The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-06-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence to The Republican ]
WASHINGTON. D. c.. May %, 1878.

WASHINGTON D. c.. May %, 1878.
Very serious dissensions are re-
ported among Democratic members
of the House, extending also to some
extent among Senators and another
caucus is to be called ut once to ex-
orcise the civil spirit and restore
harmony. Not few members of the
House who were dragooned into an
unwilling acquiescence in Potter's
Mexican scheme, have had their
spines strengthened by the multitude
of protests against it received from
almost every business community of
the country since Friday week. The
failure to bully Democrats of manu-
featuring States into a support of
| Woods bill for unsettling many
branches of trade and the refusal of
Texas members to vote for the ami.
hilatiOn of our army as decreed by
Reformers Banning and Hewitt,
have also operated to further divide
and demoralize the Democratic side
of both House and Senate. 1t is very
evident that there mas been a partial
reaction against meddling with the
settlement of the Electoral Commits
sion, ever to the extent of an inves-
tigation of the "F'lorida Frauds" as
a useless waste of time, as tending to
solidify and unite every element of
opposition and to invite defeat at the
next election.
Democratic opposition led by
Stephens, Harrison and Others has
became crystalized; and though the
number which will consent to go back
OH theis vote and dare to interpose
obstacles will not prove to be very
large, it can make itself very trouble
some. Mr.. Stephens is smarting
from the discourteous refusal to allow
him to be heard, and Carter Harrison
is said to be prepared to lead a revolt.
There is no mistaking the air of des-
pondency of those most conspicuous
two weeks ago in forcing down I'M
willing Threats the Potter resolution.
But when once paSsed at an expense
of a five days struggle, it was too
late to recede. The leaders realize
that, and that nothing can now save
them from everlasting disgrace and
political death but to 60 on and make
good their charges. Every man who
voted with them evidently feels that
there is no point at which they can
gracefully back out and that to go
forward is equally, or more, perilous
to their future promatiOn and ag-
grandizement. Hence it is not diff
cult to understand the vacillation
that has characterized Potter and his
contidants since they first realized
the magnitude of the job they had
undertaken. But while the response
from business communities has been
almost uniformly against them, the
politicians who expected Office under
Tilden, backed by the rank and file
that they own and control, are threat
ening them with the most direful
consequences if they now show the
white feather and fail to unhorse Mr..
Hayes. There can be little doubt
which horn of the dilemma they
Will elect should they hold their
own in the fall elections and
retain control of the House.
Such result will be construed as an
endorsement of their course and as a
command to proceed to the last ex-
tremity and there will then be no
immediate obstacle in the way as
they will have both Houses under
their domination. Who that is con-
versant with the hahitual disregard
of the Democratic party to its pledges
in the past and its treason in REBEL
ing against constitutionally elected
President, can doubt what its course
will be under such circumstances :?
The one problem now confronting
them is to so manage as to lull the
suspicious they have aroused and
keep well behind the mask assumed
four years ago, few months longer.
The apology made by member of
Congress last week to the effect that
he voted for the Potter resolutions
against the dictates of conscience and
judgment to placate would-be DEM
ocratic office-holders, might, doubt
less, have been made with more than
a majority of those voting for that
measure, with equal truth. At no
time for years have Republicans APP
peared more ob!ivious to minor diff
ferences. They stand shoulder TO
shoulder against the revolution
threatened. All through the long
contest they stood as wall against
an exultant enemy numerically their
- NJ Il. Il. 4