The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-05-05

plOyees.
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 26, 1877.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Very little is now said as to the
course adopted in South Carolina and
Louisiana. There is no doubt that
the ranks of the disaffected Repub-
licans have been reinforced to some
extent by the Louisiana decision from
the great mass of the Republican
party, as represented here, which has
occupied central position between
the wing that has openly opposed the
Southern policy and the other that has
cordially endorsed it. But whether,
even with this addition to its numbers,
it is of sufficient weight to effect any
material modification of the Admins
tration's proposed method of dealing
with the South, will be determined
hereafter. There is doubtless a gen.
eral belief here that demonstration
will be made when Congress shall
have convened and the manifesto of
ex-senator Wade has been hailed with
great satisfaction in certain quarters
here. Although some of the leading
Democrats of the South do not appear
lacking in gratitude for what has been
done, it does not appear that the SEN
timent, so far as developed, is suffi-
ciently deep or widespread to justify
the sanguine antieipations relative to
wholesale desertion from Democ-
racy to the Presidents standard and
l believe the weight of opinion is in
The direction of Mr.. Randall as the
Speaker of the next House.
The Turco Russian war is the most
prominent theme of discussion. 1t is
presented from almost every point of
view, but it must be said that the
friends of Turkey are so cowed and
intimidated into silence, by the pre-
pouderance of public sentiment against
her cause, that our residents and wis.,
itors may be said to be practically a
unit in the hope that the present war
may only end with her expulsion from
Europe. Cuban matters also appear
to deeply interest many Of the better
informed i'll political circles. General
Grant was always rated as sincere
sympathizer with the Cuban cause
but he was supposed to have been re-
strained from any official expression
in its favor by the rigid neutral views
of Mr.. Fish. Many sanguipe hopes
of speedy recognition of the belli-
gerent rights of the patriots by Presi-
dent Hayes administration We're in
dulged in during the first week or
two after inauguration but no steps
have been taken in that direction,
and many of the air castles, having
nothing more substantial for foun-
datiOn than that usual with such frail
and the alleged sympathy
of Mr.. Evarts and one or two other
Cabinet officers, have tumbled to the
ground. The ruinous rate of taxes
assessed against the property of for
eign residents in Cuba it was hoped
might inure to the success of the pa
triot cause through indignation and
the resistance offered to its collection.
it is not generally believed
that the infatuated despots who nom
inally control that Island will he al
lowed to proceed to extremities in
enforcing the odious assessment. In
deed, instructions are said to have
been already received from the Mad
rid Government forbidding any for
chile means for its collection with
German subjects; and it is thought
likely the exception will be extended
to other alien property holders; and so
another causas belH will be avoided.
With all the efforts made, it seems
that only two men, thought qualified
for the office, could be found willing
to undertake the investigation of the
New York Custom House. A list of
several prominent New York mer-
chants was made, however, from which
5he third gentleman might be oh
tained, which accomplished, the inyes-
5igation will be at once vigorously
pushed. 1t is given out that the bust
ness of the Custom Houses at our
other large commercial centres has
been SO satisfactorily transacted that
,hey will escape the interrogation de- |