Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-11-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.

Correspondence Of the Bulletin.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Nov. %, ~.
The anti-resumption bill is still in
suspense, though Mr.. Ewing made the
closing speech yesterday, It has had so
many reverses and has become so nearly
q changeling that what will be the result
finally we will not now pretend to indi-
cate. Its heavy burden Of amendments
are to be disposed of, and an opposition.
by such as Mr. Conger, may prolong ac-
ton upon the bill through resort to all
manner OF parliamentary tactics.r till we
must forgo our Thanksgiving turkeys or
accept some desired modification Of it's
provisions. The promised long holiday
from Nov Y to Dec. g. has already been
shortened, and really, it now seems that
we are to have none at all, though we
have made due provision for the Army
and Navy, and have put the inevitable
silver question into such good shane
that all parties will accept it. We can
not conceive where the shutting-off
place will come in the stream of Con
gressional speech-making, and for that
reason we fear the promised good time
OF rest will dwindle down to an adjourn
ment on Thanksgiving day only. The
miller can shut down his water-gate and
stop his mill at any time, but the grist
OF speech making in Congress is never
ending, and chance alone seems to stop
1t. The Senate adjourned last night.
over tlll Monday next. 1t has the ques-
ton OF admission of Louisiana's and
South Cardinals Senators under discus
sion for several days. But as it became
evident, yesterday afternoon, that the
Democrats could gain their ends in CON
sequence OF the so-called detection of
Senators Conover and Patterson. and the
absence of Senator Sharon, of Nevada.
the Republicans secured am adjourn,
ment, though under tie, which the
Vice President decided with his affirma-
tive vote. The changes of times whirl-
a-gig may be seen in the Senate. For
seventeen years the Republicans have
had therein, clear and decided maiori-
ties upon every partisan question. but
now the absence OF one member enables
the Democrats nearly to carry point
which will give them control of that
body. If three Democrats be seated
then the Republican ascendcncy is gone.
and but for the skillful parliamentary
tactics Of Mr.. Edmunds. Yesterday
would have seen the Senate for the first
time since 1860. in Democratic hands,
MIR. Blaine is absent, but being paired
Oft with Democrat his presence would
not affect the issue, Senator's Patter-
son, OF South Carolina, and Conover, of
Florida, though Republicans of the cx-
tremest type in the past, voted with the
Democrats on all questions yesterday.
and their course caused the greatest
CONSERVATION among the Republicans,
and most exciting comment Senator
Conkling referred quite pointedly to
alliances in his speech on the floor,
and there is no doubling the fact that
these alliances would have buried the
Republican power in the Senate for
years to come, but for the presence of
Mr.. Edmunds He had been absent for
several days on a shooting expedition
with some friends, and his return was as
fortunate for his party as was that of
Gen Grant at Pittsburg Landing, or
Sheridan at Cedar Greek, for their ar
mics. In the absence of these generals
the enemy had broken down their defen-
ces, turned their TANKS, and were hurl-
ing the broken and disordered columns
back into irretrievable rout and disorder.
and yet the coming of the general turn
ed the tide of defeat into the stream of
success, and enabled the beaten forces
to become victorious. 1t was narrow
escape, and the Republicans may thank
their stars for the leadership of Mr..
Edmunds, while the Democrats can hold
him again responsible for generalship
which circumvented them on the eve of
success. Did Senator Bayard, of Della
ware, possess that phlegmatic GOODNESS
which distinguishes Senator Edmunds
under all circumstances, he would be a
formidable foe indeed But he is excl
table, and an adroit opponent can easily
mislead him with flank movements
through personal or unimportant issues
Edmunds is q master Of sarcasm and
parliamentary expedient, and they serv-
ed a good purpose yesterday for his par
ty, inasmuch as inevitable defeat stared
it in the face till his forces were brought
to bear against the enemy. We to-day
heard prominent Democrat inveighing
against Mr.. Edmund's resort to parla-
mentary tactics to prevent admission Of
the Democratic Senators, seemingly for
getful that in parties, as in war, every
expedient is honorable so it secures sue
cess. Next weeks operations will be
interesting, because they will determine
who will control the Senate In the
future and both parties will use every
endeavor, every device to attain their
ends; the one to defeat and the other to
obtain the admission of these Southern
Senator's
Grace Greenwood has returned from
the West, and now lies quite i'll at her
home on Capitol Hill Her campaigning
in Colorado and California has not PROV
en- as strengthening and inyigorating to
her as in other years, FELIX,