The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-02-23
Our Washington Letter.
The Silver BlIl-Destftute Hea-
thens-Preparing for the Xxx
pOsifiOn-An Obnoxious Cabi.
net Officer. Etc.

net Officer, Etc.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. a. 1878.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The conflict over the silver bill il
the Senate still continues and has it
peculiar features. The question i.
divested of all party alliance, as Re
pnblicans and Democrats stand shoul.
der to shoulder on either side, oppos
ing or favoring the measure. From
every section of the country support.
ers are found of all political shades o.
opinion advocating silver coinage
New York, Philadelphia, Boston and
Baltimore are the great anti silver
batteries which send vibrating
through their commercial avenues a
| spirit of opposition that seeks to de-
feat the proposition. New England
that was supposed to be as firm as
Plymotl Rock itself against silver re-
monetization, has broken ranks, and
the gold idol lies broken in the house
/ of its friends. The contest is waged
over the principle of a bi-metallic
currency rather than the size or
weight of the silver dollar. A great
victory viii be won if a silver dollar
of 425 grains more or less shall be
made II legal tender anG receivable in
payment of all debts. The end of this
contest eau not come too soon.
The Lowe-Conkling petition asking
aid from Congress for the starving
iieathen Chinee is suggestive that
like sympathy might find fertile
field among the gaunt starving poor
of our own land. Congress ought to
do something, but not for the
Chinese let appropriations be made
for public Improvements and give the
poor an opportunity to earn bread.
Pension claims to the number of
4474 were filed in the month of JAN
uary-while only 1896 cases were set
tied. As the work is now nearly two
years behind in this Department, it is
evident that an appropriation should
be made immediately By Congress to
increase the clerical force.
From the present outlook the lpgis-
lati0n for the District of Columbia is
likely to give practi,, | relief Co the
citizens, just proportion of the ex-
penses being assumed by the general
Government, with restricted form
of suffrage and repro sntation by
delegate in Congress-.
Gen. Mccormick wiS bis assistants
are arranging with energy all the de-
tails of the exhibit at the French Ex-
hibition. In the Art Department, in
spite of want of time, tne prospect is
good for creditable display. About
sixty pictures have already been ac-
cepted, and it is thought that as
many more will be added in time for
shipment. 1t is not expected that we
can compete with European contribu-
tors in the ideal and historic lines of
art, i'll which an intimate knowledge
Of the human form is required, but
there is reason to believe that in
landscapes the work of our artists
will compare favorably with that of
heir brethren of any country, with a
ew notable individual exceptions.
At any rate, the commission hopes
'ur display will average up pretty
veil in the general exhibit. The Uni
ed States man of war Wyoming is at
lie Navy Yard being elaborately
for carrying to France the
commissioners and clerks. Gen. Nc
;ormick takes only FIVE of the latter |
With him. They have soft thing of
t, for they receive their passage both
Ways and 500 n month while at
Paris. The General las been over i
vhelmed with applications for these
Dositions aud go many letters ,have i
'oured in upon him that fortnight
go he announced that he would not !
ven read applications for appoint
nents.
There is considerable feeling here
gainst Secretary Schurz and the
majority of people would hail his res
gnation with joy. Postmaster Gen t
raj Key thus far is the favorite. A {
lan courteous in manner who is per- ::
ectly unmovable by any rings" or
nfiuence. Not an employe in his ex-
a I. I !