The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. C., May IA, 1878.


The Post Democratic daily of this morn
ing is confident that resolution based
principally on Blair's memorial and second
arily on the evidence contributed by McLin
and his pals in Florida and elsewhere, will
be carried to-day, calling for an immediate
investigation. IL says tho Speaker has de-
cided it may be offered as privileged ques-
ton, and that the temporiziug expedients
and the vacillstion have been so far over.
come as to justify the belief that before ad
journment tonight the ground will have
been broken for q most searching inquiry.
1t further intimates that the Republicans
will move to amend 50 a. to include all
Southern States having called Republican
maorities but which went overwhelmingly
for Tiden. 1t is thought likely that this
course has been adopted 50 that by raking
over several States they may be able to get
together some fragments wherewith to rebut
the damaging disclosures relative to the rad
icsl manipulation Of votes in South Carolina,
Florida and louisiana To the extent that
the Republican leaders have any specific
evidence Of fraud, they will likely be graft.
fed. But it hardly seems probable that they
will he allowed to go all over United States
to pick up isolated cases of intimidation of
voters, to belttle aud Offset their wholesale
frauds by which the popular will of whole
communities and States was defeated aud the
minority made seemingly, the victors in a
national election. "The dog shall return to
his vomit and the sow to her wallowing"
Dennis, who seems to have very much ex-
aggerated the weight of obligations under
which he has placed the Democracy by the
part he has had in the Florida confessions,
and probably regre:ting his weakness in
yielding to the promptings of conscience,
has left us in high dudgeon because, as it
appears, he was not permitted to boss the
job, and hurry the investigation prematurely
when he could perhaps, have established
just as much as would have been to the go cd
and behoof of number one and there stopped
without particular regard for anything but
the aggrandizement of Dennis. Any how,
he has gone, breathing vengeance and
swearing to make the investigation hot one
forthe Democrats in Florida. 1t seems the
judgment here that he has been treated by
the administration to a taste of his own de.
coction and itseems to have been as distaste-
full as to fill the abdominal yscera with the
East wind.
cannot refrain from referring for mo-
ment to the speech of Gen. Gordon deli ver-
ed in the Senate last Tuesday, because it is
one of the lew speeches made here this win.
ter on national finances that will. have per.
manent value. While the courtesy thai
marks Senator Gordon's bearing under all
circumstances was observed throughout the
speech, that did not serve to detract from
the force of his scathing arraigment o.
those responsible for the financial Legislation
of the past 10 years, which will be denoun
ced rs the remote aud proximate cause o
all the ills we have suffered since 1873
Contraction he declared good for the bond
holder and the wealthy and to a corresp ond
ing extent paralyzng to legitimate business
ubmerging the masses deeper and deepe
in the depths of poverty, deprivation AM
wretchedness. Every deduction was logical
clear and to the purpose. He impregnabl
fortified his position by citations from the Fl
nancial history ofleading European power,
The floor and galleries we're deserted by tn
usual habitues and filled by critical audi
ence, such as might be expected to be interest
ed in finances. He had it with him through
out. Ofall Southern Representatives non
have stood higher than Gen. Gordon iron
the moment he first entered the Senate, the
best knswn as a commander of one wing c
Lees army, and as the confidential friend c
that great captain. l commend his fu
speech to all who desire clear prese ntato
Of the financial problem of to-day free o
the verbage and abstraction usually strun
together and dubbed Financial speech.
Sitting Bulls threats receive some atten
ton, as his ability to execute them-or q
least to carry devastation to many front tie
home-is undoubted in the presen cond
tion of our Army.
SEMINOLE.