Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-12-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, ID. T., Dec. IA, 1878.
The impression sought to be given
that Mr.. Blaine's speech of Wednes-
day was an effort to revive sectional
animosity, is fiagrantly and unquaIifedly
false. The change of front decreed at the
beginning Of the present Administration
upon the questions that grew out OF the
Souths rebellion and subsequent measures
of reconstruction and which have largely
determined the choice OF every President
elected since 1864, removed them almost
wholly from the arena of partisan politics.
Whether this change-this, in one sense,
forcible exterpation of National issues
shall prove to have been we'll or i'll advised,
and to what extent, will be determined in
the fullness' of time. There has been
tacit agreement, apparently, on the part of
Republican leaders, even those farthest
from ncquiescing in the wisdom Of the
course pursued, to await that verdict. And
the nature of Mr.. Blaine's resolutions in
no sense justify the purpose attributed to
him aud his Republican assOciates to res
urrect the issues said TO have been buried
in the bloody chasm" when its edges
we're brought in coaplation and cem0nted
b." Cancellation" Every evil and iniquity
they aimed to correct are of past conciia-
tion practice, were, indeed, the prominent
features of the late campaign in not few
Of the States and communities South. And
the chosen representatives of Republican
sentiment could not have evaded the re-
sponsibility forced on them by the perpe-
tration of such frands and crimes against
suffrage without show of recreancy that
would have been fatal to them aud left the
party unworthy the respect of any honest
man. The unprecedented crowd brought
TO theCapitol oil the OCCASION OF Mr.. Blaine's
speech was conclusive proof that he has
lost nothing since the eventlul day that he,
almost single handed, vanquished the Dem
ocratic side Of the House in 1875. BY 10
o'clock every available seat in the galleries
was filed, and long before the expiration
OF the morning hour (from II to O'clock
p. NJ every approach to the Senate
| Chamber and the galleries above, was
packed and jammed almost to sufiocatiOn.
Every Senator was in his seat and with the
exception OF Mr.. Conkling, intenlly list
ened to every ulterance Of the Maine SEN
ator. In the diplomatic gallery we're the
most distinguished Of resident representa-
tiYes OF foreign governments, as well as Mr.
Evarts. The floor back of Senator's seats
was occupied by members of the lower
House with visitors from every section OF
our own and ether counties, about all
| cfa nd
towards the centre of attraction was crowd
ed with hundreds listening to catch ore
word OF the debate. The telegraph has
informed you Of the substance of the speech
All agree that the speaker was never more
felicilious in manner. Every sentance was
an Indictment but drawn with such u mas.
ter hand that any show Of anger reacted on
those guilty of the indiscretion. All in
all, the repute of Mr.. Blaine as n man OF
almost unlimited resources and as sworlhy
10 bear the mantle Of any OF his predeces.
Sors in the Senate, has been confirmed by
this eventful episode in which he towers
as central figure head and shoulders above
those who essayed defense Perhaps Mr.
Thurman did as well as any one could al
such terrible disadvantage. lie sought
to break the force of Blaine's arraignmenl
by citing Buffers tales ot intimidation IN
Massachusetts when suffering the first pain,
OF humiliating defeat, and other uncon.
frmed acts OF lawlessness equally irrele
want and far fetched, to offset hundreds o
assassinatons Of political opponents in the
South which have been generally defended
and some of them officially admitted. II
sthe prevalent impression that Lamar pos
itively discredted his previous reputation
by his puny efforts at reply. In the ligh
of the Democratic record relative to edu
cation in the South his remarks were nc
less inconsistent than ridiculous We ar,
indebted to Edmund's keen logic for nut
ting Democracy in the very uncomfortabl,
; and damaging position in which il has beer
: left by Wednesdays battle.
The restrictive bill recently passed 1,
, regulate Interstate trade, is regarded as /
, step in the right direction, to put stop tC
the impositions aud DETERMINATIONS prac
! ticed by railroads. 1t is also refreshin,
assertion OF its rights on the part of Con
gress and will rather tend to discredit til,
story of its ownership by big CORPORATIONS
! Ii seems the belief that Senator Edmund
bill for the improvement of our method o
eleeting President and Vice President vii
pass the Senate, whatever its fate in th,
House. The near approximation Of equal
} ity between parties in the present Congress
, makes this very opportune session 10 pusl
; this matter. The perls we escaped at th'
} last election by the final adoption of az
} extra constitutional method oil determin
. ing the election, ought not to he lost on us
De Witt.