Middletown transcript., 1878-09-28
washington Letter.


! a few evenings since. just as dark
ness was falling around the marble
walls Of the Capitol one Of Che po-
licemen on duty there was addressed
BY a little man, closely mufied and
his face hidden, whom he describes as
a subdued and wearied person, with a
request to be allowed to enter the
chamber Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes. He wished, he said with deep
feeling, to gaze upon the seat not very
long ago occupied by the greatest Of
Americans. The kind hearted officer
granted the strangers wish, and stayed
at the door Of the great hall that he
might not appear to look too curiously
upon the patriots emotion. After an
unavailing effort to check what he
seemed to think might appear to his
conductor an unseemly degree Of feel
ing, the little man went down the long
aisle to the seat in which the member
from the Fifth Maine District former
" sat, when, at rare intervals, ne sat
al al, al and 4 there e sFe vent to his over
flowing soul. The room was dark,
and the policeman, supposing this was
some South Carolinian who Worshipped
the memory Of Calhoun, or some rem
nant Of the better days Of Massachu-
sets, who had not forgotten Webster,
and that he had simply mistaken the
seat, himself dropped a tear for the
great dead Of the two sections and 81
Iently and respectfully waited until the
visitors grief was partly overcome,
and then received him with fitting So
Iemnity at the door and accompanied
him from the building, In going out
they met member Of the House, and
that policeman's faith in the modesty
Of man was in an instant shattered
forever when the new conner said to
the little man-"H Hale, old fellow, how
are your a.
oUR ONLY Reform ADMINISTRATION.
Secretary Schurz, they say, is to fol
| low the lead Of the other members Of
the Cabinet and make speeches. It
seems almost as if this Administration
felt itself bound by circumstances to
violate every rule and promise on the
inviolability Of which it came into Of
fee. / do not recall a pledge that has
been kept except the one that Sher-
man made, but now deniesy which was
that the people who stole the vote Of
Louisiana should be protected and re-
warded .a5..
COMMISSIONER SPEAR AND REFoRN.
Commissioner Spear Of the Patent
Office was, as | wrote you some time
since, requested to resign. He has
DELAYED 50 long in the matter that his
attention has been called to the re-
quest. and he will doubtless soon ten
| der his resignation. It should be said
that this is believed to be political
movement, and does not indicate eth
er irregularity Or ineficiency on the
part Of the Commissioner. It is SIM
| Div a blow at Blaine and Hamlin.
4 scHEME OF BUTLER's.
That wild man Of the political
woods, Gen. Butler. with an assurance
which entirely BELTS him, has gone out
West to purchase the favor Of Senator
David Davis with promises Of Presi'
Dental support. The warmest friends
Of Butler will not deny that he lacks
the strength which comes from having
the sympathy Of the better classes
Among all eminent public men ! dc
not think Of one who would be O
more service to him in this emergency
than Senator Davis. On the othel
hand it must be said that the Senator
could form no other alliance so utterly
ruinous to him as one with Butler
, Whatever the latter's chances may b
Of carrying Massachusetts, it is certain
his favor would be an injury to any
other State.
HOW THE GREENBACK PARTY AFFECTS THE STATES
In former letters the fact has beer
noted that the "Greenback" question
has damaged Republicans in Republi
: can States, but has not injured Demo
/ Gratis in Democratic States. Ii th'
J reader will carefully 60 over list Q
all the States he will see how little w
/ as party lose. 1t would seem BY tn
: latest reports that New Hampshire ant
| Iowa are to confirm this general truth
J SoLoN.