Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-25
WASHINGTON. Jan. 81. 1876.
ICoyrespondenee of tie Journal.

The telegraph has flashed to you so rapidly the
quick recurring event. Of the last two weeks IN
the House Of Representatives, that the tardy Ian
guage Of letter can be but a tedious repetition
Even in the house Of its enemies, this Is season
of triumph for the republican party. Defeated at
every point the ex confedeyatcs have calmed
down slightly, but any observer can see that the
rebel camp fires not quenched-they arc
slnouldering. Que of the Virginia members was
SO full of the old democratic spirit, that in
speech on the Centennial appropriation he glorified
Lee and Davis, and renewed tie disgust OF the
| Northern conservatives, who had not time to re-
| cover from the shock of Hills speech against Mr..
| Blaine and in defence of JEFF. Davis and Amber
sonvle. 1t is likely that judicious persons in the
democratic party will be almost daily shocked by
these vaporings of the fire eating ex-confederate
officers. To be dashed by such men as Mr.. Blaine
and Mr.. Garfield, is not the entertainment these
former Southern lords thought themselves invited
to- They used to do the lashing, and they canno,
conceal their chagrn at the changed position they
hold.
| Altogether the democratic party as represented
at the capital is most lamentable failure, except
a. warning TO the country. In their very small
est acts the ex-rebels have shown the cloven foot
Turning out the wounded soldiers who held posi-
tons in the House to give place to rebel soldiers,
was characteristic, but the chairman Of the prin-
cipal committee Of the House has excelled in that
line by appointing for clerk of his committee,
man who named his child for John Wilkes Booth.
Assassination is thus to be one Of the glorious
privileges Of the new era which the Confederates
are predicting as the outcome of democratic
victory. Such outrage upon deccncy as this
act of an iphuman father Of course could not be
overlooked even by democrats, and so this clerk
was asked to explain away the charge. The boy
was named John Wilkes for an English statesman.
said his father, and was sometimes called Booth
| by his playful relatives in jest. The explanation
is as transparent fraud the original act was an
outrage, and is in keeping with many explanations
which the Northern Hunkeys are forced to make
for their Southern overseers. The revision of
Hills speech is an example of their efforts to cover
up dsgraccful sores. As it finally appeared on
the Record it was about as much like his rebel ut
terances as daylight is like darkness. And in
making this revision he was forced to commit
dscourtesy for which any respectable member
| should blush. lie left out of HIS speech entirely
the remarks of Mr.. Hale, which were made in the
course of colloquy, and his own remal ks drawn
ont thereby. The instance is not known of such
an unmanly act As this but it was necessary so
that the speech should not circulate throughout
the North as rebel harangue, as it really was
Fortunately the verbatim report was preserved
and will be printed for the information Of those
independent voters who pant for the return of the
democrats to power.
| The Centennial debate has developed the fact
that about all the active opposition to giving money
for the exhibition comes from the Bourbon demo-
Gratis. OF course they oppose the measure on con-
stitutional grounds, for SO they do everything, il
we may believe them. They went out of the
Union, fought the government and committed al /
sorts of wrong or constitutional grounds. Mr.
| Frye made a short speech on Wednesday in which
that CONSTITUTIONAL was well answered. The
democrats from Calhoun do wn, have been ready
enough to vote appropriate ions for less worthy OBJ
jeots than the Centennial Mr.. Frye was very
convincing upon this poiat, and satisfied good
many Of the wavering. Always clear In his argu-
ments, he was so thoroughly confident of his
grosnd in this instance that his speech one of
the most satisfactory of the debate. In this con-
nection, it is just to remark that Maine is better
represented in the House debates than any other
State with double it. delegation in number.
| The Presidential campaign is warming up, and
before many weeks the preliminary work will be
very lively here. The republicans carry their
canvass with the utmost good feeling. 1t is APP
parent to all impartial observers that Mr.. Blaine
leads the list the republican side but the diff
ference in preference of candidates causes very
little i'll feeling, and this promises to be the
throughout. The "Independent" press-whatever
that may mean-endeayors TO make it appear that
the appointment of the nation al convection at
Cincinnati is victory for Morton. ! do not see
how this can be, since this is one of the S ate.
| which will not support Morton. As matter Of
fact, there quarrel over the place Of meeting
having any significance. If it were true. it must
be interpreted as more favorable TO Mr.. Blaine
than Mr.. Morton. There is not a newspaper in
Ohio which support Mr.. Mortons candidacy, while
there is one very influential one in Cincinnati very
friendly to Mr.. Blaine, and there are many
throughout the State which do not need much
urging to support him warmly. 1t is a remarka-
bic fact that the young men of the West as well
as the East are very generally supporting Mr..
Blaine, and he will have the most enthusiastic
backing of any man tho ever went before the ma
tional convention. BY unanimous consent, his
cause seems to be the cause of the fresher element
in politics,-the new voters and the young men
just beginning to take active part in life. We
find more of this class so perfectly satisfied with
Mr.. Blaine and so confident in his invincible ca
reer in politics, that against all odds they have
him already nominated and elected President. l
don't think it is far fetched to add that older and
sober voters are falling into line" to the same
purpose. Mr.. Blaine will make canvass so live
ly and enthusiastic that its like will not be in the
memory of those who cannot go back TO the "wide
awakes" or the "log cabins" J. W. 3.
IOLIIIC.1L.