The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-08
Lspecial Edltorial Correspondence.l |

WASHINGTON, April 4.-tlVS years ago
attended the trial of Lewis r Redmond, the
''moonshiner." at nineteen he was an out
law with reward by tbs Government slim
ulating strenuous attempts for his capture.
After eight years q squad of Deputy U. s.
Msrshals overhauled him in Transylvania
County, n. O. He Tas unarmed and did not
know any pursuers were near, when five
bullets were lodged in his body. He recov-
cred, was tried, convicted and sentenced TO
ten years imprisonment in the Auburn,
n. Y. prison. he was then twenty.seven,
a mild-eyed, gentlevoiced, slender being
with manners that won ths friend
ship OF all who met him.
Even the white haired United States Judge
who pronounced his sentence spoke words
of sympathy for him. There were many
mitigating circumstances connected with HIS
offences. was with Redmond aud his guards
when they reached Washington en- route for
Auburn. 1t was on Sunday, and they had 10
remain in Washington several hours for q
train, and tohk Redmond for drive over
the city. When we had been past the de-
partment buildings and were on Capitol
Hill the cripple said. in his quiet way: "It
/ had known the United States Government
was as big thing as it is 1 would never
have defed even one Of its officers"
Nowhere else can one see so much
suggesting the force and grandeur of
our Nation. For fifteen years l have
been q frequent visitor here. and am
familiar with the various Government build
A. - -
and prosI Gritty, the public properties have
been cOrTespoloiDgly enlarged and i'm.
proved. Sixty yesrs ago the Government
buildings 1T the Capital were not more ex-
tensiye.or valuable than those'of the city OF
Indianapolis. But Low they have grown to
be objects DO less OF wonderment than ad-
mration and not less for our own country
men than for the re presen natives of European
sovereignties. 1t is not source Of regret that
the Presidents house is the least pretentious
of the official edi6ces. We read in this the
avoidance Of one man power in the spirit of
our institutions. The proudest reaches OF
architecture and decoration are IN the CAPT.
toll, where the people and the States, through
their representatives, frame the laws, The
Interior, Navy Justice and Postofics-
through which affairs are directly sdminis
tered. are all in more imposing structures
than is the White House. The new Pension
building is q monument to the appreciation
by the Government of lis volunteer soldiery.
The great hall here-that In which the in
augural ball was held-is the most spacious
of the kind Of any in the entire world.
But ii is an exalted honor to be made
President. Of these United States. And
what tribute 10 the spirit of equality of
uaD, which peryades the principles of or
Government, is the fact that so many OF our
Chief Magistrates have sprung from poverty
and the very humblest walks OF life. Con-
template the youth of U. S. Grant, James A.
Garfield, Andrew Johnson and Andrew Jack
son-all virtually kwoodsmen, with no
Surroundings or associations to augur the
eminence which was to crown their future
years. 1 could not but think o. the obscure
early life OF Grover Cleveland while, day
or two since, within the Executive Chamber,
I saw score of distinguished men, hats in
hand, waiting their respective turns for a
word of interview with the administration
chief.
1t is entertaining to look on while the
President receives, enc by one, the callers
who have been admitted to this room.
Standing about the middle of it, or toEard
the south side, the windows OF which over
look the Washington monument and the
Potomac, he listens attentIvely to the one
who approaches him and answers in like
voice if the interview is desired by the
visitor to not be overheard. Those in wait
Ing of course, keep themselves at proper
distance and usually engage in conversation
among themselves 50 SIS to avoid overhear-
ing or even the appearance of desiring to do
So While dignifei and dec )rous, there ia
no air of stiffness in The apartment. The
President though rather stolid OF manner,
is altogether affsble, aad never
less SO to the unpo1d than the
most distinguished. Ladies are not unfre-
quently among those admitted to these re-
ceptions. / was present one morning when
Mile. Rhea the actress and a most beauti-
full, accomplished and estimsble lady, called
in company with her manager. While there
was none of the carpet-knight gsllantry in
the Presidents courtesy, 1t was as admirable
as even the manner of the charming little
French lady, who had the good TASTE to take
onlya minute or TWO of the time upon
which others were waiting before retiring for
q call on Miss Cleveland.
Should President Cleveland decide that
General Lawton, whom he nominated to the
Senate for the mission, is ineligible, Indians
may get the appointment OF Colonel Charlie;
DENLY as Minister to Russia.
have known General Lawton from childhood
aud nobler specimen Of manhood l have
never met, nor one better qualified for the
trust for which the President named him
But Colonel DENLY, with record as a Union
soldier, is slso possessed of every quality and
capacity requisite to representing the Gov
eminent at the st. Petersburg court. And
all other things being equal, man o
Charles Denby's face and address Is excep
tionally fitted for being sent as Ministe
abroad. 1t does appear that 1t is high tim'
for objections to cease against men who
though they fought in the Confederate
armies, have for twenty years proven a
I EARNEST IouaItv "a any citizau of tho Ra