The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1885-04-15
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.l

WASHINGTON, April I, 1885.
The new administration has been at
/ the helm for one month, and Repub-
leans profess 10 he surprised and. are
perhaps-a little disappointed that the
rebel flag has not been mailed to the
/ masthead. To describe the state of
/ the average Democratic mind just now
would he difficult. Certain prominent
| Democrats here are sstonished and
chagrined at the appointment Of Mr..
Pearson, Republican, to be Postmaster
of New York City. Other Democrats,
as prominent, consider the appointment
wise and polite and urge that it will
than it will estrange. Many consider
the appointment a concession to the
independents and Republicans who
voted for President Cleveland in the
belief that his appointments would he
guided by the highest regard flor the
good of the public service Mr.. Pear
son has never been politician. During
the canvass he was not prominent as a
Democrat or Republican or Independ-
ent. He simply attended to his bust
hess as Postmaster and kept the en-
ployes Of the Office at their work on
election day, to the intense disgust of
the Republican managers.
A great fuss has been made because
the Department of the Interior was
closed on the day of the funeral of eX-
Secretary Thompson, who was a Cabi-
net Officer during Buchanan's admin
istration, but was afterwards identified
with the secession movement. To close
the Departments on the death of a
Cabinet Officer or eX-Cabinet Officer, is
a custom that would be more honored
in the breach than in the observance,
for it has no more solemniZing or edify-
ing influence than to give hundreds of
clerks opportunity for picnic or a spree.
There are ten thousand clerks in WASH
ington to-day that are joyousIy reckon
ing on the holiday that General Grants
funeral will bring them, planning ex-
cursions, and preparing to celebrate the
event with all the good cheer, but none
of the righteousness of an Irish wake.
Mr.. lamar saw fit to follow bad
custom, and that Mr.. Thompson had
been identified with the secession
movement did not appear to weigh
more with him than did the unfitness
of Mosby and Longstreet with General
Grant; or of Malone, when taken to
the bosom of the Republican Senate; or
of ex-Postmaster General Key, who
was appointed by Hayes TO a Cabinet
position notwithstanding the fact that
he had been arrayed in arms and had
led brigade against the Union. The
flag of the Post Office Department will
one day he at half mast, and the clerks
will have holiday on the occasion of
the death of p. NJ. General Key. Ev-
arts, Schurz and other presidency
stealers will be likewise honOred, still
the fault of the theft of the presidency
in 1875 and ~ will not he condoned.
President Cleveland is in excellent
health, and may be seen every after
noon in carriage, usually with his
Secretary, Col. Lamont. He is already
acquainted with the many beautiful
drives about Washington. He still
Uses the horses and carriage loaned him
by ex-President Arthur. but a pair of
horses has been purchased for him by a
friend in New York. 1t has been an
nounced that the President will hold
his first public reception during this
month.
Ii is believed the Capital will not be
deserted during the summer as has
been the case for the last sixteen years,
but that the President and Cabinet will
spend their time here. Washington
has grown to be the pleasantest of sum-
mer resorts. The broad streets and
avenues are now well shaded. Parks
and fountains are found on every
few squares. To the South of the
White House are system of artificial
lakes. The improvement of the Poto-
mac swamps, though yet incomplete,
has done much to eradicate malaria.
Those who have seen Washington only
in the winter know little of the attrac.
tons of the Capitol of the United
States.