, 1878-11-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

that the Republicans have achieved
great triumph in the later elections
OF the year. 1t is true they lost in
Maine because the Greenbackers
sent large sums of money there, and
the Republicans did not appreciate
the magnitude of the fight; in Ohio
because of the Democratic gerry.
mander, and in the South because of
Democratic bull doing; but by the
victories in November they came
very near reversing these disasters
and recovering the House. Perhaps
1t is just as well that the Democrats
should hold both Houses of Con.
gress, since they do it by stealth, and
violence, and will be apt to follow
their hands in excesses which will
show the country how untrustworthy
They are. Sometimes great curses
seem to be required to promote the
cleaning process in this world, and
there are many who regard the Dem
ocratlc Congressional majority in
this light.
However, the Democratic major.
lty in the House is going to be very
small, and it is possible that without
some unlawful changing of the lis,
by Clerk Adams they will not have a
ma jorlty without the aid of the
Greenbackers, who may claim lions
81 a e Of the spoils. The Republi
cans cannot he otherwise than gain.
ers by coalition of .hat sort.
The Republican leaders deserve
great deal of honor for the manner
IN which they have wrung victory
from apparent defeat. Conking,
Blaine, the Chambers, Woodford,
Garfield, Logan, Hale, and in fact
all of them have held the Repubi-
can banner high and dealt telling
blows. The achievement of Mr..
Conkling in New York is most con-
splcuous lror the fact that his well
known candidacy for reelection to
the United States Senate has had the
influence to elect the largest egis
lative majority the Republicans ever
had there, and, besides, the campaign
resulted in the gain OF s members off
Congress. This remarkable victory
has been gained in spite of the fact
that the Democrats are the sins" and
were supposed to have mortgage
on the State for the future. Senator
ConkIing early took the lead in the
campaign, and made thorough can
vass Of the State, inspiring the Re
pubIicans with their old time enthu-
siasm. His mastery speeches, por-
traying the evils of Democratic dom
lnatlon South, and maintaining the
Republican policy in general, we're
quoted all over the country and the
result has proved the wisdom of the
New York Republicans, of all shades
of opinion, in following the leader.
ship OF their Senator. 1t is curious
to hear the Democratic comment on
that result. "Poh !" they say "New
York is Democratic State, and no.
body can carry it against US except
Conkling." They forget that this is
remarkable tribute to one of their
most determined foes, and that per-
haps he may conclude to carry New
York in 1880 and make it perpetually
Republican as against modern Dem
ocracy. 1t is too early to name Pres.
idential candidates, but it is fair to
say that Senator Conkling has good
many more friends now than ever
before and some of them are naming
him for 1880.
1t is fact which the stalwart Re-
publcans are making much of that
the perfdy of Hampton and his
friends in the South had good deal
to do with the recent successes. As
the South grows soldier Democratic
the North grows soldier Republican
for the very obvious reason that the
Republican party is strongest when
its original work of promoting hu.
man rights comes in play. While
the Republican party bowed to the
conciliation policy as an experiment,
it did not put full confidence in it,
and the rebel betrayal OF the Presi,
dents faith in their promises melted
the Republicans to new effort. The
Republican party proves that it will
ever be alert to the dangers that
threaten the country from whatever
source.
The House Appropriation commit
tee will meet here on the goth, to
lay out the work for the session, and
several other COMMITTEES will put in
an appearance soon. Congress will