Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-04-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April Is, 1871.
'They say" in high quarters that MIR.
Eyarts is the Administration. He has liter
ally NO political experience, and under ordina-
nv circumstances with President of ability
aud Cabinet made up of able men, it is GER
tain that his control would be confined to his
own Department But VIC have President
whose title to Office depends upon q legal
technacality, and Mr.. Evarts is in some re-
spects the ablest lawyer in America, and
formulated the process by which Hayes boz
came President; and that accounts for his in
auencs with Hayes. Looking at the Cabinet
we see no man likely to dispute with Etarts
for the precedence, if Evarts seeks it. Devens
was Judge and already regrets that he left
the bench. McCrary is man who has no
hosd upon the country, and is little known
and less cared for out 'his own State and
section. Schurz is an impractical man, not
liked by anybody, and whose loss would not
be felt if he should retire. Sherman is un-
questionably trying to make reputation by
running his Department economically and ao-
ceptably and will not meddie with polite
during his term of Office. He wishes to
stand high as o Secretary of the Treasury.
He thinks he is a great fnaneier, and will
try to prove it. Thompson and Key have no
political ambition. So that. if MIR. Evarts
desires, as is indicated, to be the Administers
ton, there seems to be no reason why he
should not be. His right there is none to
dispute.
But his difficulties in the party, outside of
the President and his immediate advisers, are
great We shall see if he is equal to them.
In every clock sellers shop is one superior in
strument by which all the others are regula-
ted, from the fussy and fantastic four shilling
brass clocks that whirr and buzz and CHATTER
on the dusty shelves to the exquisite watch
that ia hidden in silk and velvet behind the
doors of the safe. When Mr.. Evarts if indeed
he is to be "regu .ator," comes to- deal with
one Of the former class-Blsine. Of Maine. for
instance-he will make short work of him.
Blaine is likely, if kept in the shop, to strike
at unreasonable times. Like Morton and Conk
ling and Chandler and the others, he is ten
years behind time; unlike Thorn, he has in
him no we'll arranged machinery which will
allow him to go right when set right; and
there are many, very many, like him. Mr..
Evarts may expect to keep his subordinates
in order, but | anticipate a riotous discord
that will, as Holmes, has it, ''split the ears of
time"
Chamberlain retirement with the cordial
consent of ALL settles one of the pcrpexing
questions Of the day. 1t virtually takes the
Federal troops from the South and in such
way that their temperance there, for the
purpose of Interfering in the domestic affairs
of any State is as improbable as that they
will enter Ohio for the like purpose. The
war which commenced in April 1861 ended
on the 10th of April, 1877. Let us make
haste to forget the struggle, and tsrbury those
politicians who have no other stock in trade
but the bitter memories of it. If any man
hauls Federal soldier into State politics
hereafter, shoot him on the spot.
Sepstor Blaine rushes into print to state that
the "S,alwart Republican feeling of New Eng
land" is not in sympathy with the Presidents
Southern policy, and that the Boston Repub,
lican daily papers, which support the policy,
misrepresent party sentiment Senator Blaine
is doubtless right as to the matter Of fact, as
has been often stated in this correspondence.
but what is he going to do about it? Hayes
has no party, but he has position and power.
Blaine has party, but let us see if he will
keen it. KENO.