Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-12-19
! Washington Letter.
EFrom our regular correspondent

From our regular correspondent. Il
Washington, D. c., Dec. IS, 1878:
Editor Little Falls Transcripts:
The much.advertised speech Of Bob
lngersolps candidate from Maine, has
been the leading sensation this week.
It was, in some respects, disappoint~
ment to many Of the gallery frequent
ers, who filed every nook and corner,
while the floor below was crowded
with members of the House. The or
dinary visitor at the Capitol has an
idea that when Mr.. Blaine is adver~
tised to speak there must necessarily
be big scene, equalled only by cir>
Gus with great many performing an
imals and ringmaster, to say moths
1ng ola clown OF two.~ This idea.hasl
an existence owing to the frequent
shows in the House Of Representatives
in which Mr.. Blaine participated, and
most people have not stopped to in
quire whether the Maine statesman
was equal to anything greater than
low comedy or variety business. But
the speech of Wednesday was the
most carefully prepared of any Blaine
has ever made in Congress and its de-
livery 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, as
on some occasions IN the House.
Blaine seems to realize that this sort
Of thing would not look we'll in the
Senate chamber. With the subject
matter of the speech his own rabid
partisans will agree, while all others
will dissent. A large majority of peo>
pie believe it is fallacious in its most
important premises.
The general principle of solidity of
representation complained of in the
South, would apply to Mr.. Blaine's
own adopted New England four>6fths
of the time during 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 Senator
could ever be made to grow eloquent
over the disfranchisement of the entire
Democracy of New England. But Sem
ator Blaiue predicates his complaint
on specific violations of the spirit or
letter of the fundamental law in the
South, and when he makes out that
part Of his case he can be justified in
his special accusations. The evident
absence of candor on one point takes
a most vital link from the chain of
Senator Blaine's argument. It is not
a proven fact that the colored voters
of the South, as rule, have been in
any way denied the right Of suffrage.
Nor can it be assumed because Re-
publican districts here and there elect
Democratic Congressman; for both
Republican 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 soon to be made, and this
time it appears authentic that Gen.
Devens is shortly to surrender the
Attorney Generals portfolio. It is
reported that Stanley Matthews will
take the vacant Office, though the ap>
pointment 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 tho several cir>
cumstances in the way of such a con-
summation the most prominent, prob
ably, is his lack Of appropriate legal
attainments. But speaking of Mat
thews' appointmet, why could not Mr..
Hayes find Ohio meu enough to fill all
the Offices, including the balance of
his cabinet. With an Ohio man in
the White House, one at the head of
the Army, another bossing the Treas
ury, and one the Judicial Department,
TO say nothing Of the two or three
hundred thousand Buckeyes filling
lesser positions, it would seem merely
a proper regard ror uniformity to
make clean sweep of it. Senator
Edmunds' Electoral bill providing a
mode Of procedure in connting the
electoral vote for Pre- sident and Vice
President, occupied the attention of
the Senate one day this week, but the
discussion has not advanced its
chances. Among other things it re-
quires the Presidential election to be
held IN October. month earlier,
which would not be bad idea. But
the States rights doctrine so offensive>
ly used to make the measure legal1>
zation of returning board tactics, and
depriviDg Congress Of power to 60 be-
hind the certified results, will probably
kill the hill. Congress will adiourn