The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-12-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. l6, 20.

the electoral vote will receive any indorse-
ment from both Houses of Congress.
The Democrats will not consent 10 any
plan that does not enable them 10 "throw
out" some of the Hayes States, and the
Republicans knowing the full value OF
their advantageous position, are not going
to throw away victory just as it has been
secured. The course is straight ahead,
and there will be no wayering or weaken
ing. Senator Edmund's proposition to
have the count made by the Supreme
Court is practically defeated. 1t was
sudden death" to it when Senator Nor
ton took such decided stand against it |
to-day. Aside from all other arguments
or objections the fact that neither party |
is willing to risk its fortunes in the hands |
of tribunal, the position of which is so
uncertain, is alone sufficient to defeat the
plan. The resolution of Mr.. MCCrary for
the appointment of committee of con
ference between the House and Senate on |
the subject, has been favorably acted upon
in the House, and something may come
of it, though nobody expects it. From
conversation with leading Senator to-day
am convinced that there is but one |
course deemed possible, and that is for
the acting Vice-President to open and
count the vote, as the Constitution pre-
scribes, and declare the result in accor
dance with the result of the people.
The Democrats will yield nothing an
agree to nothing that dees not give Ill IL
the Presidency. That is the great prlz
they are after, and some of their leaders
seem determined to stir up as much bad
blood as possible, and to that end they
snake Rome howl with blasts about
fraud and returning boards. 1t is part
of the general policy of intimidation.
The coming address to the country which
is to make its appearance in the course of
a week, is direct appeal to this senti-
ment, though, Of course, it will be frosted
and adorned with beautiful reference to
the Constitution. 1t is understood that
the principal purpose of this address is to
advise the lovers of the Democratic party
to congregate in mass meetings in their
respective localities on the 9Th day of
January-the anniversary Of the battle
of New Orleans-and on that occasion to
raise to heaven a united protest, They
want the color of popular approval. This
show of popular strength is expected to
have its effect upon the Republican mass
es, and through them upon the Senate
and Republican leaders. 1t is truly
beautiful and we'll arranged scheme, but is
probably one of those which will gang
aglee." 1t is with satisfaction that one
looks at the minority in the House.
Blaine is greatly missed, but Garfield,
Hale, Frye, Hoar, Conger, and Banks,
with others are still maintaining the Re
publican cause with credit Banks is
back in full standing and the whole weight
of his ability and long legislative expert
ence is now on the right side. Whatever
have been his doubts in the past he seems
now to have cast them aside. As heard
a prominent Democrat say yesterday she
had gone over the Republicans, horse,
foot and dragon" He no longer sports
his raven locks, but his white hair covers a
fnely-shaped head. He is commanding in
presence, and the deep rich voice with
which he tones his parliamentary reaec-
tons, add greatly to his otherwise effec-
tive style. His experience as Speaker of
the House and his admitted brilliancy
makes his return to the Republicans
matter of congratulati0n.
President Grants cn l.latic correction
of the misstatements OF lis position has
stirred the Democrats ~ with a very
sharp stick. The advisory committee
meets nightly at Hcwitt's house and ven
geance dire is much discussed. Yet in all
their proceedings and with all their eau
cusing they are without pOlicy-an ut.
terly disorganized and discordant set. A
really amusing incident is reported to
have occurred in one OF these caucuses
recently. Wetnurse Watterson was
holding frantically on the skirts of Fer
nando Woods coat, begging him to be |.
calm, when Wood turned full upon Hen
ry and asked him if he did not tell him
to introduce the very measure he was ad
vocating. Henry couldn't deny. And
so it goes.
There is very general rising tendency
on the Republican side in Washington.
The facts as to that ''stolen vote" in Ore
gon are all discovered and the case is
made up. The bare-faced trickery and
the inexcusable and indefensible fraud is
so manifest and so clearly established
that no investigating committee is requir-
ed. Republican leaders are satisfied that
Gov. Hayes has been legally elected. In
addition to this they propose that the
electoral votes to which he is justly emit
tied, as attested by due forms of law
shall be counted, and that that count
shall be made without violating either the
letter or the spirit of the Constitution,
This feeling of firmness and confidence
has been communicated to the entire
body of Republicans here, who are so ac-
customed to watch indications on the po-
litical barometer that their judgment and
observations are entitled to much respect.
Residents in Washington, eye-witnesses
of much that the rest of the country gets
second-handed, with the color taken from
the medium through which it passes,
Gov. Hayes supporters at the capital are
peculiarly in a position to judge intelligi-
bly as to current political events. With
this class there is without doubt settled
conviction that the Democratic party is
not to win, although its campaign in the
South was strengthened by intimidation,
and its efforts in Oregon have achieved
apparent success. 1t is not an opinion
born of the wishes and the hopes. 1t is
beyond even the profound conviction of
the business of their cause. 1t is the
logical result of careful observation.
The great question as to the way out
of these Presidential complications con
tinue to be the uppermost topic here, and
there is little doing in Congress that does
not In some way bear upon it. In the