Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-05
FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
FIRST MAINE -CoNGREss-WHAT
WILL IT Do?-ITs DUTY-A SHORT Term
CIVIL RIGHTsBILL-SPEAKER BLAINE
WASHINGTON CITY-SENAToK MoRRILL-
He Is TO REPORT BILL FOR THE GOVERN
MENT OF THE DIsTRICr-THE SAFE Con
sPIRACY.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 1874.
To the Editor of the Kennebec Journal:
1t has now been about ten years since
the readers of the Journal. Prior to that
time, some occasional letters were written,
beginning with the fall and winter of 1861,
when the First Maine Cavalry were in camp
at the Fair Grounds, just in trent of the State
Capitol. This regiment came to Washington
early in 1862, was ordered to Virginia. where
it continued during the war. The crowding
events of the last thirteen years--war and
! peaceful larger and more important chap
ter in our history than our whole constitn-
tional history.
Post bellum and beiian politics have
very few points of similarity, and tive recent
elections command a still new marshalling of
the pawsn and royal lire of the political
chessboard.
Next Monday the last session of the pres
ent Congress convenes. Every man has his
own diagnosis of the disease of the body poll
tic. Every one has his antidote. 1t is idle to
delude ones self with the idea that there is no
disease. That would be certain destruction.
And no intelligent man hereabout SO talks.
All agree that sure safety only lies in 4 Wig
orous and prompt use of the scalpel. This is
the short session of Congress, and there lie
less time than usual before the usual holiday
vacation. The real working days will not
commence till about a week after New Years.
Il is not safe to count more than sixty work.
ing days in the whole session till March 4,
| 1875, when the end comes. 1t i, we'll under
stood that whatever is done must be done
quickly.
1t is most too much to hope that anything
definite will be done towards the resumption
of specie payment. Of course the appropria.
ton bills must be attended to. There is some
speculation as to whether anything can be
safely and consistently done about the "Civil
Rights Bill" The President has pronounced
against the Sumner bill modified bill will
however be pressed to passage. Down
deeper than any Of these things, however, is
the consideration of the policy to be hereafter
pursued by the Republican party. Little of
this talk finds its way into the newspapers of
the party. But here the real, anxious and re-
sponsible work Is to be done. Time will
show whether or not the Executive is to run
the Ship of State among the hidden reefs and
rocks Of dangerous coast, or to steer at
once, out on the safe waters of the deep, blue
ocean. 1t is hardly doubtful but what the
leaders of the Senate and House will find it
necessary to take the sole keeping of the Re-
publican party into their own hands, in case
the President fails to modify his course to
meet the popular demand. Thus much, per-
haps, is demonstrable. Beyond is prophecy.
No one has the gift.
Unquestionably the leader of the next House
will be Mr. Blaine. Everybody comedies that.
All admit that he is the ablest politician in the
party, not charged with faint or corruption.
The confidence in his ability as party man
ager and strategist seems to be well placed.
Woe to the party or to the politician who
forgets the people whose servant he is, in his
temporary exaltation as a leader. 1t would
seem that the long list of cour,iers in the Old
World, and of politicians in the New, who
have ignobly fallen from the giddy height Of
place and power ought to guard men now.a-
days against such seductive influences.
Quite as much IS parties, Washington
is changed by the fortunes and events grow
ing oct of the war. Early il 1862, when the
First Maine Cavalry encamped on Capitol
Hill, Washington was indeed "straggling
village" compared to the magnificent city that
it now is, healthful, pleasant, and with "a
comparatively mild climate the year round.
Senator Morrill, of Maine, is just now the
central figure Of most local interest to people
here. He is Chairman of the Joint Committee
Of Congress charged with the duty of report
ing bill to Congress to provide for govern
ment here in the District Of Columbia. 1t is
very important position, not alone to the
people, but to the country. For on his re-
port, and favorable Congressional action
thereon. depend whether fraud, corruption
and tyranny equal to a Russian deskoD shall
continue to run riot here, or whether we
shall have well organized government of
checks and balances, on the plan Of impair
tial justice to all, and directed by discreet and
honest men who will lend an open ear for the
correction of injustice and abuse when point
ed out. You have such government in Maine.
Why should we be deprived of the enjoyment