Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
Our Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, d. c., November 2, 1878.
Mesas. Ediiors:--Ere the next issue Of your
weekly edition IL spread before its army OF read.
ers, the great political contest Of rs will have
been fought and decided. At this writing the
entire interest OF the public mind throughout the
country is centered upon
TUESDAYS ELECTIONS,
ms being something Of extraordinary import to
the welfare OF the Union and the future OF the
Republic. The elections on that day, occurring
as they do In thirty states, will decide not only
whether both branches Of the federal legislature
will be controlled by democratic influences, but,
to the minds OF nearly all our people, will also
decide which party will administer the executive
branch Of the government from the fourth Of
March, 1881. For never In the history Of our
country has the party which elected majority
to both branches Of Congress Just preceding
Presidential election failed to elect its candidate
for President. This fact makes the coming gem
eral election Of great significance, II we may
judge of the future by the past. Although the
democracy have already pretty sure control of
the House. Judging from the October elections,
with majority Of probably twenty or more,
they are still far from certain OF majority in
that body when voting by states, as 1t does when
the election Of President devoves upon IT, This
point, in the elections to the House. il one which
is considered OF great importance by the leaders
Of both parties as we have already shown In a
previous letter. The democrats believe to-day
that they can safely count on nineteen states out
Of the thirty-eight, as theirs, aud are anxionsly
looking to California, New Jersey and Wisconsin,
for the other state to make up the majority Of
twenty II Is not out OF the range OF possibilities
That the complexion Of some OF the delegations in
the next congress may depend upon the odd vote
OF member elected as national, and conse-
quently that member OF the third party may
nave the decisive voice IN the possible election OF
the President by the House. This, though pos
si6hity' Is remote one and hardly worthy OF
consideration Just now.
"h'le' asls customary on the eve oil an cleo
ton, AL three parties are protesting great hopes
oil victory, II Is very clear TO the impartial OBJ
server tnat no pol'tical contest within twenty
years mas Deen 80 bad'y mixed, and Its probable
result so h"pelessly shrouded in obscurity. 1t is
nara 10 imagine, Tor example, ANYTHING more
co"phc'''eo than tne SITUATION IN Pennsylvania,
where 'hefe are three inll state tickets in the
hein' ana "here the candidates Tor Congress vary
rom TWO 10 hai-a-dozer In each district. or
the three candidates Tor Governor all are respect
aole men Oh good Standing ana ability, and the
lowest III the Poi VIII nave no insignificant vote.
| Inc only real disadvantage which the Repub-
means are working under IL the unpopularity OF
,he so-caiied cameron ring rule, which is,
he'er'ne'esS' pretty sure 10 win' and Don Cam
eron DO returned 10 the United states Senate.
me hepuoh'ahs VIII also mold their own in the
election OF state othcers' and probably gain at
wv "s 1" -o" i'iA 'ie ou''
,,a, o p-'"''''"s' i"e hepuone"nS
',,.a'' 49, ""l NV oeen NAMING
,, e ,.., 49, We '"'""' " pro,
y " ~ ''' 'k'''''"'e, anu
" So " ',o' wv " s'N No"s'e9s''e"' oohh'
'"s - v" '"0 VI '"o'o
PERSONAL CONTESTS,
rs candidate Tor reelection to the Senate, which
are generally the spice and excitement OF our
state elections. 1t will be remembered that two
years ago the Senator held aloof from any per-
sonal participation In the great contest then going
forward although expected to be one OF the fore
most IN the van. Now his own chances are in
the balance and he Is not found wanting in the
efforts made To save them. We have heretofore
given our opinions OF the New York Senator, in
this correspondence, and it is only necessary to
say that we have not changed them in the slight
est MT Conklng Is an able man, but an in
tensely selfish one. This must be conceded by