Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-04-17
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. April 8

sensation is followed as rapidly by its
successor like the pictures of a pano
rama, that opportunity is rarely given
to grow morbid, over them though not
a few involve matters of momentous
import to individuals, party and the
Nation. All lost week the meribund
Doorkeeper of the House was the chief
topic in aud out of Congress till the
coup de grace was given him in the
vote Of Thursday that consigned him
to his official grave. I believe it is
now the general verdict that Polk was
congenially unified for the position
from lack of development of the verte-
bral column. But no one can or does
doubt that be has been made the
escape goat of goodly number of
Congressman who lured him to his
destruction by promises of standing by
him when the pinch came, provided he
would fad places for their adherents.
He did so, utterly ignoring the law In,
bis desire to be accommodating. Some
of them were evidently shamed into
publicly apologiziug for his trausgres-
sions, by the knowledge that they had
taken mean advantage of his credulity
and that they were responsible for his
fall Frige's was the speech Of the oc-
casion. It was admittedly the most
effective in party sense, of any deliv-
cred on either side since Blain's cele-
brated reply to Sam Hill two years
ago. The more acute Democrats seem
of the opinion that the business may
| cost them control of the next House.
The partialty of majority Of the pres
ent House for those who sought the de-
strult on Of the Government by service
in.the rebel armies, is so we'll understood
that no one manifested any surpise
that periured West Pointer who had
lust had his rebel disabilities removed !,
should have been selected as Polk 8
successor. But Gen. Butler executed
very brilliant stragetic movement
during the confusion incident to the
final vote in the late Doorkeeper's case,
putting himself in such a position that
he can press the poisoned chalice to
Democratic lips when the vote for the
successor is taken forcing them to drain
it to the very dregs. The proceedings
at the meeting of the Republican Ma,
tional Executive Committee seem to
have been guarded with unusual care
lest they should be prematurely made
public. Itappears to be the impression
however. from what has leaked out
here and there, that majority favored
the policy Of reasserting the cardinal
principles of the party, neither COM
misting the party for nor against the
administration, but passing by its acts
in silence.
The end of the long and very ably
conducted contest over the proposition
to force the Pacific Railroad Companies
to repay the advances made to assist in
building their roads, seems near at
hand. 1t is believed the bill of the
Judiciary Committee will, with some
of the minor amendments, be adopted
to-day. AS it has been opposed by
the lobby as the most Objectionable of
any Of the several bills now pending
an d all ostensibly having the same OBJ
ject in view, its passage will be accept
ed as decisive victory over tie most
corrupt influences.
believe the contest between Nc.
Ganahan and his wealthy opponent is
regarded by the public with sentime nts
akin to those that animated the devot-
ed wife when passively waiting the
termination of the fight between her
husband and the bear. Possibly as
:'under dog" McGanahan has excited
the most sympathy. But as between
the merits of their "claims" there
seems little to chose. Their quarrel
has already cost tax. payers nice little
sum; and tho matter is annually lugg-
ed into Congress as though it had
nothing to do other than listen to the
totally unconcilable statement Of the
two sides.
,.