The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Correspondence to The Republican J
WASHINGTON. d. c., April 30. 1878.

Behold how great fire a little
matter kindleth." No event of the
session produced anything like the
sensation that followed the first in
timatiOn relative to the FLORIDA con-
fession,n and not one has proven so
destitute Of foundation. Democracy
went up like Il rocket over it and came
down like the verieSt stick. Their is
something almost pitiable in the
collapsed condition of its Congress
siOnal abettOrS. Stripped of It's Sensa-
tional features McLin's so-called
confession IS nearly a rehash of old
Democratic charges which it is now
more than ever apparent, were in
vented to direct attention from their
own bull-dozing and acts of intimida-
ton during the Presidential cam
paign; and all the other papers form
ing part of this Florida case confirm
this view. The three chief actors in
this ridiculous fizzle were, it appears.
all applicants for Federal positions,
and from all that can be gathered,
neither was satisfied with what they
got. They may or may not have
been ungratefully treated. Many be-
licve they have been, particularly
Martin. McLin leaves no one in doubt
as to his animus towards the Admin.
istration; and all the circumstances
connected with the part he, Mordon
and Dennis have played in the matter
are so suggestive of a bargain as to be
almost conclusive in public opinion
here. Selkirk seems to have cheated
every one so unfortunate as to have
listened to his confidence game, and
to have played the congenial role of
a drunken ded-beat throughout.
Every new development strengthens
| the belief that market was persist
anly sought by each for the wares he
had for sale, and the Tilden managers
were the only ones found caring to
invest. Absolutely nothing has been
| proven by the disclosures, but the
probability of Democratic frauds has
been greatly strengthened. There is
no doubt Democrats in Congress will
strive to increase their capital from
i the papers in their possession while
they will work as earnestly to pre-
vent Tilden from deriving any bcne-
fit. 1t is favOrite theory that Tilden
hopes to Gust Hayes, provided the
next Congress is Democratic. With
the control of the Federal patronage
| in his own hands and by buying up
a few more confessions, to make him
appear the martyr he isn't, he be-
/ lieves he could force his denomination
/ in 1880, thus securing the fag end of
! this Presidential term and full one
/ from 1881. With this view, it is said
/ that the Blair movement was the
first and the McLin Confession" the
second IN the series of steps he deems
/ it necessary to take in the realization
of this programme; and as contributing
to the same purpose it is alleged
Louisiana is now being worked up
fDrOther confessions by his emissarie-.
The papers may finally all be gather
ed in, when Congress will be asked
to take action. In this case they will
! ~ t1i nin
Committee and be considered in con-
nection with Blair's resolution,
though no one appears able to see
how they can affect title derived
from the Electoral Commission.
The Indifference Of the Democratic
party to our vital interests was
shown in its acquieScence in the APP
pointment of a man as Chair man to
the Committee that can most effectu-
ally influence them for good or evil,
who has accomplished nothing dur
ing his Congressional career to raise
him above the level of mediocrity
and who is the favorite of no element
among our voters save the ruffian
leaders Ofthe slum Democracy. The
crashes and failures among business
houses since the tariff REIMBURSEMENT
agitation undermining the little con
tidence remaining, attest his incom.
potency and his persistency in push
ing his bill through at the risk of
precipitating a CONFUSION that will
ruin the little business now doing,
has operated to still further embarrass
our struggling business men and to
totally discourage new enterprises.
But if the vote refusing concurrence
in the Senate proposition to adjourn
on the 18th proximo is a test of the
strength of his hackers, nothing but
the dispersion of the 10Th Congress
can release us from the grasp of tn G
wreckers.
One ray of light-the passage ofthe
Pacific Railroad Funding Bill-re.
lieves the gloomy outlook. Even
that was so quickly followed by the
passage of the River and Harder bill,