, 1878-08-22
orR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. y. C., Aus }, ISIS,

feeling OF TlaIlU'dlI'I' "'"''''''
that ne has been afforded an oppor
tunitv to refute Anderson and WEB
brr, has left them in the condition o
the yenomous serpent bereit OF lt'
fanrs. has gone to New York on bus
mess connected with the 4 per cent
loan. His success in the expert
ment of throwing it open to popular
subscription is one of the series O
happv surprises that have marked his
administration of our finances. I'
those soicitous for the preservation
of the national credit, but distracted
from the multitude Of counsel offer
ed and somewhat doubtful wthal as
TO our ability to make the haven OF
resumption laying at the end OF a
long passage along lee shore, brlst'
ling with dangers astern, abeam and
ahead, up to its very entrance. The
figures show that subscriptions have
increased in almost a fourioId pro
portion for the past four months, and
there is nothing visible leading to
the apprehension that the present
rate Of their absorption will be ma
terially lessened in the next four
months. These facts may not be re.
garded as matters for congratuIa'
ton in that thew may be held as on.
lv confirming the lack of confidence
that leads capitalists to put their
money where it will bring the small
lest returns in preference to originat'
ing new enterprises or investing in
those those already established. But
it at least indicates a confidence in
Government, that is full of promise
for the ultimate return of prosperity.
And whatever opinion may be en-
tertained of Mr.. Shermun as q poll
tician, there are few unwilling to ac-
knowledge the sagacity with which
he has laid and developed his plans
for reaching resumption by his own
method.
The Importance of the late decis-
ion of the Interior Department, max
ing all railroad.grant lands, not sold
within three years, subject to pre-
emption at Sl.25 per acre, is liable
to be overlooked in the heat of po-
litical strife and crowded aside by
the thousand and one other matters
demanding public attention, OF
course it will be contested by roads
interested, and they will seek to
evade it. But it will be difficult to
get it reversed by the Courts, as it is
founded on the conditions of the
grant and in equity as well. And
the tens of thousands of beDe6ciaries
among the laborng masses should
not forget that they are indebted for
this decision in their behalf to Hon.
E. NJ. Marble, Assistant Attorney
General of the Department in ques,
ton.
But there is one thing the Central
and Union Pacific roads are not
likely to forget, that.is to extort from
those so unfortunate as to have to
patronage them, the last dollar they
eau grind out by their powers as
monopolists created by the grant.
The recent advance of freight rates
looks like retaliation. 1t has been
heard of here with Indignation; and
we hope the next Congress will take
up the work Of subordinating their
management to law, where the 45th
dropped it, and of restricting their
powers Of extortion and robbery.
Since Patterson, Senator of South
Carolina, prostituted the influence
of his office to foisting upon the
Senate Ku Klux murderer, his
word don't make deep impression.
The "Star" reiterates the assertion
of its reporter that Patterson recent.
ly said in substance that the Admin.
istration would be brought on it's
marrow-bones by Wade Hampton
and ku Klux Judge Kershaw in the
matter of the imprisoned revenue Of.
hclals. Assurances have been re.
peatedIy given that South Carolina
Will be made to respect the HABEAs
CORPUS process issued to bring those
prisoners before U. S. court; but
not few regard the silence main
tanned in official circles during the
past few days and the uncontradict.
ed boast of notification sympathiz
ers to the effect that Government
will yield in the issue raised with
Judge kershaw, as ominous of the
deep sense Of humiliation and dis.
grace that will be felt if the United
States is finally bull-dozed into de.
hverlng up its officials to the tender
mercles of Palmetto State ruiiians to
be imprisoned or hung because they
presumed to defend their own lives
while in the execution of a bounden
duty. swat and See"
Old meteorological observers here,
wiser in their dav and reusratior