The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-12-14
From Washington.
BLAINE'S SPLURGE.

The only noticeable incident of the week a,
! Washington was the much advertised assault of
Mr.. Blaine on the South in the Senate on Wed.
nesday, in a speech supporting his resolution
to investigate the alleged election Outrages in
South Carolina and Louisiana in November.
An immense audience filled the Senate to hear
the eloquent outburst" The audience, how
ever, was disappointed. Blaine read his speech
from printed pamphlet and showed none of
his usual fire and energy except in Il few Of
the closing passages. The only point he made
was that the South, through violation OF the
election laws, has captured the representation
of the colorcd people, and through this usur-
patton Of power the vote Of one man at the
South, who tried to destroy the Union, is
equal to the votes OF two who fought to save
| it, His keynote therefore was ito equaliZe the
votes OF the white men OF the country" Thur
man rose III reply, not, he said, to oppose the
resolution, which he did not think was offered
in good faith but merely to hang speeches up
on, but to offer an amendment to include
Massachusetts, etc. in the inquiry. If he I'M
Il
Swallowed by Mr.. Blaine, it was now to go
backward and dstranchise the negro under a
plea of equal rights for the whites. Mr.. r.
regarded this as II mere sham, and he proceed
ed, in short speech to administer Il temper
ate, manly s,atesmanlike rcbukc to the Maine
dcmagoguc for his unpariotic attempt to re-
vive sectional hatred. Lamar made Il short
speech and then the resolutions of Blaine
and Thurman 3 amendment were ordered to be
printed, after which, when they again come
up, doubtless they will be made the text for Il
speech or two Il day for a month to come.
| SILVER
| While the fall elections undoubtedly gave the
everlasting quietus to the fiat money delusion,
they apparently had the contrary effect as re
CARDS the daddy" dollar. The movement of
the New York banks to discard the silver dol.
lar has had the effect to awaken the popular
feeling on the subject to an extraordinary de-
gree. This Is seen in its reflex action on Con
gress, where nearly every member seems burn
ing to distinguish himself by introducing a.
bill or resolution touching the silver question.
Thus on Monday the subject nearly monopol-
lied the time in both houses The first bill in
the house was introduced by Mr.. Dunham for
the recoinage Of the trade dollar, and as he
moved the suspension of the rules for its i'm
mediate passage there was naturally some
IcOmmotion. There were ia votes in favor of
such suspension to 81 against it. As less than
,,,.l,
over, but the vote at least showed the strength
of the silver men in the house About the
same vote was next had on taking up
Forts resolution to withdraw the circulation
of any national bank that discriminates against
the silver dollar Burchard introduced bill
to the same effect, with provision promptly
TO wind up any national bank that dishonored
the daddy dollar. FELTON,, of Georgia, wanted
Mexican dollars made Il legal tender Mr..
Cummings wanted subsidiary silver coin made
convertible into gold or silver dollars; another
member wanted gold and silver made redeem
able in greenbacks! and SO on about twenty
other equally curious bills on the same subject
ELECTORAL LAW
Senator EdmundS occupied the Senate for
three hours on Monday IN speech on his
much advertised electoral bill but greatly dis
appointed expectation. Indeed, his only pro
position is to let the states decide all disputes
rs to the regularity of the election of electors,
disposing of none of the vcXatIous questions
that led to the bungling electoral commits
sion in 1876. Jones, of Florida, spoke against
the bill on Tuesday but it may not be voted
on in IA month, If ever.
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
The house seems determined that whatever
else may be done there shall he no luggingI
behind on the appropriation bills Last week
it passed the West Point and one or two other
of the smaller appropriation bills, and on
Tuesday 1t put through" the consular and
diplomatic, and the naval bills, the latter
without a word of debate, thing that prob
ably never occurred before The former bill
appropriates $l,0G5, 1876, and the latter $l4,
0lS, 46S
NOTHING N III
The committee To investigate the charge of
the Washington Post tint Congressman Brcn.
tano hau received $4,000 To vote last winter
for the District of Columbia bill, having
looked into the case, say there is nothing in it.
CoNFEDERATES N THE ARMY
Beck, of Kentucky, introduced bill in the .
Senate ON Wednesday to allow the appoint
ment To positions in the army Of persons who
served under the confederate government The
bill is OF little consequence, a. most persons
who served in the confederate army are too
old 10y tins time To seek minor positions IN the
Union army, but it may serve to hang some
more speeches nn.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE
The house passed a rather important bill on