Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-08-07
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., August 3, 1878,

Messrs Editors Despite the fact that nothing
of particular Importance TO the political world has
occurred during the week, the situation is, never
theless, decidedly interesting and daily becoming
more 30. It Isl welsettled fact at this time that
THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT
is causing great anxiety among politicians Of all
classes, and seems 10 be growing more and more
formidable in the eyes Of the country Men of
sagacity who look beyond their noses, are becom-
ing to speculate seriously upon the effect which
this movement is likely to have not only in the
coming fall campaign, but in the grand national
contest OF 1880. The old politicians Of the dem
ocratc party have invariably predicted heretofore
that the nationals would be swallowed up by their
own party after the excitement of last year had
subsidized, but now they are surprised to find that
they are not true prophets, a. the determination
Of this new party to be absorbed by no afnation
whatever, fully attests The Republicans are dis
appointed only in the fact that with the decline Of
the gold premiums and the near approach of
specie payments, the greenback party seems not
to diminish. It is the fear and danger that the
next election Of President will go 10 the House Of
Representatives that the greatest anxiety in
the democratic ranks They feel an uncertainty
about the next House. II the election should go
to the House, by "A failure of the people to elect
they know that, according to the constitution
they must have, not only majority Of the votes
but majority of the delegations in a majority of
the states To be entirely secure, therefore, they
must carry a majority of the Congressional dis
trcts in twenty states this fall. This fact shows
the Importance to both parties of winning
THE MKT HOUSE
In the present House, each party controls eigh-
teen states, with two equally divided between the
two parties and, therefore, neutral. The democ-
racy believe that none of the fourteen strictly
Southern states are likely to be affected by the
labor movement, and will undoubtedly be con-
troed by them. To those they add Ohio, Oregon,
Missouri and New Jersey. This gives them eigh-
teen. and two more states are needed These will
have to be won from the legitimately doubtful
states of New York, Penusy lyana, Connecticut,
California, New Hampshire and Colorado. In
New York, Connecticut, California and Pennsyl-
vania the labor vote will be the heaviest, and ex.
ercise the most weight and influence in determin-
ing the result. Particularly is this true in New
York and Pennsylvania, which, from this reason,
are generally considered doubtful by both parties,
Connecticut is little uncertain, although, as we
have shown in previous letter, the Republicans
have good reasons for claiming the entire delega-
ton. New Hampshire has three Representatives,
one Of which only, in the present Congress- is a
democrat His majority was but forty-three-
therefore the democrats can have but little hope
from the Granite state, although we understand
that desperate effort will be made TO carry the
Third district, where Prescott, the present pop
ular Governor, led his opponent in March last but
a few votes over four hundred In Colorado, too,
the democrats are liable to receive but little con-
ISOLATION. 1t has always been Republican, al
though now represented in the House by n dem
ocrat, who, however, has right 10 his seat
This national movement, then, is trine more dis
tressng to the democrats than to the Republicans
from the fact that it takes away the surety they
would otherwise feel Of holding the court of
last resort" in the event of election Mt the polls
One of the most interesting features of this new
party movement is the assumed leadership in it
of General Butler, who, from the coquettish spirit
he has displayed during the past six months in
throwing bricks at the Republican party, and
taking the lead in democratic investigation,
may be called the
UNKNOWN QUANTITY IN POLITICS.
enemy of both parties and friend to no one but
himself. lie is man of great ambition cease
less activity and remarkable shrewdness. To
these qualities he unites an extraordinary amount
of patience. The fact that he was willing to wait
through sixteen years of contumely and accusa-
ton for the true story of the stolen spoons to de-
velop itself, proves him to be the modern job.
He believes that the millions of working men,
discontinued with the existing ord II of things,
must of necessity become power in the land If
organized and directed by a competent leader,
and he boldly volunteers himself for that position
The place is accorded to him from the fact that no
other person possessed of the same amount OF
pluck is ready to take it, lie has already marked
out the first step in the campaign which is to Sc
cure the balance OF power in the next House, and,
in the event heretofore mentioned, of naming the
next chief magistrate He thinks he sees in the
condition of parties his opportunity to take po-
sition, where, in the combinations to follow, his
power will be felt and his assistance required
1t is matter of policy, mostly, with him. mixed
with species of revenge upon the powers that
be His friends here claim that the masses of the
democratic party in Massachusetts will support
him in the event of his being the greenback can.
didate for Governor Should the nationals sue
coed in electing this fall from one to three Con
gressmen in each of the states of New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut California and Pennsylvania
they will hold the balance of power in the next
House, voting by states. This is the scheme
which Butler is promoting-ifa success it will be
a grave satire upon the dignity of our Republi
can institutions, while with its failure will fall
one of the most demoralizing features of the poll
tics of the present day, the one-man power.
The perennial rumor
CONCERNING THE CARINEr.