Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-06-21
correspondence.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., JUNE l6, 1876.


Before this reaches you, the question of
who is to be the Republican candidate for
President will have been answered. The
excitement here now is very great among
men of both parties, the Democrats being
anxious to know whom they have to tight.
As regards the st. Louis nomination, it is
a vely noticeable fact that the opposition
to the nomination of Governor Tilden,
which formally found expression here,
has almost entirely ceased. Men, who, a
few weeks ago, were unwilling to admit
the possibility of Tiden's nomination, in
form you now that it is quite possible.
There is hardly a day passes that some
journal, in the West and Southwest does
not announce its advocacy Of Tilden,
which formerly opposed him. And there
is no evidence Of his losing strength any
where. The New York HerUU, speaking
of this remarkable growth Of Tilden sem
timent, says that it is owing largely to
the opposition made to him in his own
State. The SuN and Tribune take the
same view, agreeing that the fact that the
Tweed and Canal Ring men are lighting
Tillen is accepted by the country as an
evidence that the corrupt element of the
Democratic party in New York, over
which he has gained a complete ascendcn-
cy, will have no voice or influence in the
management of affairs if Tiden is elected
Some of the leading journals of the South
are supporting Tilden on that very
ground and it cannot be doubted that
the efforts to defeat him, on the part Of
the New York corruption SITS, have result
ed in greatly increasing his strength.
THE BLACK HILLS.
OF course accounts will differ as to the
auriferous character Of the Black Hills,
and it is difficult to form any accurate
judgment on that point. Mr.. Janney, who
Vas sent out by the Governm ont, last
year, to examine the region from a geol-
ogica srundp oint, repo rted in substa
that while gold could not be picked up by
the shovelful, it yet could b. found inply-
ing quantities in certain parts of the hills.
Hundreds and perhaps thousands of per-
sons have undoubtedly gone to that To-
cality under the supposition that they
would be able to make their ''etarnal fort
ms" in a few weeks, and have been gricv-
ously disappointed. Not Only have they
been disappointed in not finding the prec-
ious metal in large quantities, but they
have been obliged to run the gauntlet OF
large bands Of hostile Sioux, who have
laid in wait for tn en- with Il view Of OBJ
tanning scalp locks. Hundreds have al
ready been murdered by the Sioux; and
it is quite probable that hundreds more
will meet with violent deaths Ia cndeavor-
ing to get away from the land which they
once imagined was an Eldorado. Apro-
pos of this, we give an extract from let
ter recently received in this city from al
old miner, which puts the situation in the
Black Hills as regards their capaoility
for gold production in quite favorable
light The writer reports "the Black
Hills success, and says he is where the
boys are taking out gold by the pound.
He was at D,adwood on the 2lst of May.
DR.. Overman is recorder of Deadwood
and Whitewood, and reports the country
good, with population of from 1000 to
5000. A large party has started to pros
pect the Big Horn mountains. The Mon
tana boys say that Deadwood will beat
Alder Gulch. don't believe it eau, as 1T
was the best paying gulch ON record, and
was worked for twenty miles" 1t is II
little singular that the writer makes no al
lusion to Indian hostlities, Ar.B.