, 1878-06-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Much feeling and not a little indigna-
ton was aroused among Republicans by
publication in Tuesdays "National Re-
publican" charging that Administration
Republicans had been treating with
Alexander Stephens for the support Of the
little handful Of Democrats supposed to be
hostile to the Potter investigation. 1t
was said that this alliance had been ad-
vised by Mr.. Hayes.and Cox OF Ohio, had
been entrusted with the negotiations.
Stephens was found agreeable his only
stipulation being that he and his little
bands of Democrats should be allowed to
dictate the future policy of the Admins
tration in return for their interpoSition to
save Mr. Hayes from impeachment All
went well until tile stalwart" Republi-
cans came TO be consulted. when they,
with one accord, denounced the tranfer
Of the Administration for such Il
mall consideration. Consequently the
plan fell through. Another version, aris-
ing from the same cause probably, rep
resented the Democrats IN Congress AS a
pack OF guant. half-amished wolves; they
had scented Mr.. Hayes and were on his
track In full pursuit. The President grew
nervous and rs they closed IN on his TANKS
and crowded his rear, swapping and snarl-
ing and showing their teeth, he became
panic stricken He finally found he had
no hope Of reaching cover before his pnr-
suers would be on him and he first threw
MIR. sherman ont to them, then Moves,
and then other Republicans as they first
came TO hand, to delay the final catastro-
Pile aud save himself "a long as possible
from their fangs. The narrative stopped
here with an iutimation that Mr.. Hayes
had about concluded to accept their terms
and become wolf himself leaving the few
undistributcd members of his party to be
devoured ut leisure. IL appears there was
lust this foundation for the startling tales:
Cox prepared two resolutions, varying
somewhat In pnrport. bur both designed
rs compromise measures. He got as far
with them AS to have shown them to some
ot the anti-Administration Republicans.
who refused 70 hold any parlcy with the
enemy on the basis proposed and the
scheme was dropped. So far as the Presi-
dent was concerned 1t was emphatlcally
denied that he had ever entertained the
project Of u bargain with Stephens or a
compromise with the Potter wing; and
the matter has dropped wholly out OF
sight. Carter Harrison dropped bomb
shell among the Democrats Wednesday.
1t had the effect TO create n good deal oS
excitement aud just as the confusion itlci-
dent to its advent had somewhat suhsided,
Wilson of West Virginia, pitched in a hand
grenade that woke mp both sides again: but
neither did much execution and the Casu-
alities included none killed or very seri
ously wounded.
The majority report Of the House Com
mittce on Revision of the Laws Regulat-
ing the Electoral Count has been submit
ted. 1t Is signed by six of the ten form
ing the COMMITTEES, and contemplates
pro-riting a direct vote by the people
among the different candidates, and pro-
poses the entire abolition OF the Electoral
College. This Is to be effected by COnsti-
tutional amendment. The minority re-
port favors no change of the present
method, and characterizes that proposed
by the majority as un-American. This Is
signed by three members, Mr.. Potter,
though, agreeing that some change Is de-
manded, has signed neither of the reports.
Hewitt found himself deserted by a suf-
ficient number Of his own party yesterday,
10 defeat any reduction of the army below
25.000 men. 1IIrockmorton' amend
ment 10 that effect was adopted receiving
the full Republican vote, that of the Texas
delegation and several Northern Demo-
crats. At last evenings session, the Re-
pnbllcans executed flank movement BY
attending in force while many Democrats
were absent, giving the former working
majority. Hence they had it nearly all
their own way in dealing with the details
Of the army bill.
lt is 4 cause of sincere regret with many
Republicans and Democrats that the Dem
ocratic National Committee did not take
occasion TO quiet the distrust aroused
throughout the country by the passage Of
the Peter resolution. so far as it could,
by declaration disronntenancing any
attempt to assail President Hayes title.
1t Is useless to deny that as passed with !
out, q limitation in that direction, it has
had a very misChevOus influence. II Is
felt here and the loaded mails and BURDEN !
ed telegraph wires. are bearing messages |
iniploring that such n purpose If il exists
be Mt once Abandoned, tell the same tale
from every section of tile Unien. Let us
have peace. " KNOX.
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