The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-08-01

WAsHINGroN. d. c., July -. 1875.
OneOf the most ludicrous of eptsodes occurred
here recently. in wordy renc0ntre betweo6
Coluunbus Alexander one Of our citizens, ana
Hon. Eppa HuntoD. member of Congress from
that portion of Virginia opposite tho Distriok.
Alexander is . wealthy curbstone brokep who's
ideas mover go beyond cent. per cent, anu who
will resist public Improvements. which involve
him in expenditure Of taxes. as pertinaciously
rs he would insist upon . debtor complying
with what is nominated in his bond. He fought
the Boss Shepherd dynasty under the battle cry
Of /" fraud and ring" until through his zeal he
became somewhat of Q monomanfac on all tax
matters. His Imagination pictures every men,
Der OF C0nxfess 0f ofc1af Who has to do with
affairs of the defunct Shepherd Government, as
30 many members OF the Ring of Fraud.' Mr.
Hunton assisted In passing bill re1ulxting tax
assessments. thereby arousinR Mr.. Alexander's
ire. and he at once rushed into print with an
article charging Ring" upon Mr.. Hutton;
which, of course. ELECTED spirited response.
In the subsequent correspondence Mr.. Hunton
sent = challenge to fight. But Alexander con-
fined himself to the glory OF hsing . virginian
leaving Hinton no alternatiyesunder the code
of hoporsb1t to- poae his eppondnt Is liers and
. coward. BoA psttisa aic ne,f nearly az lutte
go years Of age. afd fhedr bellig@reat exhibi-
tions ere 50 supremely ludicrous that everybody
is wishing the farce had been continued. for if
duel had been reached. Nidshipman Easy's
triangular fight would have been surpassed in
Iaughable details and consequences. But Vir-
ginia's wounded honor is atoied. We thank
Ar. Alexander for demonstrating beyond all
question that capital'is timid and cautious in
assuming risks. Mr.. Hunton is now busted in
securing y renOmihati0d, and has his hands full
in trying to distance his many competitors, He
figures in the history of the late war as the
General commanding the rebel forces at the
Balls Blnn defeat. in which the gifted Senator
Baker. of California, was killed. Bakers statue
stands in the old Hall Of Representative, Cali
fornia placing 1t there rs ONE Of the two statues
to which she is entitled. and his opponent, Gen.
Hutton. is now one of our Law makers, One
can hardly realize the changes which time pro-
duces, and nowhere in our country can one find
more seeming anomalies than right in the Can
itol. aH3 -
Mr.. NcMurtrie. who hosrepresents the Asricul-
tursl Department At the Paris Exposition, writes
Gen. educ. the Coshmissioner. that American
Wines and Minnesota Sorghum Sugar are at
trscting much attention from Frenchmen. One
large dealer desired to purchase cargo of the
suk. and claimed It % s. 4 beEter afsicIe for
AllHFposesiA his iiAs Aan any lhessos cane
sugar he had ever seen. Representatives from
@AA sssS AoA 10 Otea0e VI EI00C0p CXC0Q6l0R boz
deaux. had sampled our wines. and pronounced
them cquaI TO French wines 81 the same name
and xrade. This Is shish COM wpliment, and one
may presume that rs Rofdeaux wines are with
out exception spurious and adulterated, the
taste Of its experts is hardly competent = judge
our pure specimens; hence. their absence from
the test. People are generally ignoraxt of the
fact that bordeaux wines arp manufactured to
order. and that its Clarets. with high sounding
names. are sheerest humbugs. 4 few years
since suit in tho United States Court in New
York City. over . cargo of Bordeaux wines,
brought out this fact. and any American whs.
after reading the minutes Of that trial, can al
low himself to believe he IL drinking wine when
imbtbtng French Claret. must subscribe TO- Bar
NUNS doctrine, that mankind prefer to be
hunbuKged. 3ts5s esssgsss. sssgE
OF the $50 varieties Of American Grapes
grown In the experimental garden at, ,Montpe-
lter. the C1nthfana, jacques. Norton, Virginia,
Hermon and Herbem0nt prove the best. and arc
more extensively distributed by the Govern
ment. These varieties are little grown here in
their native country, and We doubt whether any
of them would take third rate position in :
vine growers contention. yet they devslop into
the first In France. DEMoCRIrxs,