The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-18
Washington Letter.


ago, the demoralized democrats have been
busy ever since counting i'll and counting
out, III an effort to save remnant of their
almost vanished majority in the house of
representatives. They have suffered SO sub
stantial defeat all along the line, that the
repulse will be sorely felt in the presidential
battle of 'SS. 1t is true the republi-
cans did not succeed in gaining control of
the house, but they SO weakened the demo-
cratic control of it as To render it useless, re-
ducing the democratic ma ority in congress-
from torty-tive to about fifteen, and some OF
these were labor candidates, greenbackers and
knights of labor, who may not vote with
them. And then the solid South has been
broken. In Virginia alone there was dem
ocratc loss of five congressman, and the
republicans gained in the state more than
10000 votes.
Without attempting to disguise or ignore
their defeat, the democrats account for it in
different ways. Some say it was the division
of the Offices Others that il was freetrade
doctrines, or the failure of freetrade legsla-
ton, and others still hold that the unpopu-
larity of the administrations civil service
policy did the mischief.
Gossip had it that if Speaker Carlisle had
failed OF election, the president would have
been asked to appoint Mr. Breckenridge of
Kentucky, to the Turkish mission, SO that
vacancy might have been created for the
distinguished speaker of the house. But now
that the great revenue reformer was one who
got left, he is mentioned as the man to be
Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extra
ordinary to Turkey, IN the place of Mr.. 5. s.
Cox, who comes back to congress, possibly to
succeed Mr.. Morrison as leader or the demo-
cratic party in the house.
Enough has been said about the presidents
trip to Boston, where he and Mrs. Cleveland
have been. They have returned to Washing
ton and, it is understood, Mrs. Cleveland will
soon resume her informal MONDAY recep-
tons. The president takes life much easier
since he has married, and spends much of
his time of evenings with the ladies'. His
mother-in-law is still at the White House,
and also other ladies who are relatives of the
family. Since the purchase of his country
seat, every afternoon, If the weather is fair,
Hawkins, the colored driver. brings the car
riage out at five o'clock, and the president
and his wife are driven there.
Some exceptions may be taken to the as
sertion that Washington will be set aside
for the rich. 1t does seem as if there were
no place now for the poor. The cost of the
houses being erected indicates that those who
clusion that tho land is too valuable for
small structures, and that only the rich are
building residences. Land is too high for
the poor man TO purchase, and ne il COM
PEELED 10 pay an enormous rent for the few
small houses provided for him by the capt.
talist. A real estate dealer expresses the
opinion that the coming generation will see
the capital turned into great winter resort
for the wealthy of all sections.
Washington has an opportunity now to
double its population for n time. and proba-
bly, to increase its wealth. / aude to what
may be accomplished through the great expo.
sition project. The governors, ma, ors and
business men throughout the states and ter
ritories have written their consent to serve
on committee, the duty of which shall be
10 secure favorable legislation from congress.
They seem enthusiastic over the enterprise,
and the time for them TO meet here is the
9Th of December. The programme to be
considered at this convention ia, first a CEN
tennial celebration at the national capital, on
March 4th, 1889, by the sixteen American
sister republics in honor of the Tooth ami
versary of the parent republic-the United
States. Secondly, worlds exposition from
May lst, 1892, to the end of October, in hon
or of the 400th anniversary of the discovery
OF America by Columbus. And. thirdly
permanent exposition at Washington, of the
antiquities arts, history and industries of the
three Americas, to be the outgrowth of the
worlds exposition of 1892, and to remain
under government control, on q plan similar
to the present National museum, but on a
much larger scale.