Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1877-02-14
Our washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, Isl
ErnpypA FOR HAYES.

over tho preliminary decision of the
tribunal i'm the Florida case while
| tho Democrats are correspondingly
down hearted and crest-fallen. The
weak kneed Republicans whe favor
ed the compromise measure, now
have an opportunity to reflect upon
the INN inent peril in which they
placed the country by voting for
this bill; for had not Judge Davis not
been elected to the Senate by the Illi-
nois Legislature, he would, undoubt-
edly, have been placed upon this
commission; and had this been the
case, the Republican party would
have been thrown out Of court on the
very first vote. The two Democratic
Judges and the Ave Democratic Sem
ators and members voted solid to
overturn the. lawful decision OF the
legally constituted authority of Flor
ida, and to make of the commission a
grand returning board to count in
Mr.. Tildcn. With Judge Davis, the
Democrats would have had major
ity on the commission, and tho case
would have been hopeless. The
Democrats are violent in their disap-
pointment, and now accuse the Re-
pnhlicans Of having secured the elec-
tion Of Judge Davis to the Senate
while the reverse is the case for not
single Republican member of the
Illinois Legislature voted for the dis
tinguishod political jurist. People,
who are familiar with the ways of
Mr.. Tildcn, recognize in the election
of Senator Davis, the finger Of the
great sham rrformer. Let the country
thank the Lord that for once the old
railroad wreckcr has overreached
himself, and secured the defeat OF his
great scheme, in his effort to consum-
mate n minor plan. The resolution,
not to 90 back of the returns, was
adopted by vote of eight to seven.
Judge Bradley voting with the Re-
publcans. The second resolution,
which provided for the hearing OF
testimony In the ease Of the alleged
ineligibility Of clector Humphreys,
was also adopted by vote OF eight
to seven, Judge Bradley voting in
the Affirmative.
THE STRUGGLE or THE GIANTS.
seldom, If ever, has so great an in.
tellectunl struggle been witnessed as
that which has taken place between
the opposing counsel in the Florida
case. McsSrs. .Evarts, Mathews,
Stoughton, Shcllabarger, Root and
Chandler on tho Republican side,
and Messis. O'Connor, Black, Mer-
rick, Green and Headley on behalf of
Mr.. Tilden have put forth their
greatest efforts, and If there is any
legal point which has escaped their
vigilance, it can hardly be worth
considering. Mr.. Evarts addressed
himself to lawyers, and to the ordi-
nary reader, his speech seems dull
and difficult to understand, but to
men trained in the legal profession,
IL appears fully equal to the greatest
efforts OF Webster, Choate and other
great lawyers Of the past. While the
giants have been struggling inside
the Supreme Court room, the people
Of Washington have been struggling
without for opportunities TO gain adj
mission to the room TO witness the
scene. The members of the commits
sion are constantly besieged with
applications for passes, and the corri-
dors OF the Capitol are continually
filed during the sessions Of the COM
mission, with men, women and chill
drcn, al! expecting that some lucky
chance will offer them al opportunity
to enter the sacred precincts. AS the
room will only admit about one hun
dred and fifty spectators, Of course
multitude Of people will be compelled
to drag out the remainder of their
existence without having seen the
great Preaidcnt.lnaking machine in
operation.
WHAT Is THOUGHT OF TIE DEcIs-
ION.
Tie Republicans believe that the
decision not to so back Of the returns,
IL sure to give the State of Florida TO
Hayes and Wheeler, and that the
application Of the same rule will
insure them the State OF Louisiana.
The decision to hear evidence In re-
lation to the eligibility OF clector
Humphreys l. also expected to do
away with Mr.. Cronin aud his elec-
toral college; and therefore, the Re-
publicans now believe that they will
sec their candidate duly elected on
the 4lh OF March, The Democrats
are still clutching at straws, and The
more sanguine among them have II
glinmering Of hope that something
may turn up in their favor-if moth
ing better, that they may be able TO
delay the decision of the tribunal
until after the 4th of March, norder
that a new election may take place.
THE LEGISLATION MuDDLE.
i While this Is Friday tho ninth OF
February, every where olsc, II II
still Thursday tho FIRST Of said month
at tho capitol; for the compromise
/ bifl provided that tile House should