The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-02-09
DIR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 2C, 1878

WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. 2C, 1878.
IF Senator Blaine had the same
command over his own passion that
he has over the average Republican
of Maine, lie would he a wonder in
deed. lie would compel respect
where he now receives only ones
tionable sort of admiration, and lis
opinions, now utterly dsregarded on
all the questions ofreal interest to
the people 1T large, would have
weight. We may hunt the proceed
ings Of Congress through from the
time lie first entered the House to
the time when the other day, he need
less|y and in"pportnne'y attacked
the State of Massachusetts, and we
shall not end one important measure
which originated with him or one to
which he gave character. He has
not the confidence Of those with
whom he serves nine men in ten, IN
Congress, will tell you in advance
that in anything Blaine proposes
there will he something selfish or SEN
sational and nothing that is broad or
patriotic. The attack on the past of
Massachusetts is an illustration of
what l mean. There is not q men,
Der of Senate or Honse who does not
agree with Senator Hoar that, bnt for
the fact that Massachusetts helped
to defeat Blaine at Cincinnati, the
criticism on Massachusetts would not
have been uttered. The boundless
self of the Senator must make fail
ure to support him a cause of attack
apon the history of a State.
The debate on the subject of silver
in the Senate on the gath inst, was
interesting. Senator Lamar made
lengthy speech, declaring that he
should vote against reconciliation.
Senator Thurman took exactly the
opposite ground. 1t is believed a vote
will be reached on the Matthews re-
solution to day, and from that vote
We may Judge pretty we'll whether or
not any reconciliation bill pass over
the expected veto. Estimates of the
vote vary considerably, Int the best
opinion seems to be that two-thirds
of the Senate will not vote for the
resolution. If not, of course they
will not for tho RECOMMENDATION bill,
and then, if the expected veto comes,
the silver men have only left to them
tile resource advocated by Ben But
Ter, which is to attach the bill as an
amendment to some one of the ne
cessary appropriation bills.
The cases of Gent. Runkle restored
to the Army, and DR.. Draper, TO the
navy, come up in some form every
day in Congress-. The Judiciary
Committee Of the Senate have charge
IF the investigation Of both cases.
Curioos|y enough the same Congress
which proposes to condemn Mr..
Hayes for his action in these cases, is
about to reopen the case of DR.. Ham,
mond, formerly Surgeon General of
the army, dismissed by sentence Of
Court, Martial IA or Is years ago. 1t
is to be hoped Congress will not make
fish of one case and flesh OF another.
1t seems to be the general belief
entertained here among politicians Of
every school that the efforts now
making apparently to re.organize the
Bristow faction and to put that gen.
tleman in training for Presidential
nomination by the next Republican
Convention, will prove quite as de
cided failure as was his candidacy
in 1876, though he should come en-.
dorsed and urged by the present
White House incumbent. II puzzles
those here most familiar with his
achievements as Secretary Of the
Treasury to account for the distinc
ton sought to lie conferred by Civ.
ing him a Estate dinner" in any way
other than to suppose it intended to
formally endorse him as a suitable
person to succeed Mr.. Hayes. The
careful grooming, so to speak, that he
has just received at Boston at the
hands of the click Of hermaphodite
politicians, who dominate political
affairs in the Bay State, is pointed to
as confirming this view but outside
Of few personal adherents, most of
them credited with nothing higher
than interested motives, Mr.. Bristow
was about the most unpopular here
of any of the several candidates who
made the race at Cincinnati in June
1876; and he was almost forgotten
when it was announced that Messrs.
SEIZURE, Evarts and Sherman Of the
Cabinet, Senators Edmnnds, Allison,
Beck and Davis and Chief Justice and
their wives and daughters would
unite with the Presidents family ia
hoDoring Mr.. Bristow at a State Din.
ner given last evening at the White
House.
ALBION.