The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-22
NATIONAL GOSSIP.
The Political and Social Status OF
Affairs at Washin gton.
CAPITAL CORRESPONDENCE

CAPITAL CORRESPONDENCE.
FAcrs AND PANCIEs CONCERNING THE APP
poINTMRNT OF COMMITTEES, CROOKED |
WHISKY AND cRooREDNEss GENERALLY AT |
THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
Especial Correspondence Of the Sentinel
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1l.--After the stormy |
episode of the election of a speaker, a lull
has settled upon the arena of public affairs
In Washington. Until the House commit
tees shall have been announced there Is
likely to be but little movement of an inter
esting character. At present 1t seems prob
able that Mr.. Kerr will not have his list
prepared until the 18th of this month and
between the present time and that date the
House will My assemble every three days
and that merely to adjourn again, three
DAYS being the limit of adjournment for
either brsnch OF congress except by JOINT
resolution of both Houses. Mr.. Kerr con-
Times 10 travail in thrces of committee
making or course each of the congress
men longs for good place, eisher
craftsmanship or an appointment 10 one OF
the more important committees. Some Will
have to be- disappointed of course, and
equally OF course Mr.. Kerr will be ansthe-
matized more or less openly by members
whose aspirations have been nipFed In the
tender bud. There seems TO be almost a
certainty that Mr.. Holman is to be chairman
of the committee on commerce anu the
chances OF Gen. Banks for the foreign az
fairs are unquestionsOly good. The ways
and means committee in the scale OF gen.
eral gossip, Is held in about equal balance
By Wood and Cox. Almost everybody has
a mental list made out, but the wlsest
prophet among them Is unable TO give any
very substantial reasons for bis anticipa-
tions. Meantime the whisky ring uphesval
in the West excites keener attention than
ever, and mems minds are tree to
scrutinize with the utmost vigor
sll the operations OF government
off cials, from the president downward.
who are contested with the Investigations.
IL Is universally considered that a dssss-
trous and irrevocable mistake In policy was
made by President Grant when he dismissed
ex-senator Henderson from the prosecution
of the 81. Louis cases. The friends OF the
president are dismayed and sorely depressed
in spirit. His opponents, both those OF the
adverse political party aud such or the re-
publicans as are planning to obtain the
presidential nomination next year for them
selves or their friends, are openly exultant
or
.CHUCKILEa WITH SUPPRESSED SUBTRACTION
at Grants irretrievsble error. Even those
who are firm,in the conviction that Grants
sincerity in wishing to let no guilty man
escape Is unqrestionable, are prone to adj
init that should Babcock be acquitted there
will be tremendous power of plausibility
In the cry, certain to be raised, that the
retention OF Henderson would have
ensured different result, and that his dis
missal was ordered under precisely such
consideration. Under any circumstances,
even should Babcock be convicted, there
will remain impressed on rublic opinion
profound sentiment that Grants interior
ence wss instigated by q desire to shield his
intimate friend. And this Judgment is
-. 49, e. 1k.a~ s.1
that the president has always expended bis
best efforts, and sometimes in particularly
offensive manner, to preserve his favorites
from the harsh treatment OF an unsympa-
thetic world. Several congressman from
the South were conversing together this
evening, whenope,a republican, said that
until he heard of Henderson's dismissal he
had not for q moment doubted that Grant
intended to let the lightning strike wherever
there was attractive material, but that now
his confidence in the president was de-
stroyed, and he was Obliged TO recognize the
evil features of the business. IL Is
q matter of talk; but suspect, without
much basis, that Secretarie sBristow and
Pierrepont deliberately allowed Grant to
cast himself into this pit. Unsnimity, per-
feet and strongly expressed, prevailed in
the cabinet consultation which preceded the
discharge of Henderson. 1t may be that
Mr.. Bristow was not displeased at seeing
the trap opening for Gen. Grant, but IL GER
t4lnly WOul0 nave Deem uOIB 6u6CtlN6
policy for the secretary to enter even 9 mild
protest against theremoval. If Grants real
motive vas to rid Rabcock OF a dangerous
foe, his past history with regard to his rela-
lions and social intimates Is sufficient
rant for believing that he would not have
been deferred from bis purpose by the
opposition of one or two mem bers of his
cabinet. Then, indesd, Bristow might have
.telt it necessary tor him to resign: but how
much greater would have been his laurels
~ IA
have made toward the Ieputed
goal Of his ambition, the nomination for the
presidency. Grant has now. at least, the
defense that none OF bis official advisers, and
especially neither ofthose two who are chiefly
concerned In the whisky prosecutions, pre-
scented any objections to his proposal.
Nevertheless, the burden of the crashing
error nust rest upon the president, as the
presenS frame OF public opinion Is un-
doubleday that be seized upon such wholly
inadequate exelse as the mention of hia by
Henderson. TO open a way for BsbeOck's
escape. There Sre rumors that
THE cHIoAGo WHISKY OPERATORS,
who have hitherto barely been touched With
the investigating trons, are about to be sub
united to a scslping, skinning, and general
disseetlng process that will afford them
anything but agreeable sensations. 1t is
intimsted that some lofty heads
will be brought low, and regulations
fade away like snow beneath the sun of in
vestigation. Senator Logan has not yet
come to town, and be may find the course of
events in Chicago OF such a nature that he
will deem his presence there or thereabouts
indispensable to the prapes working of
creation. Ward, the late district attorney in
Chicago, was asked to resign because OF his
close social and perhaps business cOnnec-
lions with members ofthe ring. 1t is not
alleged, nor indeed acknowledged, to be
suspected that be was concerned In whisky
frauds, but 70 Messrs. Bristow and Pierre