Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-21
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May II, lS1


! WASHINGTON, d. c., May IL, 1877.
To the Editor Of the Kennebee Journal.
As soon as the hot season sets in at the capital,
he political cauldron cools off-a rather curious
phenomenon, and yet true. So, as to politics, We
shall have to wait until the cool Of autumn or the
session of Congress starts up the fire. There is,
however, one small spark remaining. refer to
the effort of the "Nation" oil this city, to resur
rect and revivify the old Wing party by means of
the supposed galvsrsm of the Hayes Southern
policy. The Nation is spunky, spicy sheet, late
y established, and already somewhat noted
! throughout the country for that species of wit
which is incident TO such papers as the Hawk-Eye'
! Danbury News, Detroit Free Press, &c. II has
started out as sort Of organ and galvanizer of
this new old Wing party, and hopes in time to see
the ghost of that defuDct organization become
substance again. Its excruciating efforts in thai
direction justas hot weather comes on, makes one
inclined to the belief that the paper is at emptng
to perpetrate one OF its larger jokes on the peo-
pie. There are several papers throughout the
country more or less influential generally less),
which have followed in the wake Of the Nation
and really expect to resuscitste the party which
claimed Webster and Clay, and at whose funeral
John Bell acted as chief undertaken.
| With all due respect to the good intentions and
| ability Of the Washington Nation, l am con
strained to believe that the American people are
too progressive in their pies and activities to
go back and dig up an old party. Besides, the
old whig party, giving it due credit for many ex-
ceent qualities, never strong or adheren,
enough to compete with the Bourbon democracy
What has becn ind still is needed is, party which
| can head off and even kill off those antagonizing
| deadeniug, and retrogrsding qualities which the
democratic party has ever had and is likely to
have and which the increasing population Of
America, stimulated by growing knowledge and
| industry, declines to accept as p Icy The high
stock, blue-coat, brass-buttoned old Wing, with
his dignifed air, was well enough in his day but
his style is too ancient for the present period.
Therefore, if there is 10 be any new movement
| in party organization, it will not be by resus-
citation of an old party, but either an entire
| " new one or a rehabilitation of those extant. 1t
is doubtful if the democratic party can be rehabili-
| tated so as to come up to the wants OF the time
Consequently spite Of all talk to the contrary, the
people are looking to the republican party for any
progressive or reformatory movements which may
be needed President Hayes, sincere in hisb I.
iefs and intentions, hopes to unite these
i've elements of American char cter, and blend
them into one party and that party still continue
under the firm name of the republican party. He
looks to Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee,
and Kentucky for additional strength. Whether
he can eliminate this element from the democratic
party, where it has gone, is, to me, very doubtful
The democratic party grasps everything it can
! and holds with deathly grip. 1t would ap-
pear next to impossible that any State South of
Mason and Dixons line can now be wre uched
from the grasp Of the democrats. The republican
party must seek to entrench itself in the only
strong Businesses it has in the Northern States, and
there by wise and progressive ideas and action win
over those States which have been against it
by small majorities. Ouly in this way does sue
cess seem assured to it in the future.
We have but one other breeze here to stir the
political atmosphere. This has been raised by a
colored man. Frederick Douglass, the old anti.
slavery war-horse, has lived in Washington for sew
eral years, and is now holding the position of
Marshal of the District of Columbia, perhaps the
most prominent and certainly the most lucrative
position in the District. Most men would, in view
Of such position, have kept quiet, and sought to
keep the good will Of all classes; but Douglass is
too sincere, honest and outspoken, to let office
stand in the way Of truth So in lecture at Balt-
more, he told some plain and lively truths about
the natirs, or old resident element of Washington
City. He was half earnest, half humorous, but
withal very homely and truthful in his delneatons
Hence the truth struck home with greater force
Very many thought his lecture too sweeping, and
that it meant to include the city as a whole. This
is a mistake, as Mr.. Douglass says in short ex-
PLANTATION he makes. 1t is very true, that the Or
lgina Washington element was strongly rebel
that many of its citizens Joined the South and
fought all through the war; that many others
while obliged by reason of domestic, prop
erty, or other interests. to remain here, yc,
exerted themselves in all other respects in the in.
terests of the South; and there were yet others
who remained neutral, only waiting to see the
South successful ere they joined themselves to its
fortunes. There were some honorable exceptions
some very loyal citizens during that trying
period but most Of those loyal exceptions were Of
Northern extraction, or had long before been i'm
bucd with Northern principles. 1t was therefore
of this element which Mr. Douglass treated and
in a considerate and temperate manner as the
speech will show when it is printed.
l remember that as late as 1866, Frederick
Douglass attempted to hire hall in this city, in
which to lecture, but was denied by every proprle-
tor Finally the Rev. Dr. Sunderland opened his
| church for the orator. and then this element Fred
| speaks of, threatened to mob the church if he at
tempted to lecture in it. He did lecture in it, but
| the church was surrounded by a Gordon of police
Your correspondent took tickets at the door, with
pistol in his pocket as a safeguard from the mob
Now, however, Washington has very large
share of the Northern, loyal element, which,
should the republican party continue in power for
years to come, will overcome all this old element
that Frederick Douglass has so truthfully de-
scrbed. Z. j. u.
GENERAL NEWS.
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