Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1881 — The Nation’s Capital. [ARTICLE]

The Nation’s Capital.

Cor., Clevelaud Leader. If there is a city in the Union that has suffered than another over the attempt upon the .President’s life, that city is Washington. Invariably an administration community, probably because its ideas are colored, and principally formulated by the 14,000 clerks apd office-holders, who are, of course, allied by the closest bonds of political sfiliation with the dominant party, it gives thecbief magistrate its unbounded admiration and untiring devotion. The views of the President are the views of the community; his acts have no question as to justice and right: and to recoin a phrase, “Vox Presidentis vox Dei.” In brief, half the life of the average Washingtonian is spent in worship of the occupant of the White House. 80 you can readily comprehend the painful experience which Washington has passed through in the past seven weeks. The flast shock all but paralyzed the community. To have its idol struck down before its very eyes stupefied the faculties of the people. The very audacity ol the attack saved the assassin from a quick taking off, and this city from what would probably have been a terrible exhibition of mob rule. I say “terrible,” for in such a case I think the most law-abiding citizen would have felt justified in taking a hand in the proceedings, and the opposition would have been feeble indeed. Before the public mind osuld ftilly comprehend the calamity, however, the assassin was safe in the hands of the officers of the law, and public grief swallowed up public resentment. Since the second day of July there has bsen a constant strain of anxiety. Public business and private interests have given way to consideration for the President’s condition. The city has been full of peonlfl all aummag Who WOOld ftOt ftUOW

themselves their usual recreation so long as the President was in danger; large excursions and little pleasure parties were quickly and cheerfully relinquished upon any intelligence that a change for tne worse had taken place, and Washington has almost modi flee its daily life in its respectffor Hie President’s condition. So tne strain of those frequent relapees,of quick changes from hope to lear, from sorrow to joy, are beginning to be apparent in Washington life; and it is not surprising that a sort of mental and physical lassitude has crept into social and official life, that public business moves more slowly, that, in short, the whole of this great capital is tired, Oh, so tired!