Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

iubiIsht over tbe debate upon Mr.. Blaine's
resolutions and claim that the Republican
plank has ben turned BY the various
amendments bfered and the weighty logic
Of tia DemOcFatie orators who attacked
them. On the other hand the Republicans
are not in the least depressed bat feel rath-
er that substantial victory has been gained
one that viii aid materially in the Prssi-
Dental campaign Of 1880, by the education
Of the masses in the knowledge that through
the bulldozed negro the Southern rebel has
gained an immense power for i'll in the IS
members Of Congress elected by the white
minorities who have cerced the negro
away from the polls and yet take the addi-
tional Representatives gwen by his enumer-
alton. We aoW often hear the regret ex-
pressed that Thad. Stevens territorial
policy was pot adopted rather than the
one pursued.-vhich gave the rebel the
power to dictate his own terms and hold
the North in check through his increased
force Of COngressmen. 1t is too late, of
course, to undo the i'll, but had we adopted
the ssgacious suggestions Of Mr.. Stevens,
and put each seeded State into Territorial
form, the loyal element would to-day be
masters Of the political situation. Mr..
Lincoln in his last speech, made here, de-
nouneea this idea as ''pernieious abstrae-
'tlon" hut We think Mr.. Stevens was nearer
right than he. The slaughtered Force
Bill of 1873 and Mr.. Blaine's eminently
proper resolutions OF 1873, to our mind
demonstrated the foresight and wisdom of
Mr.. Stevens, and il we are beaten in 1890
We will attributs the defeat TO the ignoring
Of his eounsels. The Democrats are also
happy because beth Mr.. Blaine and Mr..
Conkling refuse to serve as Chairman of
the Resolution Uennittee, attributing
their action to cowardice. To the Repub-
lieans the explanations of these Senators
are perfectly satisfactory. aoI .4s
The long adjournment of Congress, from
Dec. 20 to Jan. 2. is rather surprising. in-
ssmueh as this is the short session. But
the vagsriss Of Congress at all times are
asqueer as those of a abedlamite and we who
daily witness them have become almost
optimists on the Congressional score.
The funniest scene Of the session in the
House arose recently upon an appropriation
bill for building bridge over the Potomac,
Mr.. Congsr, while fa7oing the measure,
took occasion to worry some Of the South
ern States-rights men and he, Of course,
succeeded, just as in a subsequent eolloquy
with Mr.. Durham, Of KY, he kept the
House in a roar Of laughter at the latter's
expense. He charged that school houses
and railroads were unknown in Mr.. Dur
hams district, and drew such ludierous
contrasts between Kentucky and Michigan
that everybody joined IN the laugh. He
said that when Mr.. Durham travelled in
Michigan ne fancied the large school
houses he saw on every hand belonged to
the government and were necessarily built
with national funds, not by local contribu-
tons. Those who campaigned during the
war in interior Kentucky and saw tie utter
absence of public school buildings can well
appreciate the force Of this witty remark.
Mr.. Durham Is not the only Southern man
who suppose the people of the North inca
pable, without government aid, Of erecting
pslatial houses for public school purposes
as the absence of else than an occasional
unpainted, dingy frame building or a log
hut is painfully noticeable everywhere that
a traveller may go save in some exceptional
place where the colored man and his friends
have erected houses of more pretsntious
appearance.
The Senate took its first step towards
putting the Confederate soldier in the
army by removing the bar from DIR. Junius
Powell and making him an assistant sur
geon. He had served in the Confederate
army. Sending a youthful Confederate
to West Point and g rebel soldier to Con-
gress and then barring him from the army
may not partake of the humbug but it is
anomalous 70 say the least would much
rather trust him to-day as soldier than
as politician. ~
Christmas is coming and Washington
never presented stronger evidence of it.
than can be seen in our shops and show
windows. Hard times do not bar our peo-
pie from the purchase of presents, and
young America will have glad hearts on
Christmas if thrOnged shops and stores are
eriterions of what is to come. Washing
ton has not felt hard times as has some
other cities. The monthly Government
expenditure goes right along but elsewhere
the Winternsarly closes general disburse-
ments, hence the mass Of our people can
crafty their little ones not only with bread
but with presents. E.