Middletown transcript., 1876-06-03
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 80, 1876.

rival Republican candidates is all th'
more bitter, because they honestly be
lieve that the man who gets the Gin
cinDati nomination, whoever he may be
will be elected beyond all peradventure
They say that for sixteen years theil
party has proved itself at the polls t
be far stronger, numerically, than the
Democratic party; that it is still
stronger that its nominee will receive,
as before, the substantial support Of the
banking, railroad and other large in.
terests; finally that the Republican
party has already possession Of the gov
ernment," with all that phrase implies =
"We have" say they, "the money,
the votes, the different resources to the
best use We are bound to win You
Democrats are fighting to obtain, for
your respective friends, only the barren
honor of nomination Hence you can
afford to be cool. calm and courteous.
You are fighting among yourselves for
a shadow-we for substance. The
only man with whom you would have
any show Of winning the coming fight
you cannot nominate and the very fact
that you will not, and cannot, nominate
Samuel J. Tilden, will operate power
fully against the man you do put up at
St. Louis, mhoerer he may be. The
fact will go forth to the people Of the
United States that the scoundrel ele-
mcnt Of the Democratic party Of New
York controlled the St Louis Conven-
ton, and compelled it to throw over
board man known, far and wide, as a
Reformer, because he had preferred the
interests of the people to those of the
party, whenever the two came in con-
fict, and had, in the strict line Of the
duty, squelched corrupt men Of what
ever politics. As sure as you are born,
the St. Louis Convention will throw
Tilden overheard and choose some can
didate who may have more or less
claims on the party, but none ON the
people at large And it is only under
a standard bearer whose improved op-
portunities have given him a claim
upon the Independent vote, and upon
that Of disaffected Republicans, that
the Democracy can hope to win And
even then, they have but slim chance
of success; the resources of the Repub-
lican party being 50 large and varied"
| give you, above, the substance Of the
remarks Of dozens Of leading Republi-
cans with whom | have converscd. and
with whom have heard others con-
verse during the past few days. | make
neither note nor comment.
DECORATION DAY AT ARLINGTON.
The formal decoration Of the 49,
graves Of Union soldiers whose remains
repose on Arlington Heights, opposite
Washington, took place to-day (May
30th) with the usual impressive ser
vices. As usual, the ceremonies took
place under the auspices Of the partizan
organization known as the Grand Army
Of the Republic, which was first brought
into being by Gen. John A. Logan, Of
Illinois, an individual who, by the way,
was rampant secessionists just prior
to the war, and who took active steps
to organize body Of troops in the be-
nighted region Of his State known as
Egypt" for the Confederate service
He afterwards saw better opportunity
for distinction on the Union side, and,
changing his colors, became one Of the
most demonstrative Of patriots. A few
years ago. large number of persons
in Washington, desiring to pay trib-
ute Of respect to the few Confederate
dead inferred in the cemetery, went to
Arlington for the purpose Of bestrewing
their graves with flowers; but, in at
tempting to do SO, met with the most
violent opposition from the Grand
Army, whose officers ordered the Fed
eral troops present to "remove all rebel
decorations And this was actually
done. to the disgust, even, Of pro-
nounced Union men. Since that time,
no attempt has been made by the friends
Of the dead CoDfederates to decorate
their graves on the same day that the
Grand Army honors the Federal dead
with loyal demonstrations 1t having
been announced that the friends Of
the Confederate dead at Arlington
would this year decorate these graves
on the 30th Of May, one Of these
friends caused card to be inserted in
the Evening Star, the day before, stat
ing that the report was incorrect, and
that the decoration referred to would
take place on the Sd Of June In his
card be says:
1--WE did entertain the hope, however,
that an invitation would have been extended
to the Southern Memorial Association of this
city, on this Centennial year, to join the
Grand Army, that all distinctions might thus
be obliterated; but such not being their wish
or purpose, (meaning the wish or purpose Of
the political wire-pullers who control the
Grand Army Of the Republic the friends Of
the Confederate dead will not intrude upon
the ceremonies of tomorrow"
The narrow minded and illiberal
leaders Of the Grand Army attempted,
several years ago, in persuance Of their
policy Of resentment and hate, to drive
from the Executive Departments Of the
government all persons who had served
in the Confederate army.
JOEL PARKER,
who has received such an excellent
"send-off" for the Presidency from
New Jersey, is the only Democratic
Governor that State has had since 1861,
and thereby hangs tale. Mr. Parker
is very popular man, especially among
the workingmen Of New Jersey. and !
his administration was SO satisfactory
that even his political opponents united
in eulogizing it. But hindsight is better
than foresight: and while anybody can
endorse what needs no endorsement,
candidacy is at least always an expert
ment. When Mr.. Parker was candi-
date for Governor, be was popular
but the Republicans needed the sinews
IF nor to fnht him Ac rnlatpd ~ mo |