Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-12-25
From our regular correspondent
Washington Letter,
Uashinglop, d, C., Dec, ~, 1878,

W W c'Nh w NbllE'tF' NV Ne"e'W'
N chief has expressed his approval oi
the bill lately reported by Senator
Burnslde's Joint Committee, aud 10 a
man up n bambo sproul II would ap--
pear that the grounds for this approx
NJ are lolerably plain, Youv GORE
spondent isn't much Of warrior,
neither N the science or practice, nor
can Gen Burnside 10 accused al any
thing very brilliant In this line, though
IL the mere maitef Ut reduction II all
that ~ required, his method n Tow
years ago was certainly effective aud
practical Ono Of the grayest admo
nilions of General Washington upon
his retirement from public life, was
his warning against n standing army,
aud the maintenance OF such an insli'
tuition upon anything like u large
scale, ~ foreign to tho whole theory
ard spirit Of our government, Since
the war our army has been n top
heavy and incongruous concern, only
saved from thorough overlauing by
Indian complications aud depreda-
iions. The House Of Representatives,
aud especially the Military Committee,
headed by Gen, Canning. has had the
matter under consideration for two
years, aud the Commission which has
just reported, grew out of their agi'a
ton OF the subject.
II il evident that the man9n,res oi
Senator Blaine are not advancing his
presidential prospects to the degree he
anticipated. HIS heaviest gun has
been discharged. yet no increase in his
popularity IL visible to the naked eye
Senator Thurman's amendment 10
Blaine's resolution promises TO bring
forth quite as much fruit as the origin
al inquiry, for, as Senator Wallace so
apt,y stated in his speech, the invcsli.
CATION Of Cameronism in Pennsylva.
MIA Eand aristocratic bulldozing in
Massachusetts will develop facts quite
rs startling MS anything likely 10 be
found in South Carolina or any other
Southern State. Aud now that the
resolution has passed, with no serious
op, osition from the Democrats, the
Republicans are having high old
time organizing the committee. Blaine
absolutely refuses to do his own dirty
work, and Conkling, who isn't aiding
Blaine's schemes to any alarming ex.
tent not if he knows it, also declines
to serve. The Senate will have to
pass n CONSUMPTION act. But the
worst feature of the whole business is
the refusal to conduct the investiga-
ton with open doors. II it Is an hon
est inquiry, and uot'a machine for
party capital by means
Of forged statements and false cross
mark afidavits, the light of day won't
hurti it. BY direction OF the Demo
cratic majority Of the House, repre-
eff the press were admitted
to all sessions of the Potter Commit
tee, and the public always knew just
what was going on. There will be II
grave distrust OF an investigation con-
Quoted in any other way.
1t is very homelike 10 read that
Mrs. Hayes caused the White House
cellar to be fitted up this Fall with
potatoc bins, shelves tor pumpkins
and squashes and other things needed
to refresh the Administration during
the winter Yet it is a little remark
able that, after year or more Of lie
Due in the Agricultural Bureau,
squashes and pumpkins and potatoes,
are the only things the mistress of the
White House has to put away in the
cellar What has become of all the
bamboo end bon.bons and other deli
cacies, lie Due has been raising right
along? If pumpkins and potatoes
are all that the White House needs, it
seems as though we could get along
with less complicated Commissioner
of Agriculture. But lie Dues sins OF
commission are greater than his sins Of
commission. There is scarcely y
doubt but tina, he is responsible for
the miserably small crop Of old line
Wings, which has so grieyously dis
appointed the Administration.
PHoNo.
ORANGE COUNTY,