
most prominent scientists in the United
States. He is a son of the late Prof.
Louis Jean Rudolph Agassiz, the great
Swiss naturalist and g~eologist, who
took up his residence in This country in
l849 and died here in 1873. The son
ably filled the fathers place. and is an
thority on most scientific subjects.
A party of District Democrats went
to the White House last week and
made a strong appeal for the appoint
ment of a fellow citizen to the Office of
Recorder of Deeds in the place of Fred
Douglass. They had no prejudice
against Mr.. Douglass on of his
color, but he was one of the most often
sive partisans they ever set eyes upon
and ought to 60. The gentleman re
commended for the place was of old
and a~ristocratic connections with con
siderable influence in Virginia and uni
versally popular in the District. He
was in every way qualified and would
perform the duties of the office in such
a mani er As would do honor to the Pres
ident and himself. Mr.. Cleveland is
very familiar with this speech aud
hears it several times every day. He
listened patiently for a while, then got
out of his chair, pushed his big hands
way down in his pockets, and, wander
ing toward the library windows, looked
down over the Potomac flats in an alb
stracted manner Pretty soon he
turned and asked impulsively.
''Youthink there ought to be a change
in that office I"
Yes, sir" replied the chorus.
Every we'll give me the name of a
colored man competent to fill it and