The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-04-04

Trials, txc.
Especial correspondence of the VIRGINIAN)
Washington is certainly beautiful city,
in its attraction as each year
rolls around. land the capital OF the country
seeks relief from iron bars and strong.boxes
to add to the imposing structures which
multiply by The hundreds as the annual
Catalogue OF improvements Is given to The
public. The combined revenues from |
private and, public resources. III der q
dual system of taxation or appr0pria- |
ton, eGualiZr the burdens between pub
lie and private property. and find their
uses in the improvement OF the streets,
the opening of parks. the erection of pa
latial homes, the enlargement OF COY
erment accommodations, the growth OF
shrubbery, shades and flower gardens,
which constitute scene Of beauty and
taste t. le witnessed no where else in the
world. The accumulation of the surplus
capital of the country in Washington ded
icatel to the improvement OF the city
augments every year in ratio guagtd by
no precedent aud beyond accurate ar1th-
metical calculation. 1t would not be be-
yon the range of possibility to say that
in twenty years the capital of the country
will contain a population OF million OF
people, representing an aggregate of wealth
which could find its parallel in no other
, 10 ipil twill nd
ing degree of culture. refinement and
opulence simply staggering to contem-
p aLt. 1t is becoming the fashion for
succt ssfuI business men whose incomes
are hey ond the ordinary demands of life,
to turn their attention to the capital of
the nation for investment, either as a
means of pecuuiary gain. or for the ad-
| vantages of social enjoyment. and that
| improvement from the necessary assOcia-
! ton which contact with cosmopolitan
fnemt Mt and learning of the whole coun-
try are concentrated. The civilized and
semi.civllized worlds have here their repre-
| sentatives. There is no custom, no pc
culiarity. no idiosyncrasy. Of any people
that its duplicate cannot be observed in
| Washington. There is world 5 great OBJ
| ject lesson to be constantly seen, teaching
AMI impressing the interMingling people
coming from all sections and speaking for
all cimes: and yet with it all there is a
predominant. absorbing and emphasizing
| Americanism both in sentiment and fash
| ion that is as self asserting as the silken
folds which float from the dome Of the
capitol, emblazoned with the stars which
speak for the distinct sOvereignties that
are aggregated into a nation, proc lain
ing the concentrated power and grand
eur OF the Republic, and which in our
complex system are rs distinct as tbs bill
lows, but one as the sea. 1t is the inspir-
ing power and love of the Nation, which
is destined to make Washington the
grandest city of the world. COMFORTING
with the splendUr aud wOndrOus growth
Of the RApublic. which without prece-
cedent, is. by example. cOnquering ali 9th
or systems aud tightening the pathway OF
humanity struggling for liberty OF con-
| SCltIlCo dLu pOlltICdl llccuOuls
What Washington would do at this
time without its broad avenues and eapa~
cious hotel halls, for the accommodation
of the rush and crash of visitors we can
not conceive. At about every corner
devote their services to the government,
impatient of delay and impetuous in pur-
suit. The broad aisles of the departments
are packed each day IN the week with an
army of these unsefish citizens, nine out
of ten of whom, whatever may be their
claims and qualifications, must suffer in.
evita5le DIS appointment from sheer ina
bility of the offices to 60 round. Each
one, however. is sanguine, and will
brook 40 doubtful criticism or question
ing remark affecting his claims. Very
few of them reason about the probabili
ties, or even possibilities. and that the
lightning that emanates FROM q commits
sioner might possibly miss them aud
strike an unsupported victim. And yet
there is tantalizing suspense peryading-
that is depleted inanxious looks and &C.
celebrated step, as new Influences are
sought and fresh assistance inv0Eed. It
Is one of the things. the OutgrOwth Of
our political system and party balances,
which is absolutely lamentable. There
seems to he mania for public Office
an absorbing desire to fOrsake all avenues
| of business; all invitations TO enterprise,
in mad hunt after Office under the gOY-
erument. The last dollar and the last
vestige of credit ara sometimes staked
on the deal, and when the card 10 turned
that sends the pang of disappointment to
the heart, then follows a sulphurous apos-
trOphe to the lngratitude of Republics
generally and the American Republic in
particular.
The administration of Gen. Harrison
is .ssing through Its most trying ordeal.
The formation of the Cabinet was but
the first educational step. Having sue
ceeded in selecting an exceptionally
| strong and popular council of cOnstitu-
tionaI advisers. the deiuston might have
been entertained that to build upon this
solid foundation would be an easy mat
ter. But in this land Of liberty where
every voter is sovereign and the right
of petition is sacred, each one kinks he
has claims which ought to be recognized.
AID faithful to this inherent right he
form dates bis application and bombards
the department under which he wants to
serve, with persistency and yigor that
sh ,uld deserve success, If it does not
cone. There is no condition of life
scarcely that is not represented jn the
office seekers phalanx. Every State and
every C, lty in each State. is represented.
Bitter antagonisms are engendered. perso
nal arrangements follow. and all because
of the mistaken notion that the govern
ment owes something to somebody to be
] compensated by Office. 1t is ia these
| eontenti ms that the greater embarrass-
| ments to the departments and the Presi-
| deut exist. All cannot be gratified. and
al; bat the one fortunate will feel cha
gained AMI wroDged. And thus the tpr-
MOL and strife will be kept up until the
l