Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-02-28

other side of the bridge we turn to the
left and soon come to the public grounds.
a well-buit gravel road winds among
these. a small and pretty stream flows
near 1t, and young forest, mostly of oak,
that has grown up since the war, adorns
the hillsides. The road rises to the
higher ground and the soldiers graves,
for here properlysis the cemetery, sur
rounded with an enclosure.
1t is, indeed, city of the dead; row
after row extending, all alike and each
marked with plain but substantial slabs
at head and foot. Over them the trees
seem tenderly to watch. Fifteen thous-
and soldiers buried here. They went to
glory and the grave. But the Great
Republic lives; and across the river
now the buildings of Washington glist-
ell in the sunlight, and over the whole
country are signs of prosperity, wealth
and power made possible by the soldiers
graves. As Ye wound farther among
the woods few monuments appeared
of officers, and then we came to the old
Lee mansion overlooking the Potomac
and the city of Washington. Here in
front is the grave of Phil Sheridan, with
a new and magnificent granite stone to
mark it,
The old Lee mansion itself is like
many Il southern house, more in name
than in structure. The heavens are
largely the dome of southerner's house
and all outdoors his rooms. \ little
inside space for sleeping, moderate-
sized parlor and dining room, with wide
hall and perhaps wide piazza and Il
kitchen in Il seperate building at the
back, connected with covered walk,
answers his wants of Il house.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. lG. 1890.
\ beautiful day, as indeed the major
ity of the weather has been since was
here. | am impressed with the probable
future of This city. As the capital of
America it must be, in certain sense at
least, the great city of fashionable life
and power. New York will excel in
wealth, Boston in solidity, Philadelphia
in homes, Cincinnati in picturesqueness,
Chicago in action, st. Louis in neatness,
Louisville in beauty, Denver in the sal
ubriousness of its atmosphere, New
Orleans in the vivacty of its manners,
and San Francisco in its Golden Gate
and sunlight of IA western land; but
Washington. rival to none, hardly
thought of by any, growing without
ambition and almost without cause,
threatens to eclipse most of the Others
yet in size and magniticence. The Min
evah of a new world; the center that
attracts its population from a whole
continent. With happy medium of
climate that could hardly be surpassed
and Il convenience of location to both
South aud North, but above all with the
resources of an immense nation to help
Inn vat ha ,,f ia
est cities of the world.
Politics are somewhat Quieted down.
though on the political horizon at several
future promises quite mixed field Mr.
Reed, the speaker, was obliged to give
up his attempt to run the government,
and fall back upon rules. The determin-
alton of the House TO cut short all fill
clustering appeals quite strongly to the
business sense of the country. and. if
they haven't overdone it. it is a good
thing. But the principle hitherto held,
that majority must vote in order to pass
measure, i intrinSically so sound. as
well as Just and fair, that | do not believe
the American people will surrender it,
For Il hundred years this has been our
custom at the national legislature. There
is no hardship in it. 1t simply requires
"A majority to he present if they want to
pass partisan measure. If unable to do
this, they can appeal to the country to
send them larger majority next time. and
if the measure is just, it will undoubted-
ly be sent. Ii the measure is not Just. it
ought not to be passed. 1t is said that
in the English parliament the speaker
may count everybody within sight for Il
quorum. The other is the American sys-
TEN, many of the States expressly stat
ing in their constitution that there must
be a majority vote of those elected in or
der to pass a measure. And | hardly
think the American people will care to
give up their system and adopt the Eng
lish. There is IA reason, too. in the dis
tinctiOn, founded upon the character of
the two countries. The English system
looks toward mOnarchical government,
where one man or woman rules. Ours
looks toward the legislative power as the
government-the will of the legislature
clearly and unmistakably expressed !;
and does not care to enact laws until
that will is so expressed.
do not believe that we wish vet to
surrender the legislative functions of our
government. The heart of the people
will be sound on this, and any party that
forces the issue VIII get lett.
In the present case there is no need of
the Republicans undertaking to do this.
The member from West Virginia whom
they seated, and who | think was Justly
seated, was finally seated by majority
of the House, all Republicans, voting
in his favor. Having now one more, it
will be still easier in the future to get
that majority.
Society is an engrossing feature of
Washington life, an enjoyable one per-
haps to many; in a reasonable way it
should be to all, but if one has work to do
and who is there that ought not to have
the eXactions of society must be limit
ed. At this hotel or boarding-house we
enter somewhat the field of society. Mrs.
Senator Ingalls,, Mrs. Congressman Bur-
rows and Mrs. Congressman Snyder are
all in their own way, and from their
position, leaders in society. The great
bulwark of Washington society is recep-
tions. On such day lady receives
callers, and on that day callers come to
be received. They are a motley crowd
the sad and the gay, the low and the tall,
tla VOunU and tba OlH--thaV flo i'm an6