Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-12-11
POLITICS AT WASHINGTON.
orE$lNG uI IHE SESSION DINO, RATS
rEuNIN OpNTIDEST--THE TAETI FRO.
GkNNNE AHuJT ,ANBI.
BATE. IoR l,.O-CENLHsI
HAStO,k LOOMING ~.

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GENVNE--cos-II- AEpDr ,,NBI.
DATE. ruE l,sO-cE>LHAL
HAN,o,k LOOMING ~.
WASHINGTON, y. C., Dec. :, 1879.
The opening Of Congress has been en-.
tir"ly devoid Of excitement. The
Message WAS read at the desk in both
Houses, Of course, although il had been
printed in full, as far back rs sunday
morning, in New York, Cincinnati and
Chicago. ], may be interesting TO know
that not lees than 81, 800 was paid for
the stolen copy. The hotels are yet
nearly empty, and it is certain that
Congress will do little or nothing be-
fore the holidays.
Tho uppcrmo.t topic Of talk is, Of
oour-c, the prospective policy and can
didatcs Of the Democracy. II !, easy
to discern a more hopeful feeling than
prevailed just after the November cleo.
tlons. The declaration Of the Pro.i.
dent and Secretary sherman in favor Of
cancc,liur tho greenhack. and stopping
the coinage of silver have already Great
cd dissatisfaction in the Republican
ranks, and are thought to offer a safe
position FOR tho Democracy position
of simple taking the
ground that nothing should be done 10
disturb the present prosperous condi.
ton of trade and industry. II !. bc.
licycd that the Republican programme
Of tinkering the currency and contract.
ing both the volume OF paper and the
metallic basis. will be a weak ono TO 60
before the country with. Senator Thur.
man says this proposed fresh attack up.
on the currency gives the Democracy q
great advantage, and almost every body
upon his side Of the house expresses
the same opinion. The Democrats are
therefore generally delighted and a
great many of the Republicans are dis.
satisfied with the utterances OF the
President and Secretary. which divides
the Republicans and unitcs the Dcmoc.
racy.
Discussion Of the respective strength
Of candidates talked of for the nomi
nation next year goes briskly on. Sey.
mour appears to have many friends and
Rayard even more, while General Han
cock is among the leading favortes and
seems to be the second choice Of nearly
everybody. As, If Pennsylvania pre-.
sents any candidate, Hancock will un.
questionably be the man, 1t may inter.
est Pennsylvanians to know the chief
Arguments advanced by the advocates
Of his nomination. The Republicans
will rely mainly upon the Solid South
to make a solid North. II u therefore
held that the best answer possible to
the sectional issue in all its forms will
be TO answer It, in the person Of the
candidate, that II the northern people
still fear a defeated minority, they can.
not fear to place their interests in the
keeping Of loyal soldier like General
Hancock. Then there remain impor.
tant differences Of opinion among Dem
Gratis on the financial question. Many
are ardent believers in a currency of
greenbacks redeemable by the bimetal.
lie standard. Others would wipe out
the legal tenders and have only Nation
al bank notes redeemable in gold alone.
Hardly q man can be found in active
public life whose record upon this ques
ton would not lose him votes some.
where. This gives n second advantage
in point OF availability TO a candidate
like General Hancock, whose position
in the regular army has kept him en-.
tirely out Of the political arena. and
clear OF factions and animosities. This
would apply to other soldiers as well
but General Hancock combines quail
ties which are found united in no other
person since il was his fortune, in the
line Of his duty as soldier, and IN an