Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-12-10
SPIRIT OF THE AGE,
wednesday, Dec, 10, 1879.
lfrom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER,
wAsuISaios, u, o.. Dec, q, 1879,

Congress N now under way, WIN every
indication that II means 10 give W. q busi''
ness session, There was nothing spec
tally intere sting or noteworthy In the
opening, beyond tho fact that the roll
call on the first day revealed an unusual
number Of absentees IN both houses,
Many Of them have since arrived, how
ever, II seemed to mo that there was Y
greater degree OF eordiality and friendll'
ness Ia the greeting Of members than
have generally noticed heretofore
The hottest contestants In debate last
session were the most dsmonstratiye. In
the Senate tho meeting between Thurman
and Edmunds was particularly warm.
They shook with both hands and laughed
IA great glee for some minutes. These
two, both OF whom len the extra session
Ia bad health, come back looking better
than they have for years. Senator Conk'
ling, however, does not look the better
for rest, II Indeed he has had any rest
lie looks older aud grayer, aud Matt Car
penteI locks pale, bloated aud worn.
The Republicans In both houses COM
planned that the boquets and baskets OF
bowers were mostly bestowed upon the
Democrats, As they came from the Gov
eminent Botanical Gardens, perhaps good
taste would have dictated more equal
distribution. Uncle Sam should know no
party In the bestowal Of his fayors. But
the Republicans have not thought OF this
heretofore while they were gobbllng up
everything belonging to the Government
Speaking Of Senator Thurman, lac does
not appear TO take his prospective retire.
mcnt from the Senate very much ut heart,
Al any rate. he is not aycrse to Joke on
the subject They tell good story
about the way Garfield, Tom Young, and
several other Ohio statesmen stole Into
the Senate Chamber recently and each
parted their coat-tails over Humans
seat, to see how II would tit, The other
day when John Sherman came In, Thur
man urged him TO sit down and try 1t,
saying that all the other aspirants had
done so, and he wanted to see the Secre-
tary have fair chance.
The message OF Mr.. Hayes Is probably
one OF the weakest State papers ever sent
u Congress. The little interest that
might have attached TO Its reading was
destroyed by the premature publication
Of II In New York, Cincinnati and Chi.
cago, Sunday morning, thirty.six hours
before Congress met. by whom 1t was
stolen Is not known, but because these
newspapers paid the thief $500 each for
copies Mr.. Hayes proposes TO shut the
correspondents out Of the clerks room at
the White House. Perhaps one Of his
clerks was the guilty party. The portion
Of tho message treating OF civil.service
reform excited positive dcrision, Republic
cans and Democrats alike laughed al 1t.
When Mr.. Hayes was a candidate his ut
teranccs on this subject commanded re-
spect and even when he issued his famous
"Order No. !" he was given credit for at
least sincerity but In view Of the per.
formances of himself and Cabinet, and
the severe contempt shown for the mat
ter by offlce-holders all over the country,
Hayes would certainly have shown good
taste and good sense by emitting all fur
Their reference to the subject. His cant Is
the sheerest hypocrisy, and 1t is ona par
with the hollow pretense Of competitive
examinations" kept up in some of the de-
partments. The idea Is held out that the
applicants chances for appointment are
in proportion to his proficiency, or stand
ing on the list after examination, while o.
nmattcr of fact "infuence" of the right
sort is the only test applied In practice
The whole thing Is dishonest, and dis
honesty Is not reform.
The financial recommendations IN the
message have met with cool reception
even from Mr.. Hayes own party, and
careful canvass OF the House by Mr.. Chit
tenden, of New York, develops the fact
that there are not twenty members
of either party, or both parties combined
who will vote for the proposition to retire
grcenbacks. Mr.. Chittenden is In favor
of the administration programme, and
this canvass discourages him. Western
Republicans and Democrats are about
unanimous in opposition to the recon-
mendatlons, and very few democrats from
any section will vote for such measure
Several resolutions have been offered on
the subject-one by Mr.. Price OF Iowa
one by Mr.. Fort Of Illinois, and one by
Senator Carpenter Of Wisconsin, oil urg'
ing, substantially, that 1t Is best to "le,
we'll enough alone" These resolutions
are favorably received, and speak the
views of large majority. While, there
fore, there will probably be some discus
sion of the subject, it is safe to predict
that there will be no Important change IN
existing financial relations. On this
point the democrats are more united thar
their opponents, and the agitation OF the
subject threatens more disturbance In the
Radical ranks than anywhere else.
Congressman Of all parties IRE evident
ly in an earnest business.like frame O
mind, and there is not likely to be mucl
"foolishness," for the present ut least
The political situation leaves no margin
for blunderS on either side, and notice
that Blaine and Garfield and the other re
publican leaders are not manifesting tn
usual desire to "draw out" the democrats
They apparently think it more safe to la.
low for ducks, for it is not unlikely tina
any attempt to stir up general politica
muss would prove more disastrous t.
them than to the democrats, who are dis
posed to shape the business Of the session
in the best interests Of the country, North
South, East and West. PHONO.