The People's vindicator., 1878-01-19
OUR WASNISGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. S, 1879.

S'3 "t~''' - AO'''
1t is likely that, outside Of the sill.
yer question, Democrats in the Sen
ate will have no more important
question before them than that as I"
what they shall do on the subject of
confirming the nominations Of Mr..
Hayes, against the practically united
Republicans Of the Senate. The Ia
test indications are that Hayes will
again send to the Senate the nan" s
of those who were rejected whrr
nominated for places in tho New
York Custom House. If the same
persons are not named, others will be.
Against those already rejected moth.
ing possible can be said except that
they had no experience in the line of
theirproposcd duty, and wrtr not
more worthy citizens than those they
were nominated t" diSrlAcc. 1t ought
to be made plain to all that there is
no real question Of civil service re-
form in this mattcr 1t is purely Il
political fight. Mr.. Hayes, or Mr..
Evarts or Mr.. Schurz wishes to in
tctfere with Mr.. Couklins's autoctatic
cont'ol of the kcpnblirans of New
York or it may be, Mr.. Conkllny
hopes to injurc some or all these
gentlemen or each Of them may as
pire to future leadership in the party.
It is at all events, partizan quarrel.
The only question, it seems to me,
for Democrats to consider, is as to
the policy, as Democrats, of support
ing one or the other of the bc|liye-
rents. If they do not feel called upon,
as Senators, to vote at all, that set
ties the question so far as they are
concerned, and the Republicans have
the fight to themselves. But if Dem.
"cratic Senators will vo,c, it hccomcs
important they SO vote as not to in
jure their own party.
1t is desirable to put the Republi-
can party into Il position whclc il
must inevitably : remain in Il hopeless
minority, except in few States
Democratic Senators should refrain
from interfering with the leadership
of Messrs. Conk|iny, Blaine and Chan
dlcr. These men represent, in thci,
general policy, an idea that controls
and can hereafter control, only IA
minority Of the people of the country.
What is the Objection to putting the
Republican party into their hands.
Why, at a time, when the Democracy
controls the llonSe, and, practically
the Senate, should we force the Re.
publican party ont Ola position where
its final defeat is inevitable i? There
are Republican national possibilities
with Hayes and Evarts. There a,r
none but local ones with Conkliug
and Blaine.
There is reasonable hope that the
present Congress will simplify the
tariff greatly. Chairman Wood of
the Ways and Means COMMITTEES,
says the number of items in the bill
to bc presented will be less than one.
fifth OF the number 1T this time. Mr..
Wood is an cminently practical man
and we'll informed on the subject be-
fore the Committee.
am unable to repeat on good |
authority what was given as a runor
in previous letter, viz: That Sen
etor Patterson's resignation is in
and will soon be forwarded to
South Carolua, even if it has not al.
ready gone. The influence brought
to bear on him to prevent his resig.
nation were so strong during the ses~
sion OF Congress as to cause delay in
what Ire had already determined upon.
The reason given for resigning is his
inability, owing to i'll health, to at
tend to his Senatorial duties.
McC"mick-the everlasting McCom-
ck-who tremblcd 50 long between
holding and resiguing tie office of
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury,
s now Commissioner General to the
Paris Exposition, and lis gigantic
Intellect is absorbed in the question
whether his headquarters shall be in
his city Or New York. He seeks ad
'ice from the press on the subject. 1t
s hoped that in giving such advice
10 paper will fail to mention that it
s Mccormick who is Commissioner
General.
ALBION.