Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-03-22
Our Washington Letter.

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raj fAat they should take to them.
soiees some comfort in looking
dpon dissensions In the, warmed
and lighted camp Of the enemy,
and much comfort is promised.
1t is plain that the acting Pres
dent means to put his party
Through something the same pro-
cess OF reconstruction" that the
party attempted to force upon the
South. at least, the change be
attempts will be as thorough and
comprehensive. No less earnest
are the old leaders of the party in
resisting such changes. They
have withdrawn from the first
mistaken etep OF attacking a poll
cy not then clearly defined, but
arc only waiting for q better OPP
portunity. % reflection they
saw the folly Of attacking The
acting President on account of
CAtinet appointments, as each
lof the more prominent Repub-
licans might be suspected in that
matter, of personal disappoint
meut.- So one after another of
them has made his peace, as
sured Hayes of a cordial support,
and is now quietly plotting his
overthrow. That the acting Pres,
ident holds these assurances of
amity at the real value is appar-
ent, fer be is seeking every occa-
sion to make himself popular with
the people without resOrting to
the old time leaders. But be
feels, too, the strength of the op.
position that may at any moment
be developed, and already makes
daily promises that if his presen
Southern policy shall not succeed,
be is willing at any time to change
it. Thus the Republicans may
be said to have their war paint
on, and their arms at hand, not
from any fear Of the common
enemy, but because Of jealou;s;;ee:s
and natural hatred and distrust
among themselves. As said be
fore, it is natural that Democrats
should end in this state of things
among their enemies some conso-
lation. Even the misfurtunes OF
our friends, some one has said,
give us certain pleasure.
The Senate has been notified
that its presence will be necessary
for only few days more. It's
only duty is to act on such nomi-
nations as may be sent in, and
these, it is officially announced,
will be very few. Among them
will be that of Fred Douglas as
one of the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia. His name
has no. been mentioned in con.
nection with this Office until to
day, though that of nearly every
other politician IN the country
out OF office has been. | speak
from an intimate knowledge of
public sentiment here when | say
that Mr.. Douglas appointment of
Commissioner will be acceptable
TO most Of the white people of the
District, and to few of the coIored
people. Every shyster politician
among the latter has his fling at
the man who has done more than
any other colored man to give
standing TO the race.
A few days since the Washing.
ton Club House, famous in the
days of the District ring under
the Board of Public Works, was
offered for sale. 1t was the head.
quarters of Boss Shepard and
his friends, and cost that gentle.
man large sums of money. He
had a way of paying his own
bills, and those of his friends, in
the days when he was prosperous,
and if speculation and the hard
times had not kept him embar-
raised for year or two past, we
should not have seen the Cub
House sold for its debts.
Public attention has been d.
rected lately TO the number of
Ihomicides committed here. They
x,,,,ooro,,e po,r H.