The Morning herald., 1878-12-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Correspondence Of the HrRALD.
WAsHNeToN, D. G., Dec. Is.

WARRINGTON, ". VI, Lee. 10.
The much advertised speech of Bob In
gersol's candidate from Maine, has bee
| che leading sensation this week. 1t was
in some respects, disappointment t
many of the gallery frequenters, who ille'
every nook and corner, while the floor be
low was crowded with members of tn
House. The ordinary visitor at the Cspi
sol has an idea that when Mr., Blaine is ad
| vertised to speak there must necessarily b
big scene, equalled only by circus will
great many performing animals and {
rlngmsstsr, to say nothing of q clown o
two. This Idea has az existence owing Il
the frequent shows in the House of Repre-
sentstives In which Mr.. Blaine partieips-
ted, and most people have not stopped K
inquire Whsther the Maine statesman wa.
equal to anything greater than low comedy
or variety business. But the speech o.
Wednesday was the most carefully prepsr
ed Of any Blaine has eyer made In Congress.
and its delivery Was free from the bullying
style of oratory SO many looked for. There
was no balancing up and down the aisles
and kicking over chairs, IS on some ocea.
sions in the House. Blaine seems to real
lie that this sort Of thing would not look
we'll in the Senate chamber. With the
subject matter of the speech his own rabid
parttssns will sgree, while all others will
d ssent. A large majority of people believe
1t is fallsc'ous in its most important 'prem>
ises.
The general principle of solidity of repre-
sanitation com planned of in the South,
would apply to Mr.. Biaine's own adopted
New England four-ffths of the time dur
ing the last score of years, and the same
complaint could be made against the West
during the present decade; but we doubt
whether the voice OF the distinguished Sen
ator could ever be made to grow eloquent
over the disfrsncbisement of the entire
Democracy of New England. But Senator
Blaine predieates his complaint on specific
violations et the spirit or letter of the fun
damental law In the South, and when te
makes out that part of his case he can b.;
justified In his special accusations. The eyt-
dent absence of candor On one point takes a
most vital link from the chain OF Senator
Blaine's argument. 1t Is not q proven fact
that the colored voters of the South, as a
rule, have been in any way denied the
right of suffrage. Nor can 1t be assumed
because Republican districts here and there
elect Democratic Congressmen;f for both Re.
publican and Democratic districts North
and South have done the same thing when
large majorities had to be reversed. To
score up the number Of blacks in the South
and demand an equal Republican vote,
would be an absurdity too palpable for
Senator Blaine to accept, especially after
the impressive lesson his own Republican
State gave him few months ago.
There are rumors of Cabinet changes
seon TO be made, and this time it appears
authentic that Gen. Devens is shortly to
surrender the Attorney Generals portfolio.
1t is reported that Stanley Matthews will
take the vacant ofice, though the appoint
ment really belongs to New England
There was some talk that Eugene Hale
would be provided for In this way. upon his
retirement from Congress, but among the
several circumstances In the way of such a
'onsuumation the most prominent, prob
ably, is his lack of appropriate legal at
tainments. But speaking OF Matthew'S ap.
pn'ntment, why could not Nr. Hayes find
OHIO men enough to fill all the offices, IN
GLIDING the balance of his cabinet. With an
Ohio mau In the White House, one at the
head of the Army, another bossipp the
Treasury, and one the judicial Department
10 say nothing OF tie two or three hundred
thousand Buckeyes filling lesser positions, 1T
would seem merely a proper regard for uni
'ofmlty TO make clean sweep of it. Sena.
| tor Edmuuds' Electoral bill providing q
| mode o. procedure in counting the electoral
| vote for President ard Vice President. oc-
| cupied the attention of the Senate one dsy
| this week, but the discussion has not ai-
Vsneed its chances. Among other things
| Il requires the Presidential election to he
| held in October, month earlier, which
would not be bad idea. But the States
| rights doctrine so Extensively used to make
the measure . legalization Of returning
board tactics, and depriving Congress OF
power to 90 behind the certified results.
will probably kill the hill. Congress viii
adjourn next Friday until the second OF
january.
The Greenbackers are first in the field
with reorganization for the next Presi
Dental campaign. The first result OF the
general conference of the National Labc,
party recently here, Is tie establishment g
permanent headquarters at the capital, to
be kept open henceforwsrd until afier the
Presidential election. COL F. P. Devices
who has been the member OF the National
Executive Commit for Pennsylvauia, ID
now promoted 10 the permanent charm an
ship Of that committee, in place of Doctor
Sturgeon, of Toledo, who has resigned
Col. Lee Crandall, of Philadelphia, will act
as private secretary TO Col. Devices. Here,
after one or the other of the well>known
drm of Devices & CraLdall will be found
on deck at Washington at any bonr of the
day or night. Applications for greenbacb
documents promptly attended to, and Or
ders filed with neatness aud dispatch.
DON PEDRO.
| The Atlantic coast from Jersey to Virgil