The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-12-18
Cur WASHINGTON LETTER.

Flectioneerinc Scenes in the Hotel Lobbies- The
American Mecea-General Satisfaction With the
Choice for Spesker-Perfect Harmony in the Dom
inaut wing q the House-The XLIvth Congress
Opening soenes ard InciIents-A Remarkable Elk
tension Of the Democratic Pointer. etc. etc.
TFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Z, 1875.
II any man wants to see his friends, let
him come to Washington; they are all
here now with their best clothes on. From
Maine to Texas. and from Oregon to Flor
ida. there is no State, and it seems almost
no town without its representative. Here
is such rabble Of Senators, Members Of
Congress, Governors, Generals, Colonels,
Judges, etc, that to be plain Mr.. appears
rare and honorable distinction. The
Democrats are all here, Vallandigham
Democrats. Jaoksonian, Jeffersonian, and
Ohioian Democrats have all shaken hands
across their little chains, and have been
eating, drinking and sleeping together.
The Republicans are here too in great va
riety. There are the disciples of Morton,
Conkling, Boutwell,, Logan and Howe,
who having not yet received the intalli-
gence Of Lees surrender, continue to fight
the battles Ger and to slay the slain.
Then there are the senatorial sutler ghouls
such as Spencer, West and Scott, who fol
low far in the rear Of their leaders, to plum
der the camp and strip the dead.
But it is useless to attempt even by ban
ner or shibboleth, an enumeration. They
are here, Democrats, Republicans. Gran
gers; all working like crusaders, but not
precisely in the same line. Indeed, since
| have come to think OF it, the total absti-
hence party is not here; those whom |
have seen abstain from nothing Willard
hotel has been the centre of political eau
cusing activity for the minor offices, and
the reek Of whisky and cigars has been
positively formidable. | was there and
saw, and felt, and heard, and smelt, and
must confess, tasted il; then asked a
philosopher what all this meant . id he:
This is politics. An optimist poet may
perhaps see here the germs Of an ever ad
vancing, higher and purer State polity,
but poets have wonderful eyes
1t is refreshing to know that none Of
the gentlemen prominent as candidates
for the Speakership, have given any coun-
tenance to the peculiar methods by which
some Of their wouldbe friends have en-
deavored to promote their election. | do
not think a single vote was changed by the
influences brought to bear by certain low
politicians from New York and Philadel-
phia.
To a looker-on in a Washington hotel
lobby in a political canvass like that just
ended. one Of the most melancholy spec
tacles is the ex member; he is without the
shadow Of influence, and must look desc
lately upon the stirring scenes in which he
was once power. There are great
many af these sentient anachorisms, most
ly Republicans, here now, and like dilspi- |
dated windmIlls they are dismally plctur-
esque and moralesque
have conversed with members from all |
sections, and am persuaded that the cleo
lion of Mr.. Kerr gives very general salts
faction. A large majority Of those who
we're the adherents Of Mr.. Randall, 50
ong as there was any hope Of electing
him, do not hesitate to express their salts
action that the choice has fallen on SO
rood a man as Mr.. Kerr The general