St. Landry democrat., 1885-04-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
MARCH 23, 1885.

was never more interesting Gnan 1t is
now, but the interest is entirely devoid
of sensation. It will be the province of
history with retrospection 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 can catch only
here and there scene and a sign in the
progress of events as they are evolved
around him. Mr.. Cleveland's admins
tration may not be precisely what many
OF his supporters have hoped, but their
disappointment cannot equal that of
the supporters of Mr.. Blaine who see in
the wisdom, the caution, and the con-
servatism of the administration, the
refutation of their predictions and the
ruin of their hopes. With the excep-
tion of the appointment of the now
celebrated Mr.. Higgins, malice itself
has been able to find no fault with those
who have been placed in office. The
torrent of animadversion that poor
Higgins has received must strike the
average government 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 it's
heart of hearts for at least sixteen years.
Higgins CANDLES, he stuffs ballot boxes,
he is smart and tricky, is the cry Of the
sanity rascals and rogues who supported
man like Blaine, and men like Robe
son and Belknap, and who stole the
presidency only eight years ago. Why,
a large number of the republican en-
plOyes in Office now are drunkards, and
gamblers, men with salaries of from
$1,000 to $500, who would not be trusted
for five dollars, and who would be dis
missed o-morrow, if it were 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 out the mote
that is alleged to have been in your
brother Higgins eye before he was ap-
Treasury Department. 1t is curious,
grOtesque, and moralesQue to see what
a high standard the Republicans have
set up for those from whom few
months ago everything vile was vocifer-
ously predicted.
A great change has come over the
city of Washington, has permeated all
the Government offices, has affected the
homes and even the shops of the people.
That the new administra ton will fulfill
it's contract TO conduct the Government
on business principles, in the interest of
the people, instead of for the Office
holder, is now believed by all. Gov
.ernment Clerks no longer feel the shell
tering arm of their republican "inf1u-
ence," and are working in way that is
surprising. Those who before the cleo
tion were blatent and abusive of Demo-
Gratis cannot now be hired to say word
against them, and some have even
taught their lips to utter praise. The
average government clerk is very un-
happy. 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 reoT-
ganize the Departments and discharge
the useless, the incompetent, the idle,
the drunkard and the gambler. He
knows that this means him. He knows
that outside the government Office, he
cannot make living; that better
sclerks are working in business houses
all over the country for one half and
one third the amount he is paid; work.
ing constantly for ten and twelve hours
a day, while he has been doing sham
work for only seven hours per day.
Shop keepers, especially those who
sell cigars and 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.
In making its appointments, under
stand 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. Improvement is |
already diseernable. President Ar
thurs administration was comparative
ly respectable, but it was at best sue
.cession of the Grant regime of vulgari- /
ty and dishonesty and the Hayes regime /
of fraud and hypocrisy. I think Presi-
dent Arthur thought more of his dis
tinction as fine gentleman than of his
fame as statesman. There is now
promise OF simpler manners, purer
laws. Washington during the next
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