The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-03-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Mar. 23, 1885.

w ASHINGTON, Mar. 70, 1850.
The political situation in Washing
ton was never more interesting than 1t
is now, but the iaterest is entirely de-
void of sensation. 1t will be the prov
ince of history with retrospcctiou of
fifty years or more to portray the great
and important changes, the slow, but
potent revolution that is now taking
place. The observer of to-day eau
catch only here and there scene aud
a sign in the progr,ss IS of events as they
are evolved around him. Mr.. Ceve
lands administration may not be pre-
cisely what many of his supporters
have hoped, but their disappointment
cannot equal that of the supporters of
Mr.. Blame, who see in the wisdom,
the caution, and the conservatism OF
the administration, the refutation Of
their predictions aud the ruin of their
hopes. With the exception of the ap-
pointment of the now celebrated NJ,
Higgins, malice itself has been able to
find no fault with those who have been
placed in office. The torrent oe ami
inadversion that poor Higgins Las re-
ceived must strike the average govern
ment employee as very absurd, for
even if the worst said of him is true, it
follows that he is only as bad as the
thousands whom the party of "moral
ideas" has cherished in its heart of
hearts for at least sixteen years Hig
gins CANDLES, he s,uffs ballot boxes, he
is smart and tricky, is the cry of the
sanity rascals and rogues who suppor-
ted a man like Blaine, and men like
Robson aud Belknap, and who stole
the presidency only eight years ago.
Why, large number of the Republi
can employees in Office now are drunk
ards, aud gamblers, men with salaries
of from $1,000 to S2500, who would
not be trusted for five dollars, and who
would be dismissed Tomorrow, if it
w,re not for the fact that they served
in the Union army. Ye hypocrites.
First cast out the beams from your
own eyes and then wilt thou see more
clearly to pull ont the mote that Is al
legged to have been in your brother
Higgins eyo before he was appointed
TO subordinate office in the Treasury
Department. 1t is curious, grotesque,
and moralesque to see wha, a high
standard the Republicans have set up
for those from whom a few months
ago everything vile was vociferously
predicted.
A great change mas come over the
city Of Washington, has permeated all
the Government offices, has affected
the homes aud even the shops of the
people. That the new administration
will fulfill its contract to conduct the
Government on business principles, in
the interest of the people, instead OF
for the otiice-holder, is now believed by
| all. Government clerks no longer feel
the sheltcring arm of their Republican
"infuence," and are working in way
that is surprising Those who before
the election were blatent and abusive
of Democrats can not now be hired to
say a word against them, and some
have even taught their lips to utter
praise. The average government clerk
is very unhappy. He is aware that he
has very little to do, and that he is not
qualified to do even that little. He has
heard that the new administration will
reorganize the departments and dis
charge the useless, the incompetent,
the idle, the drunkard and the gam.
bier. He knows that this means him.
He knows that outside the govern
ment office, he cannot make a living;
that better clerks are working in bust.
mes houses all over the country for one
half and one third the amount he is
paid; working constantly for ten and
twelve hours day, while he has been
doing sham work for only seven hours
per day.
Shop keepers, especially those who
sell cigars aud Tobacco, as well as sa'
loon keepers tell me that times are very
dull. Government clerks are econo
mizing in preparation for the day OF
dismissal.
Ia making its appointments, l un
derstand the administration will be
very careful to select only competent
and sober men and it is expected that
the moral tone of the service and OF
the city will be improved. Improve
ment is already discernible. President
Arthur's administration was compare
lively respectable, but it was at best a
succession of the Grant regime If vul
garity and dishonesty and the Hayes
regime of fraud and hypocrisy.
think President Arthur thought more
of bis distinction as fine gentleman
than of his fame as a statesman Their,
is now promise of simpler manners
purer laws. Washington during th'
next four years may not be the Mecci
of fashion and social ostentatior, but i
will be more than ever the ideal Capi
tai of decent democracy.