Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-10-26
Our Washington Letter

WASHINGTON, DC, Oct.20, 'T6.
An old time journalist and
active politician has departed.
Francis P. Blair died at his
residence, Silver Spring, near
this city, yesterday afternoon
He was in his Seth year and has
outlived most of those with
whom he took an active part in
pubic affairs. A warm friend
of General Jackson, his name
was prominently connected with
nearly all the prominent events
that took place during his eight
years of administration.
The city has again assumed
its accustomed quiet air, The
stir and excitement over the I'M
yelling of the Mcpherson statue
is completely ended, and the
whole affair may be considered
a complete success. It will
hardly be credited, but it is
nevertheless fact, that Belknap
and Babcock had the brazen
etfronetry 10 play the part Of big
dogs in the tan yard, or in other
words to take a prominent part
in the proceeding, and absolute
~ went to Grants supper last
night with the rest of the vete-
rams of the army Of the Ten
nessee. 1t is wonderful what
an amount of impudence some
people have. If General Nc
Pherson were living, and the
same man he is described to have
been, he would not have allowed
either of those fellows to speak
to him. | am very humble
man myself, and by no means
exclusive in the choice of as
sociatcs, but I'd as lief be at
work on the streets with a chain
gang, as to be seen walking
down Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween Belknap and Babcock,
even if Boss Shepherd and Ulys-
ses were also Of the party.
The stand at last taken by
Russia on the Eastern question
very naturally eXcites appre-
hension of Il terrible war which
will involve most of the great
powers of Europe. Russia has
undoubtedly taken the stand
she has with the full under
standing of the responsibilities
involved Late dispatches in
dictate that England is undoubt-
eddy preparing for war, and the
London Telegraph in a leading
article says that as much as
England loves and desires peace,
she must wage war from end to
end Of the world rather than
permit the Russian flag to fly
over Con stantinople.
What will the colored Re-
publicans think of the fact that
their white brethren in the
sanity Stale Of Ohio refuse to
recognize them as equals? An
earnest and prolonged discus
sion took place in the Grand
Lodge of Masons at Columbus
yesterday upon the proposed
adoption Of the resolution rec
ommending the recognition of
the colored Grand Lodge. Fin
ally the resolution was declared
not in order by a large majority. |
The result of the contest in |
Ohio, Indiana and West Virgin
ia has made it clear that if the
Republicans cannot carry New |
York they will certainly be de-
feated in November; hence
they will put forth every exer-
ton to carry that State. They
will do everything that can be
achieved by perfect organiza-
ton, strict discipline, piles Of
eXtorted money, loads of de-
ceptive documents, hundreds
of experienced stump speakers,
cunningly devised falsehoods,
and frauds Of every description.
But the Democracy are happy
in their leader and will carry on
the brief remainder of the cam
paign with unprecedented skill, |
yigOr and enthusiasm.
Grants last proclamation dis
banding the rifle clubs in South
Carolina is much commented up
on by the press throughout the
country, and many Northern
papers characterize it as a high
handed outrage. Eleven years
after the so-called rebellion,
Grant declares war against the
citizens Of peaceful State, and
orders the whole of the army at
the eastward to South Carolina.
1t is time of PROFOUND peace,
and the South is by word and
act showing its adhesion to the
Union. Yet, because citizens