The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-12-22
Our Washington Letter.


W AShlNHlONJ ~ ~ DGCs 10 loi IL
There has been no more eventful week
than this just now closing for many year
at this political metropolis. The quarrel
between the President and his political party
this week came to an issue in the most hotly-
contested debate ever known in an Executive
session Of the Senate, and the result was the
defeat of the President by a majority of some
half dozen votes He was sat down on
very heavily. There is not use in Disgusting
this fact, or rather in attempting to do SO.
The President was profoundly interested in
the confirmation ofhis nominees to the New
York custom-house. That they might be
confirmed, he had actually gone so far as to
descend to a sort Of bargaining with Demo-
cratic Senators, in a manner which all
thoughtful men must regard as seriously
impairing the dignity of the Chief Magis-
tracy of the republic. Can any one suppose
that Fitzsimmons would have been appointed
Marshal of Georgia but for the fact that the
votes and voices of Senators Gordon and
Hill and their active influence with Demo-
cratic Senators generally were wanted in the
New York conflict Who defended the New
York appointments The eminent Demo-
cratic Senators Just named were the chief
advocates. No Republican Senators rose to
defend or attemptto vindicate the Republican
President in this matter Not even our
political what-is-it, Mr.. Stanley Mathews,
undertook that task. But the most eminent
Republican Senators all assailed the Adj
ministration, and so powerfully that when
the contest was over, the Administration was
utterly beaten-routed, horse, foot, and
dragoon.
l do not care to say anything with regard
to the great personal victory won by Senator
Conklmg in this notable passage of arms. l
prefer to speak Of the general results of the
engagement These must be very important.
Though Mr.. Conkling won a glorious victory,
this was a mere incident in the affair. The
question was general. 1t was whether the
Administration is to be Republican or
something else. The Republicans are deter
mined the country shall know what it is.
And there is no further any hope of a
successful Administration except on a re-
organization of the Cabinet. Messrs. Fvarts
and Schurz must pack their carpet-bags and
go home, or Mr.. President must fall into the
hands of the Gordons and Hills and Kernans
Of the Senate and the Bourbons of the
country at large. One or the other of these
results must be the outcome of the great
contest Of the week. We shall see what we
shall see.
One remarkable fact connected with this
exciting week ought not to be overlooked. 1t
is that President Hayes was forthe first time
dismayed by the unexpected situation in
which he found himself. His special friends
and hatterers all told him that he would be
sustained. He had not the remotest idea of
the truth. When it came upon him, it came
like clap of thunder from cloudless sky
and dazed and dismayed him. lie has not
been himself since. At the Cabit meeting on
yesterday the subject was not mentioned
Indeed, that meeting resembled attendance
upon funeral more than anything else
known on this planet Until the President
and his motley advisers get over their
stampede, it will be impossible to predict the
probable event. This much | may say,
however, that in view of the almost universal
demand of the Republicans of the nation for
a change in the Cabinet Mcssrs. Evarts and
Schurz ought to pick up their luggage and
evacuate or be forever known as impertinent
intermediates and shameless hangers-on to
an office.
Congress adjourned over to-day for the
long holiday vacation. So iar.the Forthwith
Congress must be set down as a great and
versatile failure. 1t is the most magnificent
eXemplifcation of how not to do it, ever
heard of in all our history and it ought to be
every good mans prayer that we may never
see its like again. b.
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