Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-24
Jyashinoton Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, ID G I
Dec. IL, 1878.

that Senator Edmuuds' bill to amend and
improve our present method OF Presiden
tial elections and which passed he Senate
on Friday, has little or no chance OF suc-
cesslully running tho gauntlet pretend
ed Democratic suspicion in the lower
House. It's almost absolute certainty oil
defeat before that body detrscts from the
general interest which would other wise
be lelt in lis details. Our narrow escape
from the perils of disputed Presidential
succession which were only avoided final
ly by resoriing to an extrs-consti'uIionai
compromise after months OF di, quietIng
and mschlevous agitation amply demon
slraled the necessity OF such legislation
as would insure us against the chances OF
their recurrence from a similar cause
All other considerations aside, the rela-
1--WE strength OF parties in this Congress
makes the present session peculiarly
auspico us for securing the changes de-
manded with little chaLce Tor either or
any party to secure undue advantages by
the proposed amendments. But this is
precisely the reason, probably, that will
induce the House majority TO withhold its
approval from the Edmuuds bill. hoping
after the control OF both branches falls to
them TO be able 10 so shape the needed
legislation as TO secure decided benefits
u Bourbonism. The reason assigned for
opposition is certainly not yery comPlI-
mentary to the wealth OF intellectual en-
d1wment OF their leading lawyers who
have microscopically scruIinized every
provision OF the bill, 1t is 70 the effect
that while they found nothing wrong or
parlizan in it, Edmunds is g profoundly
ss.ute IL its manGuvors that they fear to
favor his plan les. they walk into trap.
This preteuse will likely excuse them
with not very eXactiug constituency for
failure to meet one Of the mos, impera-
tive needs OF the session, and hence an
swers as well as another
Il seems the impression OF those con
vcrsaut with the features OF the bill re-
Gently passed by the House to prevent
the determinations and exactions of rail-
rosds. that the range was too high and
tha. consequently those tayoriBg its pas
sage oyershot the marx. Many OF is
provisions are undoubtedly crude and i'm
mature. Il would be strange if they are
not found 50, when j, Is remembered thu,
the demand vas almost universal in the
West Tor restrictive legislation against
railroads whose expressions had driven
the producers OF that section to revol, ;
and the member first IN the field with q
measure likely 10 CRAFTY this feeling Of
evaporation ou the part OF the mass OF
voters stood good chance 10 become the
hero Of the hour But whatever the
pyacticsl ofec, The vote has its encourag-
ing features. /; will tend to discredtt the
allegations Of the ownership Of Congress
oy rich railroad corporations, and shows
tha, when public sentiment is sufficiently
decided Congress can be forced into an
assertion OF its constitutional powers in
the premises.
The repor. of the Committee for Army
reorganization is, next 70 Blaioo's speech
which holds the leading place, the most
general topic Of discussion here. Tone
OF comment differs widely OF course, and
The CONSERVATION among the Washington
staff, which is i,arluily slaughtered by
the report, is general. Some OF its prop
ositions are eAtraordinary, Is. Tor instance,
that which proposes. practically, to abo'
IS b the Sec ,tsry OF War. Whatever the
opinion as 20 the specific methods advised
in dealing With existing abuses, very few
will disspprove the looping Of OF some
Of the snots, young and old, who largely
make up The Washington staff. Some o!
them know as much OF actual military
selvice as COW does of a musket. They
are the iayorites of society because OF
their position, and affect an eXclusiveness
tina, is as offensive as their boasts OF
blood are ridiculous. They cost The
taxpayers OF this country thousands OF
dollars annually, aud are Of use chiefly as
ornaments to the service, and to lead the
German aud to do" the other leading
parts in the dissipated, hesr;!ess, snobbish
circles Of stoddy aris;ocracy that gather
here during Congressional seasons, and
put TO utter shame our professions Of re-
publicanism.
The well known fact that the men who
shaped The Republican campaign lasiFsi.
,tudiously avoided sll issues growing out
of the war and reconstrnc ton, sere silent
as to 'couciliaticu" and ioroboIe TO de-
nounce the men who had repudiated all
their pledges. IS they deemed 10 be, gives
he lie to the Democratic allegations that
Mr. Blaine and his political associates in
Congress are striving to re-light The fires
O! sectional hate. The crimes against
humanity ard the frauds that finally in
duced Mr.. Hayes to move; all occurred
during last Falls campaign. 1t was an
issue forced on the Republicans in Con-
gress by Democratic diabolism, and they
could not shirk the responsibilities with
onts sbovv nj cowsrdice and recreancy