Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-05-07
washington Letter.
Washington, D, G., My 8, 1879,
lprom our regular correspondent,

II ID an old saying that "iie laugh
best who laughs last" The reFubll
cans, after q season Of lear that Mr.
Hayes would sign the Army bill Al
passed by the democrats, ais now re
joIcing In tho discovery that he Is ftll
partisan enough to interpoSe a veto
because tho necessities OF the party
demand 1t, But they arc gently 70
minded that this IL not the end OF II,
Congress still has a word, and It Is mol
unlikely that " may be the last word
judging from tho individual express
sions of democratic representatives
and senators, | do not think the ma
Jorlty will submit to executive dicla
ton, especially when the sophlstry
upon which It Ia based issues from the
mouth OF a man who Is himself fraud
aud the direct representative OF the
most gigantic and outrageous election
fraud ever perpetrated In this or any
other country, As Congressman Nor
ton says, "The spectacle OF such an
official lecturing the immediate repre-
sentstiyes OF tho people upon the sub
jest Of pure elections Is enough "a
make a jackass sick at his stomach"
The whole sum aud substance o)
the case IL, that Mr., Hayes puts him
self on record an 10 favor Of troops NJ
the polls, II IL tho last desperate
struggle Of the republican party
Without the use Of troops and the aid
of the other machinery invented by
them, they have no possible hcpc o.
carrying the next election, If they
can retain all this machinery they cx'
pect to DO able TO steal some states
and possibly succeed. The prctest Of
protecting the ballot is n sham tc
cover their real purpose. Every
reasonable man knows that there ney
er can be a fair election whore power
rests in the hands Of one party to usC
the army and to appoint hordes Of
marshals to intimidate voters and Il
arrest hundreds OF opponents at every
poll on sight. The demand of the
democrats for the repeal Of every
shadow Of law covering such outragcs
upon free elections as these is sus'
tanned by the people, If the question
were put to a vote throughout the
country to-day, two-thirds OF the
voters would say, 'repeal the iniqui'
tous laws" There is not a doubt Of
it.
There is no disposition on the part
OF democrats here TO back down from
the position they have taken. If Mr..
Hayes and his republican advisers re-
gard their partisan election machinery
of more Importance than the appro-
priations, let them take the conse'
quences. Nearly all the democratic
leaders with whom / have talked say
he must sign the bills as we pass them
or so without the money. When it
was asked whether the democrats
would stand firm or take to the water,
Gen. Bragg, Of Wisconsin, said "A'
for me, there is no surrender; can't
SWIM" "There is no chance to turn
back, even if we wanted to-" they
say. "The people are with us. and il
we cannot stand on this issue we had
all better resign and go home This
is the feeling of large majority
Whether the appropriations will be
suffered to rest a while and other leg
islation entered upon, or whether they
will be shortly re-enacted and an adj
journment taken, does not yet appear
but l do not think there will be any
surrender. If there is, | quite agree
with those who think these represent
atives of the party will have outlivet
their usefulness.
In the midst OF the great cares o.
State, Congressman find some time tc
amuse themselves. About a hundred
of them attended the London Circus
which remained here three days last
week to give them all chance. No,
only senators and congressman, but
the whole populace, including man.
bers OF foreign Diplomatic corps
turned out to see the animals anC
things. Most Of them pretend that i
was the new electric light with whici
the tents are Illuminated that attracted
them but somehow they contrived tt
endure the rest of the show with ;
fair degree of fortitude. Telegram
received this morning announce that {
full-grown Brazilian jaguar, one of thu
most 1erocious animals in the menag
erie escaned from his cage on thp fa