The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-04-05
CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON,
Mar. 25, 1861

WASHINGTON,
Mar. IS, 1876.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT
I see that the Republican politi-
,ians of the Empire State have deci-
led, in Convention, to support Sena-
;or Conklin for the Presidency, in the
National Convension.-
Some of his supporters and admirers
will be surprised to hear that their
favorite will soon be invited to appear
before Committee Of the House to
answer a few questions regarding
which was more profita-
BILE than honorable, if even legal, to
the supercilious Senator. There is
no attempt at sensation in this para
graph. When the facts are laid be-
fore the country, Conklin will be uni
versally pronounced unworthy to &C.
cupy seat in the Senate, although
it may be as impossible to punish
him according to his deserts, as it
will be, apparently, to punish Bel
KNAPP. There need be no surprise at
the announcement l have just made.
Has not Conklin always been the
friend and confident of Grant2 =
Should we be surprised that the anne
intime of file de oie should be found
to be herself unchaste? Would it not
be nearly beyond the possibilities
that she should be otherwise2 Talk
ing of Conklin and New York, re-
minds me that many Democratic pa
pers in the South and West favor the
nomination of Samuel j. Tilden, the
great Reform Governor of that State,
for the Presidency. The non-parti-
san papers also speak kindly of him.
Tilden is a lifelong, uncompromis-
ing, dyed-in-the-wood Democrat, but
is more. favorably ard widely known
to the country at large as a man who
has reflected honor on his party in
New York, as we'll as on himself, by
Kidding it of its dishonest leaders,
The untiring industry, logged perse-
verence and sterling integrity of the
man, and the fact that, in pursuing,
year after year, to conviction and pun
ishment, the Tweed Ring and the
New York Canal Ring, he entirely
ignored; politics, and, Washington
like, refused compensation for his
professional services to the City and
State, have created a strong impress
sion in his favor, and attracted the
attention of politicians to him as an
easy man to elect.
The Republicans are Growing loud
ly over what they call Blaine's STRAIT
egg on the bill to prevent the collec
ton of money for political purposes
from officers and clerks in the ser
vice of the United States. They
would have you believe that Blaine
forced the House to accept his
amendment including members oI
Congress, against the will Of the ma
iority, and that the democrats wer,
cleverly outwitted. The facts ART
Just the reverse. Tie Republican
party maintains regular bureau
here for the collection Of money from
government employees, at the heat
of which is the notorious Judge Ell
munds, Postmaster Of Washington
He sends letters to every officer il
the country, levying upon them reg
ular contributions to the machine
not only to officers, but to all thos
who are, in any respect, dependen
upon the administrator for the posi-
tions they hold. Evans, the post
trader, who paid March $4,000
year for his place, has just testifie
that he was assessed $500, at on
time, by the Republicans, for part
purposes, and that he sent the mon
) ey to Washington. So extensive ha
been this system of official blackmai
that hundreds of thousands of do
liars have been collected, each yea
!. ostensibly for political purposes, bu
of which large portion has gon
into the pockets Of certain favorite
in Washington, either.in the shap
OF salaries as secretaries Of Can
paign Committees, etc., or as dire,
stealing. The democrats we're dete
, mined to put an end to this abus
if possible, and Mr.. Bernard G. Cav
field of Illinois, reported bill fro
the House Judiciary Committee, {
Tuesday last, making it an often
: punishable by fine and imprisonmer
for any person in the employ Of t
: United States to collect or contribu
any money whatever for polite
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