Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-02-19
lfrom cur rsgsls' eoTsspoHdsai'l
Washington Letter,
Washington, u, O., Rb, ", isJp

mlaed upon any question 81 policy
than they nov are ~ the resolution 10
repeql the 'test cath" Is u Is called,
and certain obnoxious and partisan
sections Of tho election law, II las
been one Of the difficulties confronting
the Democratic majority In tho House.
llo secure unity of sentiment and har'
mony Of action, No many conflicting
Interests exist, and 30 many pro-
nounced differences upon minor ques'
ti0us have obtained, that M effective
policy las been impossible, and party
discipline imperative, Aud worse
than al that there has been laek Of
nerve, or, 10 put II mildly, M excess
Of conservatism, which has caused
measures that were essentially Demo
cratic and patriotic measures, to suffer
defeat NJ tho hands Of the more active
aud partisan minority, This was the
case last session IN Army legislation,
aud caused iuactlon upon some OF the
appropriations, Iut now there Is
prospect Of bold, determined aud de-
cisive action,
The cnactmenti sought 10 bo TO-
pcalcd ale cneroachments upon the
constitutional liberties Of the people.
They were placed npon the statute
books BY u reckless partisan Congress
Tor partisan advantage aud ends. The
Jurors test oath operates only IN the
Southern States, where II enables cor
rupt federal judges Of tho Billings,
Settle aud Bond stripe, to pack ,iuries
aud outrags reputable citizens without
a shadow Of cause or justice. II has
been done, and II being done to-day
IN Florida and Louisiana, The OBJ
icctionablc sections u the election
law also marked for repeal, src not, as
the radical press asserts, provisions
Tor securing stair and free elections,
but the ones that prevent ",air and
free elections" by tho appointment OF
hordos OF strikers and banners to do
the dirty work Of Republican cam
pa,gn committees, for which they are
paid out Of the public Treasury. Then
they are required TO supplement their
other work by false charges and per
Jury before packed juries. The thing
has gone far enough, The nniorlu-
nate position OF Senator Bayard on
this question is deeply regretted by
his friends and he stands almost alone.
It has boen asserted that il these laws
are permitted to stand as they are
that the Democrats will not organize
the next House This may be sensa-
tional, but it Is known here that Rad
cal influences are at work with the
Nationals, and in the light Of recent
events nobody will be surprised if
they are secured" to operate with
she Republicans, in spite Of their con-
stituents. But that il not enough 10
control the organization without get
ting seven Democrats out of the way,
If the laws remain as they are that
will be done, provided it will accomp-
lish the end, no matter how arbitrary
and outrageous the proceeding may
be. The next Presidency depends in
some measure upon the control Of the
House Of Representatives.
The approaching end of the session
brings rush Of the lobby. and all the
vultures are gathering round in hopes
to press through something that will
benefit them, or to prevent somebody
else from getting through something
!, that will take away from them.
Friends of the Texas Pacific Railway
and OF John Roach's Brazilian steam
ship subsidy. are working away with
little perceptible effect. l have not
expended any breath in discussing the
pros and cons of these measures, be-
cause Congress appears disposed to
treat them at arms length, as 1. were.
From surface indications don't think
either has any chance at present.. The
Western Union Telegraph people have
representatives here to work against
the bill extending telegraph privileges
to railroad companies. 1t the bill be-
came law it would take away from
this monopoly large amount of busi
ness, and establish competition that
it conld not buy up, as it has all other
rivals. The Democrats don't feel
particularly tonder towards the COM
pany, because of Its partisan action in
the cipher dispatch matter, and unless
there is a marvellous change Of senti-
ment, the bill which is supported by
General Butler and other Republicans