Evening star., 1902-09-15
Cash or Credit.

ence to the conflicts of the past we met
cordially and spent several hours together
1t was a delightful evening to me, and L
was greatly impressed with his intelligence
and other admirable qualities. Our talk
was largely on the money question. He was
a warm friend Of silver and had full ap-
probation of the evils that had been
brought upon the country by its demoneti-
zation. 1t was thought by some persons
that Governor Shepherd was practically
exiled from Washington by the great op-
position to him. This is not correct He
was doing a large business here, and but
for the panic of 1873, l think he would
have made great fortune and ended his
days here. He was a victim Of the legs-
lation OF France and Germany and the
United States, all of whom united to de-
monetize silver. That legislation consigned
many excellent business men and corpora
tions to bankruptcy and poverty, and we
are only now partially relieved from its
ehects by the immense increase in the out
put of gold. Governor Shepherd under
stood this subject we'll and thoroughly.
am not disposed to agree to the propo-
sition that the development of Washington
and Its Improvement is totally due to him.
1t won't do to assume that Washington is
the only city that has improved during the
last thirty or forty years. Great improve
ments have been going on in all other cities
and the conditions Of municipal life are
greatly changed everywhere. The system
of sewers in London is modern, and be-
tween the years of 1875 and 1889 London
was wonderfully improved and is being i'm
proved every day. Great improvements
went on in Paris under the empire Of Louis
Napoleon and Paris has become practically
new city. Washington could fairly well
compare with other cities Of the United
States OF 10000 inhabitants during ante
bellum days. although we had dirt roads
and cobblestones. The war expenditures
helped the city immensely. I noticed some
years after the war very great Improve
ment In the condition of the city, and 1t
went on from year to year. The selection
of Washington as the capital of great
and growing republic was bound to tell In
the long run Mfr. Calhoun pointed this out
services there prior to 1885, and in 1857 or
'6S I wrote an editorial along the same
lines for the National Inteiligencer, show
Ing how. from the experiences OF other
countries. the capitals OF nations invariably
become the centers Of population and
wealth. 1 have never had doubt as to
the future of Washington. The foolish idea
of locating the capital Of the country In
the geographical center was so opposed to
common sense that 1t never had chance
of success. in my opinion Madrid is about
the only capital of any European country
that Is located in the center, and 1t is a
most wretched location. washington Is the
best loca ton for the capital of this coun-
try and it will continue to remain here.
These suggestions do not derogate In any
way from the public spirit, ability and good
motives which characterized Governor
Shepherd. had hoped that he would COM
plete his work in Mexico,- make fortune
and return to the city of his old assocla-
ttons. He would have found here many
friends and not a single nenemy. think
that his remains should be brought PACK aSs
and that he should be buried In or near the
CITY which he loved SO wen and with every
appropriate honor. l.. @. WASHINGTON.