The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-12-19
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, u. c.. De

Congress, or at least the Democratic end of it,
has shown unusual alacrity in getting down to
the practical work of the session. Four OF the
thirteen appropriation bills have already passed
the House. and one or two moro will follow be-
fore the holiday recess, which is almost unpre-
cedented promptness. No time has been wasted
In wind exercise. and no springinG of political
discussions for party capital has been allowed
While the Democrats are fully prepared to give
the other side all they want Of the Southern
question, should it be opened in the House, they
do not propose to assume the responsibility Of
thrusting such an unseemly row in the way of
public business. The Republican Senate has not
done SO well. The programme Of the shriekers
was to precipitate the political warfare in both
Houses and keep it up. and in the Senate it has
succeeded. partially, Notwithstanding the fact
that Mr.. Edmunds and some of the shrewder
ones do not approve the policy. There is con-
siderable difference OF opinion among the Re-
publicans as to the wisdom of making this on
slaught at this time especially as the Demo-
Gratis are likely to bring out all the facts, and
in the end get the best of 1t. tt= t.-
This feeling was ono of the inducements to
Senator Edmunds to push his Electoral bill and
engage the Senate in the consideration Of it. He
gotit up early in the week. but made little pro-
gress. The discussion as far it went was
rather unfavorable to the plan proposed. Its
principle feature is the ultra States rights doc
trine enunciated by Joe Bradley on the Elector-
al Commission, making the Gel tifcate of q gov
ernor final. No matter what frauds may have
been committed to arrive at the result certified.
Congress would have no power to . 60 behind
the returns" Senator Jones. of Florida. made
q severe dig at this provision Of the bill. show
ing how great the induccment would be for
States to adopt the pernicious returning board
system Of changing the actual results. as in
Louisiana. from which there would be no appeal
Another feature of Senator Edmunds' bill is
change in the time Of holding the election max
ng it q month earlier. THIS might be wisdom.
as it would shorten the campaign. do away with
the influence of October States the elections
now occur. and give more time fol a judicial
settlement Of any disputes in the different States
The Democrats are wary OF any scheme coming
from Edmunds. who so successfully tricked them
in the Electoral Commission business, and look
for a cat somewhere concealed in the meal-bag.
Senator Beck looks upon the measure as a legal
ization of all the frauds committed in the last
presidential election. There are some people
who feel ambitious to see the fraud first tri.
umphant'. made dOubly conspicuous in being
likewise the last.
Mr.. Blaine has spoken his piece. The Senate
has not yet passed his resolution but it was best
to permit Blaine to fire OF tbs barrel full Of wad
with which he has been cramming himself. He
was in good voice and high feather for the occa-
sion. and in anticipation of an animated dis
cussion, on both sides, the galleries were filled
to overlooking. while members of the House
packed themselves in upon the floor of the Sc n
ate like sardines in box. The speech bore ev-
idence OF unusuaI care in elaboration, for Blaine
as in the words OF Senator Lamar. it is more re-
mark:ble for its careful omission than for any
thing else. During its delivery Senator Cenk
ling was busily engaged at his desk turning
over tn e leaves of the, big books before him as
indinerently US though he were in library all
by himself. Blaine did not prance up and down
the nisles and kick over chairs as he used to in
the House. The bull in china shop style Of
oratOry is just a little out OF place among the
grave and reverend seignieurs of the Senate
Ch amber. which places James q. at II disadvan-
tage. The subject OF Blaine's TRADE are the
charges of election Outrages" in the South !;
that the entire colored vOle Of the South is the
property OF the Republican party of which the
rightiul owner has been robbed by force and
fraud; and that by reason of these things the
white vote Of the South acquires disprOpOrtion'
ate power Without reference to his reckless
unwarranted statements. the logical conclus ion
Of BlOine's remarks would seem to be that he
wants to take back the boon of suffrage given to
the negro uuless the votes are counted solidly
TOR the kkcpuDllc2nS. 1nere Is no neeu OF felt-
Grating the fact that the negroes do not all vote
the Republican ticket. 1t is well known that
thousands of them freely vote the other way.
and that many more would do SO but for brutal
mobbing by the mere ignorant lawless elements
of their own race. Mr.. Blaine says his party is
the friend of the negro. yet in the language of
the Post, what but swindline and plundering
have the Republicans done for him since he be-
came voter. what use has been made OF him
except to help carpet-bag thieves to fatten on
the plundercd white people of the South. And
from these whites Mr. Blaine says the negro has
" nothing to hope and everything 10 dreadr 1t
will be a sorry day for the millions of poor
homeless dependent blacks if they sh all imbibe
Blaine's false doctrine of hate: and still sad
der one If the men who own the land-the men
of property. brains. character and influence in
christian attitude which Mr.. Blaine assigns
them.
Senators Thurman and Lamar made some very
both will further participate in the discussion
which Is not yet disposed of. The convincing
statements and temperate tone of the Mississippi
Senator was great disappointment to the agi-
tators. Other Congressional subjects are not
numerous or important this week. A recess
will probably be taken from the 10Th to January
}. Rumors Of a Cabinet change are again rite
and there is little doubt that Attorney General
Dsvens is shortly to retire. though just how the
Vacancy will be arranged, or what other changes |
his will entail. cannot now be foretold. Conk.
ing will fight against the confirmatio of the |
New York Custom House appointments, and is
likely TO secure their defeat. PHoNO.