Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-03-20
Letter nom Washington.


WASHINGTON, ID. G. March Is. Is1s
In proportion to his cubic inches no man
10 the last Congress probably. enclosed
mor- Democracy (so-eailed) than Ex-
Speaker Randall. Thouah generally speak
ing he has made more than an ordinarily
efficient presiding officer, he has not hes-
tated on occasions to strain n point in order
to secure a victory Cor his party thst could
not have been achieved had he preserved
the strictly impartial attitude dems nsied by
an idesl Speaker. hut Rsndsrs mental
superiority to the most at his party ssso-
cisie~ mad. him a l-ader before he had
hard, ismiiiarized himself with the Con-
sre-siousl routine; aud down in his heart
he detect, the low expedieuis Of the DEM
sg"gue and Il always ashamed " his >,,ni-
occasional resorts TO them. Add ~ he
tween the lost" and the union cause his
,yiupaihv for the latter has always been so
evidently genuine that he l. infinitely pre-
ferred among the majority OF Republicans
as the loss ~ the scvcrsl evils threatening
us la choice nj Speaker from any of the
Democratic competitors vet named for the
position. Tibet again Mr. Rsudsll's hos
tilty to Imitation and 10 all the scheme. for
practical reputation OF obligations to
the Observance OF which the nation l. sa-
credly pledged. would recommend hin 10
Republicans IS between him, Blackburn,
Carlisle. or Mcmahon, always provided
the election OF a Republican appears hope
less. The desertion Of Randall by south
ern Democrats Is so characteristic OF the
guild that 1t occasions little comment and
no surprise, though the favor be has show
cred on that section at the expense of ev-
cry other, have been out of all proportion
10 what was eqoitsbly demanded either by
the standard OF the national interests rep
resented. or by partisan services rendered.
Naturally II would seem that gratitude II
nothing else would have led the South to
sccord him nearly unanimous support.
But almost every page of the history OF
political parties 10 this country is sugses-
tive OF the proverbial ingrailtude OF the
average Southern Democratic politician.
The cancellation" era abounds with IL
from the hour Of IT, first inception down To
date. Randall bestowed the good things
within his gin with lavish hand on the
military heroes sent here tu reprvscu, the
Couiederacy. - out of ~ ChairmaBships
went 10 them though they were VIGOROUSLY
incompetent and representing material In
terests that we're mere bagAtclles as com
pared with those In districts that sent
Northern Democrats. They were put next
to Republicans at the tail end OF the Com
mntees. Nor has Mr.. Randall been les.
partial in his rulings aud decisions. almost
always gi,in. hi, Confederate bro;hrr the
bcncfi, OF every doub, in any family differ
ences that occurred. The discovery the
other day that E rule was siill In cxis.ence
which requires the Vice President. assent
to any change made in the pcrsoHncl OF the
Senate employees, fell upon a thousand
hearts papiiaiing tor oficc with crushing
weight. The rule is of Democratic origin
having been adopted when On 1851 or 52)
the numerical superiority OF Democratic
Senator's was so decided that they could
safely allow themselves a wide latitude Of
courtesy TO the presiding officer without
endangering their hold on the spells. The
existence of the rule seems 10 have been
forgotten years ago. aud some poor fellow
frantic With the prospect OF dvcspitatiou
hanging over every employe al the North
end OF the Capitol. probably stumbled on to
Il In his drspariug search for something
that would stay the hand Of the execution
er. But according to Mr.. Beck. who has
Sgitsa san.deEs1S REGRIassHSSf III thB o oAf
bons OF the Senate. II will only take that
element about minute. to get that ob-ta-
Gle 10 a clean sweep out OF the way. /, Is
clearly within bounds TO say that for every
Office aud position connected with the Sen
ate from highest down 10 the most mental,
there are 30 applicants already in town and
reiuforcements are arriving by every train.
They made such a rush on Randall when
be formally threw open the doors OF his
headquarters a, the National Hotel, the
crowd that overwhelmed him was SO
ragged. dirty. aud altogether disreputable,
that be was forced to bolt and bar them
and admit by card only. What Is true OF
him 10 true Of every Democrat Ia town
about In proportion a they are Influential
or otherwise. Gordon who was sick was
so beset that his friends surreptitiously
struggled him OF to Baltimore. TO rid him
of the constant opportunities made In per-
son, by friends, by letter and by telegraph.
and By every other method tha, unpaid
board bills aud empty pockets could natur-
ally ard systematically suggest TO fellows
whose only chance OF relief Is In the forlorn
hope OF being the one lucky member out
of 50 perhaps. To divide up an appropris-
ton bill into 3 parts aud attach the revolu
tlonary amendments TO that part providing
for the Presidents salary. wilLnot relieve
Democracy Of the appearance OF trying to
force his approval of measures that re
does not favor. under duress aud menace
But the proposition is openly discussed
with an junction. that shows the revolution
sry length TO which Democracy Is pre-
pared TO 90 10 achieve their ends.
KArAHpIS
v~A~n ~M r>Ar.~s.x