The Russellville Democrat., 1885-05-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
f,o,r,spondenee Of the pemocrat.


 Although. the weather continues cool and the season backward, the city presents a most beautiful ap pearance. The trees which line all the streets in single or double rows have donned their robes Of verdure, and the enchanting parks. tbat are to be found in ee!.:ss.S- e!::sssss.S every quarter, prcsens iioyely view, clothed in the varied flowers Of early spring tbat renders the atmosphere redolent with their sweet perfume. At this season, and for two months to come, Washington is the nest attractive city on the continent, and one feels irresistably drawn into the streets and out into the open air which seems laden with health giving and life inspiring purity.
 Washington has most beautiful surroundings, lovely hills and enter twining valleys extending entirely around the city, save where the piac i'd Potomac sweeps on it's course to the ocean; and across the river the Virginia banks are most lovely and inviting. The drives are most ex- cellens, and every evening are pat ronized by the fashionable world that makes the capital it's home. President Cleveland is actually enam- cured of the city's surroundings, and now that he has his own stylish turn out he does not let day pass withou. drive. not even emitting the Sabbath. He appears to love the hills, the woods and the flowers, and is almost as much pleased at the idea of making his summer home at the cottage at the Soldiers Home, as are the old veterans to have him come among them.
 The races at Ivy City, this week, will be the great attraction, ard the visitor will find more of the wealth, fashion, beauty, brilliancy, states manship and diplomacy of the coun try at the fair grounds, in the next five days, than can possibly be found in any other five days in any part of the country for It is q matter of fact that the races here are patronized by all of the best society, including foreign and home representatives.
 Strange te say, the appointments of last week, have so for received no adverse criticism; indeed men of all parties concede that the administra- tion is selecting the best material ,,oss;h1o fo rourocanf ne ohrno1 while those at home come up fully to the standard of ability, honesty, fidelity. If mistakes are made, so soon as discovered. there is no hesi- tancy Tn rectifying it, as in the cases of Mere, appointed consul to Ma gasski, Japan, and Blackburn, as col lector in Kentucky.
 Quite little breeze was created about the office of the Commissioner If the General Land Office, few days since, by DeAhna, the whilom collector at Sitka, who made matters warm for ex Secretary, now Senator John Sherman. He undertook to play his bulldezing game with Com missioner Sparks, who, unused to such fellows, very unceremoniously led or rather forcibly ejected him. Men of the DeAhna stripe should be suppressed, and not permitted to retard the public business and annoy public officers.
 The trial of the Snyder dynamite projectlle that took place on Satur- day last, was most satisfactory. Representatives of every foreign government were present, as we'll as many distinguished officers of our Army and Navy, and many predict ed an entire revolution in army and navy ordinance.
 Last week R. E. Lee Camp of ex. Confederate veteran soldiers, a con- pany of hundred and fifty men in gray blouses and slouch hats called upon and were handsomely received by tbc President. They had been over in Baltimore upon an invita- tion from the Society of the Army Of the Potomac, attending the latter's annual re union. The affair at tn z White House was as pleasant as it was novel.
 Dr. Thompson, a colored man of New Haven. Conn, was last week appointed minister to Hayti. This is the first colored man ever appointed to office by Democratic President, and good appointment it IS gener- ally conceded to be, too.
 One of the most perplexing ques- tiens presented to President Cleve- land is how to dispose of the Dis trict appointments. He desires most earnestly to adhere to the plat form lad down Tn Chicago, relative to Territorial and District appoint ments, but here in the District the Marshall and Commissioner of Pub lie Buildings and Grounds are WIT. tually members of the Presidents social family. They attend all re- captions and do the honors of intro. duction. It is well understood that there are many most excellent gen tlemen in the Democratic party of the city who would probably be pleased to accept, and who would creditably fill these positions, but the great fight for these places is being made by parties against whom many harsh things are sad, whether trup 0r false and if io urra1 uro,.