San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. e.,
Aug !, 1878.

w v~SeAASN0s - Wv @SeS .see'
WAsHISaToN, D. e.,
Aug. !, 1873.
The Potter Committee closed its Ia.
bors for the present by examining Ex.
Governor Palmer, of Illinois. His
statement was that Of q thoughtful
and conscientious man. and he told his
story in way that will impress all
who read it. He tells of efforts made
10 have a Democrat put on the Re-
turning Board. and shows how, on one
fimsy pretextor another, the Republi-
can members evaded that duty. He
tells of his efforts to get at the truth
by conversing with citizens of the
State, white and black, and his con-
viction was that the State was fairly
carried for Tilden. His testimony and
that of Ex-senator Trumbull. both
calm and moderate. do not support
the sneer at them of Mr.. Hayes. in
writing to Mr.. Sherman, that new
converts are always violent" By. the
way, Mr.. Hayes, not being on good
terms with his party, is he convert"
or has his party experienced a change ?
The Committee will meet again in
New York on August 18th, or sooner
if called together by the Chairman.
The history Of Maine Republican
Conventions for the last 20 years is q
partial biography of James G. Blaine.
He usually prepares the resolutions
which are to be adopted and those to
be voted down, selects the officers of
the Convention, names the candidate
for Governor and makes the principal
speech. Sometimes another Republi
can having an honest conviction on
some su bject, or desirous of the no
toriety that comes from death by vic.
lence, attempts to do Or say something
that is not down on Blaine's pro-
gramme. He either disappears from
public life or is Immediately found
among Mr.. Blaine's most devoted
followers. He is slaughtered or pur-
chased. He was the same controlling
person twenty years ago that he was
in the Convention held yesterday.
There is more disturbance in the rank
and file of the Republican party OF
Maine now than ever before, notwith-
standing the harmonious character of
the Convention. 1t remains to be
seen whether or not the discontented
will be on hand on election day and
cast their customary vote tor blaine
and Republicanism.
The honestly disposed and indus
trious laborers of other sections than
Washington will do we'll to ponder
some of the facts ascertained by indi.
vidual investigation and by the exami-
nation in the Police Court of the
incendiaries arrested here as the lead
ers of the attempted riot last Friday
and Saturday. Cohen, who aspires to
the distinction of leader, in feeble
imitation of Kearney, is Jew tramp
from Arkansas. He processes to be a
machinist. but seems to have been
trampiug from one Southern city to
another ever since his arrival on these
shores, ten or twelve years ago. He
came here few months ago and soon
succeeded in getting quite a following
among the roughest and most ignorant
of our population. The respectable
labor organizations appear to have re-
pudiated him from the frat. About
every evening for the past four months
he has delivered barangues a, the
street corners to such as he could in
duce to stop and hear him. BY per
sistent appeals to the most degrading
and brutal passions of human nature,
he has exasperatei a portion of his
recruits up to the attempt Of last
week. 1t seems that he has almost
always, If not upon every occasion,