The Republican journal., 1876-03-30
Letter from Washington,
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 25th,


which was more profitable than honorable, i
even legal to the supercilious Senator. Their
is no attempt at sensation IN this paragraph
When the facts are laid before the country
Conklin will be universally pronounced I'M
worthy to occupy seat in the Senate, al
though it may be as impossible to punish hin
according to his deserts, as it will be, appar
emily, to punish Belknap. There need be nc
surprise at the announcement l have Just
made. Has not Conklin always been the
friend and contidant of Grant? Should we be
surprised that the intimate friend of a courte
san should be found to be herself unchastei
Would it not be nearly beyond the possibilities
that she should be otherwise? Talking OF
Conklin and New York, reminds me that many
Democratic papers in the South and West IA
vor the nomination of Samuel j. Tilden, the
great Reform Governor of that State, for the
presidency. The non partisan papers also
speak kindly of him. Tilden is lifelong, I'M
compromising, dyed in the wool Democrat
but is more favorably and widely known to the
country at large as man who has reflected
honor on his party in New York, as well as on
The untiring industry, logged perseverance
and sterling integrity of the man, and the fact
that, in pursuing, year after year, to convc-
ton and punishment, the Tweed Ring and the
N. Y. Canal Ring, he entirely ignored politics,
and, Washington like, refused compensation
for his professional services to the City and
State, have created strong impression in his
Il of tl,o
to him as an easy man to elect.
BLAINE'S STRATEGY(N
The Republicans are growing loudly over
what thew call Blaine's strategy on the bill to
prevent the collection of money for political
purposes from officers and clerks in the service
Of the United States. They would have you
believe that Blaine forced the House to accept
his amendment including members Of Con-
gress, against the will Of the majority, and that
the Democrats We're cleverly outwitted. The
facts are just the reverse. The Republican
party maintains a regular bureau here for the
collection of money from government employ
ees, at the head of which is the notorious
He sends letters to every officer in the country,
levying upon them regular contributions to the
machne-not only to officers, but to all those
who are, in any respect, Dependent upon the
administration for the positions they hold.
Evans, the post-trader, who paid Marsh Sl2,-
600 year for his place, has just testified that
he was assessed $500. at one time, by the
Republicans, for party purposes, and that he
sent the money to Washington. So extensive
has been this system of official blackmail. that
hundreds of thousands of dollars have been col
ected, each year, ostensibly for political pur-
poses, but of which large portion has gone
into the pockets of certain favorites in Wash
ington, either in the shape Of salaries as secre-
tares o. Campaign Committees, &C., or as di-
rect stealing.
The democrats were determined to put an
end to this abuse, if possible, and Mr.. Bernard
g. Caulfeld of Illinois, reported bill from the
House Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday last,
making it an offence punishable by fine and
Imprisonment, for any person in the employ OF
the United States to collect or contribute any
money whatever for political purposes. The
Republicans were seriously alarmed, and Mr..
Hoar, of Massachusetts, offered an amendment
to permit the collection Of money for the pur-
pose Of sending out printed Campaign docu-
ments. Other amendments We're offered: and
it becoming evident that the Republicans were
anxious to cucumber the bill and delay action,
Mr.. Caulfield, who had charge of the bill,
moved the previous question, and it was order
ed. 1t then became evident that the bill would
be passed unless something could be done to
kill it. At this moment, Mr.. Blaine, whose
ability as a manager, and transcendent skill in
all kinds of parliamentary trickery are general
ly acknowledged, sprang to the rescue. He
asked Mr.. Caulfield to yield to him for mo-
ment, which was done; but when he proposed
to offer an amendment to the bill, Mr.. Caulfeld
declined to yield further. Mr.. Blaine then
moved to reconsider the vote by which the pre-
vious question was ordered SO that he might Of
fer an amendment to include Senators and Rep
resentatives of the United States; and on this
motion he demanded the yeas and nays, in or
der, as he said, that every man should go upon
the record. The sole object was to defeat the
bill, or to place the majority in false position,
by inducing them to refuse to allow the amend
ment to be offered. But in this, MIR. Blaine was
defeated The previous question was reconsld-
cred by a vote of 205 to 4, and the amendment
was offered. On Wednesday the Bill, with Mr..
Bane's amendment, was passed; so that in
stead of killing the bill, as they had hoped to
do, the Republicans have succeeded in making
it much more fatal to themselves than it was
originally; and they are endeavoring to hide
their chagrin at the democrats having accepted
Mr.. Blaine's amendment, instead of rejecting
it as it was expected they would, by calling it a
victory for Blaine, when it is the worst defeat
that gentleman has met with for some time.
The bill now goes to the Senate where the
Republican majority will have the choice of re-
ecting it, and taking the consequences of such
course; or of passing it, and thus cutting off
the supplies of money which are necessary to
keep their party in power. If there had been
such law as this, the money used so success
fully in the last election in New Hampshire
could not have been obtained. Pass this bill,
and the corruption fund, never more necessary
than it will be in the coming campain, will
cease to exist. Refuse to pass it, and they have
to meet the Indignation of people fully aroused
to the necessity of doing away with that system
of administration which renders the whole ma
chnery of the government tributary to poiti-
cal faction or clique, and makes it possible for a
few shrewd and dishonest men who happen to
get into power at Washington to eXtort money
from every servant or dependent of the Govern.
ment.
BELKNAP-MARSH.
Within the last few days the tone of the Re
publican papers here has changed regarding the
Belknap matter, and there is a strong DISPOSE
ton manifested to stand by Belknap and defend
him, making Marsh the scapegoat So long as
Marsh was safe in Canada, they professed to be
very angry with the Committee for letting him
90, thus losing the only witness who could con-
Wet the ex-secretary; and argued that the pros
ecution must therefore stop. In other words
Belknap could neither be impeached nor con
victed But the judiciary Committee of the
House demanded that the President should pro
cure the return of Marsh by granting him i'm
munity from prosecution, and Grant was forcet
to oomnlv or Stand convicted before the conn