Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-12-16
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

hence recognized as leader of the Dem
ocratic majority, boiled over the first
day. He made bad mess of it as he
did at similar stage of proceedings
three years ago.. On that occasion Mr..
Blaine promptly took him in hand at
the close of the session. The seryility |
of this Representative of the Five Points
Democracy to his old task masters Of
the South was notorious even among the
old line dough-faces sent here by North
ern Democracy prior to the war. Lapse
of years seem to have made him more
than ever obsequious and ready to bow
to the arrogant demands of his BULLDOG
ing associates. He sought to utilize his
appointment by Randall to the head of
the committee named, to build up his
reputation as reformer; but the con-
temptuous manner of his fellows in kick
ing his bill for a revision of the tariff
out of the House last session, after he
had spent months in maturing it, deeply
wounded his vanity. 1t was uncompli-
mentary to his craftsmanship and was
regarded as left-handed protest against
his assumptions as leader. He appeared
to think the Presidents mild alluslon
to the Southern situation as providen-
tial opportunity to retrieve his character
and regain his influence. Accordingly
the reading of the message had hardly
ceased when he secured the floor and
proceeded to deny the truth of every
intimation of Southern outrages contain
ed in it, and asserted his knowledge Of
Republican intimidation of voters in the
North. 1t was an open bid for the favor
of the South and was repulsively servile
in its promises of instant and unques-
tioning obedience to the behests of the
Confederate Brigadiers, as to make the
position of those for whom be spoke ap-
pear only less pitiable than that of the
freedmen under Democratic "home rule"
But he succeeded in committing his
his party associates of the House-no-
torious zealots as they have been for
investigation to the policy of opposing
any inquiry into the abhorrent crimes
Southern Democracy is alleged to have
resorted to in the last campaign to make
the late Oonfederacy reduudantly solid.
Republicans saw the blunder "Mr.
Wood had made and spiked Democracy
to the record, though its clearer headed
members struggled to escape from the
damaging position in which their leader
left them. They labored four days to
that end unsuccessfully, then adjourned
over until to-day in order to reform their
lines, bring up the demoralized stray
glers and agree on programme for the
future. Republicans of both Houses ap-
pear substantially agreed ON the plan
reached by Messrs Blaine, Edmunds,
Dawes, Howe and Christiancy, designat-
ed as committee for that purpose at a
Senate caucus. 1t is bold and agrees
sive. Edmunds was entrusted with the
details. and resolutions, preceded by a
preamble reciting the substance of the
18th, l4th and 18th amendments, will
be early offered, proposing decrease in
the ratio Of representation of certain
southern states in congress and the cleo
toral College, in proportion to the num-
Der of citizens they have disfranchised
by legislative enactments and violence.
Mr. Blaine's resolutions which propose
a searching inquiry into the alleged
campaign lawlessness and crimes in the
South will also come up and fighting
forced. AS they are in the line of the
recommendations of the Presidents mes
sage, no difference between the Execu.
tive and Republican congressman car
result from their introduction.
The committee having in charge the
proposed transfer of the care of the In
dams to the War department have tax
en- voluminous evidence. including tha
of Gen. Sherman in favor, and of Secre
tary Schurz and Col. Meacham in oppo
sition. The bills for establishing posta
savings banks and for further distri
button of the Geneva Award are inherit
ed from last session and will receiy,
early consideration.
Public consideration seems pretty
generally aroused to the belief that
renewal of old time prosperity is t
: come through development of our OWL
resources with judicious extension o
= our commercial relations in old and new
fields. The opening up of the rich bel
of our country to be traversed by tn
: Texas g. Pacific railroad to the stoc
raiser, the farmer and miner, is regard
!, ed as one of the most important step
in this direction, and to free transconti
: mental trade of the incubus of the ez
listing monopoly of the Central Pacific
Hence unusual interest has been mani
u tested in Mathews argument in fave
lie of the bill to aid in the construction {
es that competing line. UNDINE.
= SAN Francisco, Dec. l2.-At Stool
OF ton to-day Rarus and Sweetzer went j
ut an exhibition trot for purse of 500
he ! with 5000 added If Rarus beat Coli