Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-14
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Nov


gressional methods if he was sent here,
he was much greater man in his own
estimation, we may believe, than he is
to-day, after his series of remarkable
blunders. He appears to have been
taken at his own valuation by certain
OF his Democratic associates of the an.
ii resumption persuasion. The arro-
giant and self sufficient manner assumed
in attempting to cram his bill down the
throats of a minority so large that it
approximates majority and includes
some of the ablest minds in the House,
has had its logical effect At first he
refused to entertain amendments oil fany
kind, but soon came to understand that
it was much easier to annlhilate an op-
ponert in stump speech to crowd
of sympathizers, than when actually
confronting him on the floor of the
House. Finally the Fort amendment
which only repeals the date of resump-
ton instead Of the whole section, was
accepted; but Cancellation had been
preceded by such show Of supercili-
BUSINESS as to preclude about all hope
of the two-third vote necessary to sus-
pend the rules and pass the bill. It is
only BY unanimous consent that it can
be taken out of the morning hour, and
unless important concessions are made
that is not likely to be obtained. Fill
libustering, considered legitimate un-
der the circumstances, can be resorted
to SO as to kill time, and it now looks
very much as though the bill might
hang where it is all through the session
The conviction has become very gener-
al that the interests of the couptry
were never matters of greater indiffer-
ence to the House majority than with
that of the present Congress. Three
weeks have been absolutely wasted on
horse races, in manoeuvering for party
advantage or striving for personal ag.
grandizement, while the business that
was thought of such an imperative
character that it could not wait the
regular time for meeting, has been so
far neglected that much of it has not
even been considered in Committee;
aud it is impossible to resist the belief
that Mr.. Randall has been far more
solicitous in his distribution Of Com.
mittee patronage to make his calling
and election sure with the "Solid
South" dynasty now predominant in
the lower House, and to pay his debts
contracted in the Speakership contest,
than to discharge our obligations to the
survivors Of the Indian campaigns and
the labor instructions Of last summer.
or to consult our commercial, industrial
educational and social interests, the
conduct of which have been taken
from the hands of their real represen-
tatives and entrusted, in many cases,
to those of men whose obscurity and
lack Of reputation gives to his selections
an appearance of burlesque. Contrast
ing the sections most deeply interested
in one or more of these, with those
honored with chairmanships and the
next best places, leaves the impression
that they were never more shamelessly
trifed with. It would require long
letter to enumerate the names of all the
members of the House who have intro.
duced bills for reconciliation; but
taking their number as something of an
exponent of the wishes Of the constitu
ancies behind them, the conclusion is
irresistible that the movement has
made great progress since last session
and that it is confined to no particu lal
section, but has invaded communities
heretofore regarded as strictly ortho
dox. Its final consummation cannot
from present appearances here, be
doubted.
Partisan malignity stands abasheG
for the moment in the presence of the
grim reaper who has again invaded the
Senate Chamber and smitten with fata
effect one of the great leaders wht
contributed as much as any one man
among the prominent actors in our lat,
war to final success. He thorouohl,
believed in making treason odious, anc
it will never be fully known how, b,