The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-12-14
From our Special C1rresPondeutl
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsuINerox. d. G. Nov. 9th, l

cribe the result Of one Of our Congressional cleo
tions when he uttered the oft quoted phrase-''A
good deal can be said on both sides he could
not, master of English as he was. have found a
more true or terse wording in which to portray
The day after The election. If one doubts a good
deal IS said on both sides, a casual glance at the
. head lines " of the several party organs Of ;his
or any other city will establish that fact Cer-
tain it l., that every one feels successful until the
hard featured column of figures either confirms or
destroys the right to rejoice. As " q locker on in
Venice, - and as one not legally, at least, allowed
a political sensation, I often wish each party
could be successful; every body would then re-
main IN a good humor until the fight begins
again.
As it stands to-day the Democrats have Il very
small majority in the lower House, but with pros
pect of decided turning of the senatorial scales.
There has not been a democratic majority in the
United States Senate for nearly twenty years, and
still from that non-partisan standpoint, | must,
with the light of history, conclude that this
august body has not in that interval been able to
boast its former greatness though such men as
Sumner, Baker, Morton, Wilson, Conkling,
Thurman, Bayard and Andrew johnson have been
in successive leadership. Nor does it appear that
a change of base, politically, is going to accom-
plish any unusual degree of good, save on the
principle that " a new broom sweeps clean, " and
we certainly do need a large work in the way of
sweeping.
The Democrats. though with a majority in both
houses, cannot be congratulated upon having the
balance of power; in truth both parties will
warmly WOO the few . Grecnbackers 3" who arise
like the cloud on the horizon : no larger than a
mans hand" 1t will be an amusing thing to
watch, both politically and socially, the court
paid to this advance guard of the = Peoples Par
ty as they, with all the demagogism that the
advocates of new issues assume, denominate their
organization. The administration, at least, is as
well off as though Its own supporters had been
victorious. Its appointments are all made, i. e.,
its friends by this time must be pretty generally
rewarded, its appropriations are hxed-and hap
pier than men generally, it knows it's appointed
time to die.
MASSACHUSETTS
Was, as she has often been in former campaigns,
the cynOsure of all eyes, and when the returns
elevated General Butler to obDcurity () there
was a rejoicing that, like unto the vote which
told him to remain at home, did not belong to
any one party. Twas a piece of daring in the
great Bay State Lawyer to become the standard
bearer OF a party arrayed against the interests of
those with whom he has been a brother in 8yns
for a generation, but he has the weakness which
has distinguished many politicians, he wants a
certain place-that place is the Gubernatorial
chair OF Massachusetts,. He cannot be blamed,
1t Is a seat of high honor, and has been often
nobly filled. d" He is not dead but sleepeth, -
surmlse, for his popular vote, upon an unaccept-
able issue, was something astounding. That be is
a man Of marvellous power is conceded, but few
who have not had opportunity to study his char
acter can rightly estimate his ability. a story
told of his first law suit, whether true or false,
illustrates his resource. 1t appears that an en-
ployee OF one OF the mammoth manufactures of
Salem retained him to recover certain wages
which though he readily obtained favorable iudg-
ment, the delay which the rich mill owners chose
to say would be their pleasure in paying the laws
demand, rather vexed the young aspirant for for
enslc honors, so, he without a word of warning,
levied on a small portion of the machinery which
though apparently Insignificant, stopped all the
ing 10heeEs, Buffers early life making him fami-
liar with the office of this important little agent.
The CONSERVATION of the manufacturers may be
lmaglned--an hours rest TO these innumerable
cogs was more than fifty times the sum of the re-
fused wages. Now it is altogether probable that
out of the late defeat Mr.. Butler will win higher
place, levy on some cog in the body polite of the
old Commonwealth which will make her glad to
accede 10 his demand. for his power in the State
10 NSAhNAhi SASotSA III any Olt Lldn lO-udy.
Mr.. Sumner, In his summing up the character
Z" OF the member from Massachusetts, = was more
severe than John Young Brown of Kentucky, or
any story that ever was circulated in New Or
leans. a few days before the death of the great
friend of " the emanci pated - the famous fight
over Collector simmons appointment was conclu-
ded In favor of Butler, who was really the figure
head and not Simmons. Why, exclaimed Mr..
Sumner, : he is a perfect Cagliostro of a politi-
cian." 1t Is doubtful, if, in even the Senator's
extended classic research, be had found a more
perfect synonym for dishonesty. 1t will be re-
membered that Thomas Carlyle said of Alessan-
dro di Cagliostro d" He had fttest visages worthy
to be worn by quaek of quacks.'' There is not
the least personal feeling in this picturing, it is
only presented as a phase of political life, and a
point from which to make a prophesy, which is,
that the sturdy old Bay State will not only give
Benjamin F. Butler his next demand, but that has
demand CiH be greater.
NATHANIEL 2. BANKS.
The news that General Banks will not be in
the tOrty-Sixth Congress is not welcome here, at
least socially. Massachusetts, has made a mis-
take, we think, and we are sorry she cannot re-
consider. | am quite sure that the Hawaiian ISL
ands will agree with this social decision. Gene
raj Banks has many warm personal friends, and
whatever his mistakes occasionally have been in
politics, he is a gentleman and a trustworthy SER
vitor. His erect form, dIgnifed bearing, his
shapely snow white head and his courteous adj
dress, have been so long in our possession that
We evil resent the mandate of Massachu-
sets keeping him at home. Well, he has served
long and truly, and we wish him happiness and
many years to enjoy life. Since the days of Hen
ry Clay there has not been n more graceful occu-
pant OF the Speakers chair. His wife is a wor-
thy partner of his hOnors, and well beloved both
in Washington and in her home, Waltham. Mass.
1t seems last week somebody learned in that
town, | do not know how, it could not have been
from her looks, that it was the anniversary of her
ffty-ninth birthday, and in consequences thereof
. fell in her hands a well filled purse that is
the way it is described. She richly deserves any
recognition Of her amiable and sterling character
that they may choose to bestow. 1t matters not
how the wheel of fortune goes--up or down
she has, as a cultivated and true hearted woman,
merited and been equal to the highest that has
been given. In early life she, like her distin-
guished husband, had to struggle with poverty.