Middletown transcript., 1877-08-11
washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, u. u, August :, 1877.
The two events of the week in poll.
tics are the conventions Of the Repub
licans in Maine and the Democrats II
Virginia. They will both be over be
fore this is read by most Of your read.
ers. In Virginia the questions con
cern the State debt and the school
system. Your correspondent sincerely
hopes the action of the convention viii
be such as to put the credit Of the grand
old State on an equality with those Of
any other State in the Union, and he
believes such result most likely.
This can only be done by frank de-
claration that the whole honest debt
shall be paid, principal and interest.
Such a declaration would of itself make
it possible for the State to put its fnan-
ces onamueh better footing. In Maine,
though its debt is comparatively large,
financial questions will excite little in
terest in the convention. The States
credit is good, and no matter which
party shall take control ofState affairs,
will be kept good. ]. G. Blaine, and
whatever else there is Of the Republi-
can party in the State, will devote their
time to the Administration, to the la
Dor question, and possibly to the sub
iect of annexation. There have been
reports Of late that various persons Of
more or less weight, from all over the
State would insist upon a new head for
the party. In fact, that the old Nick
was to pay among the stalwart Repub-
icans, independent Of national ques-
tions.
The coming of Moody and Sankey
to spend three months with us, is an
nounced. The churches will unite cor
daily in this effort to awaken religious
feeling. In population Of about 49,
600, Washington has less than $4,000
church going people. If we except
those who cry out for civil service re-
form, but do not practice it, and who
accept office to which they are not
elected, we are perhaps not worse than
other people, but there is fearful
amount Of apathy on religious subjects.
Mr.. Moody will find wide field for
the exercise of his familiar talents.
1t has been found that those enter
prising Washington men who bid for
nearly all the mail routes in New Eng
land, going as far North as Aroostook
County, and who are making profits by |
to local parties, are Office
holders under this Administration. The
subject is undergoing investigation, |
and will result in their abandoning |
either the Offices or the eontracts-that
Is, unless Mr.. Hayes can make an ex-
eeption in their favor.
Adiutant General Townsend SAYS
he military saved to one railroad COM
oany at least million Of dollars worth
If property, and he expresses indigna-
ion at the very prompt presentation
o the War Department, by that com
,any, Of its bills for transportation Of
he troops so employed. But after con-
it has been determined to
,ay the bills.
The late editor of the Republican, I
hould say one of the late editors, for
he concern is hopelessly bankrupt and
hanges Its editors as often as any sal
ry becomes due them, adopted novel
Ian of getting even with the concern
n Saturday night. He threw stones
trough the plate glass windows of the
ewspaper Office, doing damage to the
mount Of $3.50. The Republican was
ned the other day, and ex-Secretary
sobeson put in an appearance as one
f the owners. This confirms, in part,
ne report given in this correspondence
1me weeks ago that Robson and ex-
government Printer Clapp was to as J
lme control Of the paper. RENO. I