Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-08-20
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. d. @. Anenst

Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., August 10th, 1879.
1essrs Editors Although there lie a great
dearth OF politicians just now in Washington,
there Ia still much interest taken In the numerous
political contests now going forward by the can't
getaway club, the members OF which are hero
ically bearing " the heat and burden OF the day."
while their more fortunate friends comprising the
greater share OF the population Of Washington,
are enjoying life at the seaside or other fashion
able summer resorts
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK,
viewed from this point, Ia slightly mixed In the
two states Of Maine and Ohio, where the differ
ent parties already In the thick Of the fight,
1t would be easy to predict the result were 1t not
for the fact Of this irrepressible third partythe
Greenbackers. There would be plain sailing for
the Republicans in Maine, at least, II they had
only Democrats to contend with, while in Ohio
this disturbing element Of Greenbacksm mixes
the situation into hopeless middle which only
election day itself can satisfactorily straghten.
The Germans and hard money Democrats, It Is
said, will not vote for Ewing because Of his soft
money record, while the Greenback- Republicans
are split upon Patt, the regular Greenback can
didate and Foster, who Is the personihcaton OF
hard money itself We believe Foster will be
elected, after a close run. Should Ewing win the
race look out for his nomination for the presidency
next year. There il no doubt that good deal
depends on the result In Maine. II the Republ-
cans should be defeated there II would materially
aid the election Of Ewing. As to Maine, In order
to reclaim the state 1t will be necessary for the
Republican managers, OF whom Mr. Blaine seems
to be the Chief to draw back to the fold the twelve
or thirteen thousand Republicans who strayed
away to Greenback pastures last year The plan
of tactics adopted by Blaine to this end seems to
be to sink the financial question in the campaign,
and to revive the war issues, and especially de
pict in threatening terms the danger OF the solid
South rising to supremacy in national affairs
To further this end be has called out Zach Chand-
Ter to help This particular issue Is being pressed
with great skill and vigor, and coupled with the
fact that there IL more truth than poetry In It, 1t
is having good effect in winning back the Green
back Republicans TO the old standard Secretary
Sherman's speech on the financial question was
sound logic and profound statement OF fact, yet
the Blaine and Chandler tack is one tina, appeals
more forcby to the passions and preiudices of
voters than any dry question OF finance. There
magnetic eloquence for which Mr. Blaine is noted,
in discussing the issues Of the war than there Is
In comparing the debt statement OF the present
year with that OF ten years ago. The result in
the two states Of Maine and Ohio is interesting
also as having an important bearing upon the for
tunes of two possible candidates for the Republic
can nomination for the presidency. In fact nearly
every state election this fall is liable to make or
break one or more
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.
The friends and champions OF Mr. Blaine are
especially anxious with regard to the election In
Maine, ~ 1t is considered fatal to that gentle
mans aspirations should he fail to hold his own
state In the Republican ranks. Despite the fact
Of his defeat at Cincinnati, Mr.. Blaine is prom
inently before his party as a candidate for the
presidency, lie has the characteristics Of man
who. however low he may fall, will always come
up smiling. He knows such word as fail. His
perseverance In pushing his way is something to
be admired even by those who are against him ;
but even that energy and persistence which he
possesses to a remarkable degree is not liable to
win in the next presidential race. There are too
many others who have the same ambition, among
the Republican candidates, to allow a man once
to be brought before the next national Republican
convention will be, with the one exception Of
Blaine, entirely outside OF those voted for in '76
The two most prominently mentioned at this
time are Sherman and Grant. The revival OF
business all over the country gives Secretary
Sherman a very strong hold on the people gen.
orally; and as it is generally admitted that 1t is
owing to his financial policy more than to any
other one thing he cannot fail to be a formidable
candidate before the convention. Since congress
adjourned, and the political anmosities which it
engendered have had time to die out, Sherman's
name is more frequently mentioned than Grants
Sherman seems to be the choice Of the Eastern
aud Middle states, while Grant has the largest
following in the Western states Except Ohio and
In the South. Sherman is increasing in popular
ity for obvious reasons, and 1t remains for the
next session Of congress to decide whether the de
mand made for General Grant during the late ex
ira session will be allowed to be renewed or to
diminish Either name on the Republican ticket
could hardly fail to win, while there are other
possible candidates like Edmunds, Garfield and
Evarts who have all the requisite qualities for
success. Conkling may be safely counted out Of
Of the race owing to late developments.
PERSONAL.
Governor Proctor was in town last week for
several days, on business, and made his head
quarters at the Ebbitt House.
Secretary Evarts is at his farm in Windsor for
a vacation OF three weeks.
William N. Roach, cashier of the Citizens Ma
tional Bank, has just been proven a defaulter to
the amount of fifty thousand dollars.
J. Stanley Jones, real estate broker on Sew
enth street, has absconded with lot OF other
peoples money