The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-01-22
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1855.


The monotony of the week that
has passed was broken by the cele-
bration Of the anniversary of the
battle of New Orleans, "Jachson's
day" as it is called. The election of
Jackson marked the overthrow of a
corrupt party despotism, and it
was fitting that the names of Jack
son and Cleveland should be ascot
ated in celebrating the victory of
New Orleans when the country is
rejoicing in the overthrow, through
Cleveland, of the gigantic and des-
potic oligarchy of Office stealers
and holders known as the republi-
can party. The celebration here
was democratic, eloquent and sue
cessful.
Another event was the advent
and departure, all in forty-ei ght
hours, of Col. Lamont the private
secretary OF the president-elect.
Col. Lamont came to look for
home, and to scan the field of his
future labor. He had not been in
the city before. He has a wife and
child and must have a house. He
did not succeed in getting q house,
but will try again after the 4th OF
March, when. a few hundred resi-
dences will doubtless be vacated.
1t is difficult to believe that only
six weeks more remain of President
Arthur and republican admins
tration. Preparation is sleepless
and expectation is on tip-toe for the
4th of March. 1t is estimated that
there will be 100000 visitors here
at the Inauguration, but / cannot
think that there will be SO many,
but the number will doubtless be
large. AS a usual thing the inter
est of the country in Washington
matters ceases with the adjourn
ment of congress, but this year it
will grow with the Inauguration of
new president, a new policy, the
appointment of a new cabinet, and
numerous other changes in all the
departments Of the pnblic service.
1t is edifying to see the despera-
tion with which large number OF
drones and sinecurists are trying to
get themselves converted into real
little civil service reformers and
democrats. Many of them arc
shutting over with an alacrity that
is not graceful.
Congress is at work on the ap-
preparation bills. The navy bill
has been passed by the house, and
the consular and diplomatic bill is
under discussion. l heard a repub
lican statesman, so called, bewail
ing the fact that the trained and
improved consular and diplomatic
personnel which, he said, had been
established in the last eight years
by Evarts and Frelinghuysen, must
give place to democratic bummers
and ward politicians. Well it will
be pity if it is so, but if this nox
ious class must have offices, by al
means let's send them to the foreign
courts where they will have nothing
to do, and will therefore be incapa-
BILE of harm. Modern diplomacy is
an anachronism and a farce. There
is not the slightest necessity for
our sending representatives to for
eign governments, or for foreign
governments to send representatives
here. We have no foreign nations.
Steam and electricity, and the
press have made the embassadorial
establishments of contiguous states
useless, then how utterly needless
to keep them up between our cuua-
try and transatlantic powers. 1t
would be better to recall our himsy
ships, cruising in foreign seas, ex-
posing our weakness, and costing
millions annually. 1t would be bet
ter to dismantle our diplomatic es-
Establishments in European capitals.
The press with steam, and the At
lantic cable will furnish US prompt
er and more accurate information
than can possibly be obtained by
our heavy representatives abroad.
We will know state secrets as soon
as they are known by kings and
their ministers, for we will get them
from the same source, the press.
was walking on Connecticut av-
enue yesterday, which is the fash
ienable Sunday promenade of the
city, and among other noted people
was Mr.. Blaine, the late candidate.
He was walking with Miss Loring,
daughter of the commissioner OF
agriculture, and another young la
dy. The ex- candidate, or should
say, the perpetual candidate, is look
ing pretty strong, but he has a sin
lister face, face in which his vault
ing, toiled ambition is darkly writ
ten, a face that seems to say, 81
would rather be first in hades than
second in Washington"
The situation of the Blaines in
this city is not happy one. Mrs.
Blaine is not magnetic, she is repel-
liant. She has taken occasion to
snub many ladies in society here,
who openly rejoice at her disap-
pointment and humiliation now
Mr.. Blaine's course since his defeat
has been such as to estrange many
personal friends that he had among
the democrats. In the long years
and the new epoch that will date
from the fourth of March, 1885, the
capital of the United States ought
to be an uncongenial place for ma
lignant disunionists like James. G.
Blaine.
The Nashville World opposes the
Blair educational bill. 1t thinks it
is dangerous to teach the people to
look up to the national government.
For the states to accept such dona-
ton from the national government
is in effect a reversal of the theory
of our government-that the states
are supreme and the union is their
creature. Our government is not q