Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-01-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsurvoroN, D. c., Jan. II, 1879.

PAPER, seem to very accurately reflect the
entiment aroused in political circles here
,y the extraordinary course resorted to by
he President and Sec. Sherman to forward
he confirmation Of the od interim N. Y.
Custom House appointments. The, as as-
'erted, unprecedented course of the latter
in sending his charges (t they may be dig
niied by such desiguNtion) to the Senate
instead of to the Committee having the
nominations under consideration, has es-
pecially provoked the severest criticism.
AZ the close of Senator Conkling's speech
in which he characterized the charges 40
trivially contemptible, il is said he had
large majority Of the Senate without regard
to purity bias. In view of the several ten.
ders of important foreign missions by the
President to Ex-Collector Arthur since he
was superseded by Gen'l Merit, Sec. Sher-
mans frequent and unreserved endorse
ments, and Of the course Of both in disavow-
ing any reflection on his administration Of
Custom House affairs in dsplacing him,
their present attack cannot well bc regarded
as anything short Of stultitication. And if,
after months of the most rigid scrutiny Of
Gen. Arthur's administration by experts
and detectives with the hope of discover
ing something to justify his decaptatlon,
the Secretary's frivolous allegations EN-
body all that could he found to his dis
credit, an intelligent public is likely to
agree that the good of the service demand
ed his promotion instead of his retirement
Upon the whole Mr.. Hayes would seem to
be inviting his own defeat in asking Of the
Senate confirmation of Gen. Merritt when
such vote is an implied censure of an ex.
ceptionally efficient and faithful officer.
The confession of St. Martin, Deputy
Sergeant. at Arms OF the sub.Cnmmt.
tee which Potter sent to New Orleans,
that he was guilty of suhordina-
tion, OF perjury and the corrupt use
OF money to suppress all evidence unfavor-
able to the Democrats, by and with the adj
vice and cooperation Of Chairman Stenger
and TiIdens tools who accompanied the
Committee, will require 20 be substantinted
by reputable witnesses before it is accepted
as the whole truth. The beggarly consid-
Grafton which has been sufficient to induce
the average Louisiana politician to take
up the role of perjurer and blackmaler
and to turn traitor to the friends and cause
he professed to have nearest at heart, has
had the very natural effect TO make honor
able men very incredulolIs as to ANYTHING
they may say, though sworn to under the
most solemn forms of an OATH st. Martin
intimatcs that the other Democrats of the
Committee knew Of and tacitly approved
the criminal offences that he and his CO.
were guilty Of There has
been a suspension of judgement In the
premises till the accused shall have had op-
GftR9Hfi f9eTO Pdh BrooRF Rqs 4 iraSnt Sir1aSngt
ample that somebody has been guilty of
crime against morality, If not against the
statutes that makes them liable to penal
punishment. Ii this is Republican con-
Spiracy as Democrats intimate, its authors
should be held up to the scorn and detesta-
tion they have earned; If, on the other
hand, this self.confessed criminal tells the
truth concerning his fellow reformers of
the Committee, a transfer of several Dem
Ocratic statesmen from the House of Rep
and Washington branch news
paper offices to the penitentiary, is mani
testify demanded by every consideration of
and pure government
The relative lack of wisdom OF our Gov
do-nothing foreign commercial
policy ms contrasted with the fostering and
cooperative policy of those OF our Euro
oean competitors, is so convincingly shown
,y the subjoined official statistics, that |
'enturc to quote them at the risk of being
charged with giving the subject undue con
iideration. But there is not n laboring
man or woman contemplating permanent
in this country, who is not vitally
Interested in the reversal Of onr past policy
md plead that in justification Of this ref
erence.
The following figures show the amount
If general imports and exports of Brazil
rom 1901 to 1876:
imports .'.,.''.......f1 f17l, $40 $50 so
Exports ..'.......... ......... 577 ,04l ,4g2 90
During that time the imports Of
the United States from Brazil
amounted tn.... ..... ga l4S 500 90
nd the exports OF the United
States to Brazil amounted to
only 49 S53.555 90
The foregoing statement shows the mere
of United States exports to
Brazil, while the imports from that coun-
.ry indicate that we are the purchasers OF
more than one.half of her entire exports.
Instead OF paying foI the same in products
1f our own, we are compelled TO send our
gold coin in payment for Brazilian produce,
md with that gold the supplies of Brazil
ire purchased, every article Of which could
md should g. from our own country and
le of our own production. And why is
his? Simply because of the superior COM
and postal facilities furnished by
.he European governments. There are at
Ihe present time nine regularly eslablished
steamship lines between Europe and South
America, and all are receiving compensa-
ion under long contracts for CARRYING the
mails, amounting to five or six million dol
ars annually from each government, while
lie trade of the United States until last
year had no direct steam communication,
md the new line now in operation, and
which has developed good deal of yaIua.
Ole trade, has not the aid even of postal
contract from our government. \ late re-
port contains extracts of Brazilian trade
statistics, showing the per centage of i'm
ports from and exports to other countries,
ls follows:
1eTmnnV, b2l AZ