Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-01-11
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

Congress adjourned over the holidays,
just as every one expected it would not
withstanding nearly every paper in the
country protested against recess at
this time when there is so much to be
done, and so little time remaining in
which the republicans will hold the bal
ance of power in our congressional halls.
Already the slate is being made up for
thesnext Congress. and | notice many
prominent rebellion leaders have booked
themselves for fat positions. As the pa
pers have already informed you, little
was accomplished before the adjourn
ment, though it was gratifying to see
tie disposition shown with regard to the
finance bill +; and it is to be hoped that
the final legislation. on this subject, will
leave no loop hole for repudiating dem-
ocracy to crawl through. The affairs of
this District have occupied considerable
time and one rather odd feature is the
presentation of petitions from various
portious of the country, asking that
bill be passed prohibiting the manufac-
ture and sale of all intoxicating drinks
within the limits of the District of Co.
lumbia. Evidently it is desired by those
presenting these petitions. that this city
be made sort of experimental garden
but the Temperance organizations of this
city know very we'll that practical pro-
hlbluon can never become an accom-
plished fact here. and therefore do not
ask for the enactment of prohibitory
law, but as soon as congress re-assem-
bles, a petition will be presented. asking
that law be made which shall prohibit
the sale of Intoxicating drinks at any
place except in bar rooms and by drug
/ gsts on u physicians prescription also,
that every dealer in liquors be required
to keep posted in prominent place in
his salesrOom. a certified copy of his ap-
plication for license. With the names of
all persons, endorsing their application,
attached. The effect of such law is
very manifest. and cannot be better de-
monstrated than by quoting from a
speech made at the convention of liquor
dealers, held in this city on the 18th.
inst, in which prominent dealer said,
IF this bill becomes a law, our business
is ruined Once make the liquor busi-
ness a separate business by itself, and
it will be disgrace to continue in it
our houses will be placed on the same
footing as gambling houses and house;
Of i'll fame. Once require us to make
public the names of persons endorsing
our applications. and no man of respect,
ability will permit US to use his name
While this convention was sitting, {
meeting was being held in one of the
churches of this city, under the auspice.
of the Woman's Temperance Union, anc
special, earnest prayers were offered tina
the efforts of the rumsellers might b.
confounded and set at naught. God i
on the side of right. olIoayS. and wh,
can believe that he will turn a deaf ca
to the prayers of these suffering women
whose happiness has been wrecked oil
the quicksands of intemperance ? "Th
mills of God grind slowly. but the
; grind exceeding fine. - and the sin an,
curse of intemperance will be grounr
out of this nation just as surely as wa
; the sin of slavery; and ali the struggle
of the demon to keep on in its work G
i destroying both body and soul, willonl
hasten its final overthrow.
d To Il careful observer, it is very evi
dent that the great want of the presen
: Congress. is a leader, both in the Hous
and the Senate. Often | am remindc
of boat adrift upon the sea, KNOWN
: not which way to look for land. Ever
u one recognizes the fact that somethin
u must be done, or the grave of the repuI
J lican party will soon be dug by its ow
i exponents but what and by whom
y the Gordian knot. no one seems able
!, unite? Mosby, the guerrilla. has mo-
u influence to-day. at the White Hous
Il than any Southern Republican; he ca
/ and does walk unannounced into Grant
J. presence, when prominent republican
'e are refused an audience in one wee
four of Mosbys followers were appoin
'e ed clerks in one of the departments. I
who iisked their lives to protect the Ii
> of the country. stand back and ask. :.
this our reward?''
IN Never was Washington fuller of pc
K sons seeking for Office. than it is at t
u present time. | sat for an hour in t
&c corridor. near the entrance to the Hi
IS of Representatives, one day, in conver:
tion with u member, and at no time we
there less than eight or ten persons
N men and women. with hungry eyes al
at anxious faces. waiting to see membC
on from their own state, to try to get be
of to situations. pitied them from
of bottom of my heart, for knew disa
k, pointment must be waiting for many
st. them. Persons sitting in their e.
L.