Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-05-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON, ID. c., May Is, 1885.
1t is evident that the President has
concluded to disabuse 'fhe mind of those
Mugwumps who think that the admin
istratfon is to run distinctly in their in
Fterest. That Mr.. Cleveland knows what
he is about, is as patent as anything
i'm the line of political manifestation
can be known. 1t was expected that he
would perform some acts of condescen-
sion as token of Wugwumpian recog-
milton, but he never meant them as an
indication that he INTENDED to submit
himself humbly to the guidance of the
few Independents who have arrogated
to themselves the whole credit of secur-
ing Democratic ascendency in the Gov
ernment. Having, as have said, con-
cluded to keep himself and his admin
istration perfectly u,s5rammeled by any
presumed obligation to- this small coterie
of smaller politicians, we may reasona-
ibly expec ito see the eJlumns ofthe New
York Times and Harper's Weekly and
other disgruntled jou0nals pouring out
their vials of wrath upon the admins
tratiOn because of its attitude of inde-
pendence. There has been, and still is,
a bitter feeling amongsHany Democrats
secause the work of &scapitating Re-
publicahsi in Office has Ssen slow. From
the standpoint of the affice-seeker that
wGfk has been slow, bat Mr.. Cleveland
| is mot the President Of the office seek
'ers, and the large number.Sf changes al
ready made ought to he Sufficient indi-
caaiOn of his avowed purpOseto go slow,
| Isa,rpOse more firmly adhered to. be-
cauSe,O of the tremendous pressure that
has been brought upon him by these
plaoe4hunters. have TO say sherefsre
that the President is determined to
tranaaatlthe public business upon busi-
ness principles, and that the first busi-
ness is ito put Democrats in Office to
transact lit. .
In digging over some rubbish at the
arsenal the other .. day., the cross:
piece OF the gallows upon which Mrs.
Surratt Was executed i'm 1855. came to
| light to axasken some historical reeol-
lectiens of tiaat tragic period in the life
of our c0uatey. The opinion that this
terrible punishment should not have
been visited &pon this woman under
the peculiar circumstances of her con-
nection with tiae conspiracy to assassin-
aoc bhC 1tSsbtct<Hi Is HOW cIttcfsai1letl
| probably by large majority of those
who clarnored for her blood in the ex-
citing time Of her trial and conviction
by military commission. went out
to Mount Oliyet the either day to visit the
grave of this unfortunate woman, whose
resting place is in a secluded portion of
ilse cemetery. a simple stone with the
inscription "Mrs. Surrattn is all that
marks the spot. There is no date of
birth or death, no inkling of her terrible
history, no fulsome epitaph to sound
the praises of friends or relatives, though
some kind hand had recently strewn
some choice flowers upon the mound.
II IL said by those who knew Mrs. Sur
ratt well, that she was the kindest of
mothers, a most devoted wife; woman
possessed OF more than ordinary intell-
gence, and wh0lly incapable of perform
ling the part Ia the conspiracy which
Eculminated- in the death of President
Lincoln, for which her life was sacri-
feed. Be this as it may, it is not proba-
BILE in this day and generation that the
motives and intentions that actuated
her in becoming an aeeamplice therein,
will ever be discovered. ;PHoNo.