Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-06-04
Our Washington Letter.


WARRINGTON, ID. c., May 81, 1879.
Messrs Editors The Presidents message We
toing the legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill, which was sent TO Congress on
Thursday, has thrown the democracy into
THE LAST DITCH
from which II is now struggling TO extrcate itself
This can only be accomplished by accepting the
Wimdtunl laid down by the President, which IL
to pass the appropriation bills, pure and simple,
and then adjourn. The democrats have been in
caucus all day to-day, and have about concluded
to give up the fight and do as they can instead OF
as they wish. The revolutionary wing Of the
party are no longer allowed to lead the way TO
further defeat buta halt IL ordered and the course
for the future will be reversed. This Is the way
II looks to-day Tomorrow or next day may
change the whole aspect Of affairs. The caucus
to-day decided to recommend the immediate pas
sage OF the regular army appropriation bill, with
proviso that no portion Of the money therein APP
propriated shall be used for the pay, transporta-
tion equipment, or subsistence Of any troops used
for police purposes to keep the peace at the polls.
1t was also decided to recommend the passage Of
the legislative appropriation bill in substantially
the same terms as last years bill, except that 1t
shall not make any provision for supervisors or
deputy marshals Of elections. The new bill will,
however, contain clause providing that no Of
fcer shall be appointed obligation incurred for
any object for which specific appropriation shall
not have been made by Congress. The caucus
next agreed to recommend the passage OF sepa-
rate measure embodying those sections Of the
vetoed appropriation bill which provide for amend
ments OF the law concerning the method OF draw
ing juries and for the total abolition Of the Jurors
test oath In view Of the fact that the President,
in his veto message, makes no comment on these
provisions, II Is believed that he will approve
them when presented TO him in an independent
bill.
There was some objection made to this pro-
gramrne ON the ground that it was n square
back down." and would be 70 considered BY
the country but this met by the argument
that, although there had been individual utter
ances in favor Of Withholding supplies in the
event of n failure to secure the enactment of the
political clauses originally attached to the appro-
priation bills 1t was not true that any such stand
had ever been taken by authority of the party
The caucus was then adjourned until Monday
next by which time the recommendations agreed
upon will have been formulated in appropriate
terms by committee of which Senator Thurman
the joint caucus of the democratic members OF
both houses
The grand attempt of few select politicians to
settle
THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST
year more in advance OF the convention is
becoming more and more ridiculous every day
The drift OF public sentiment is beginning to prove
that the undertaking will he failure some time
l.af,. 81. l.. III.
have been busily engaged during the past ten or
twelve months in the endeavor to create the i'm
preston that General Grant ought 10 be the next
Republican candidate for the Presidency, for the
simple reason that the party had no other man
who could save the Union from another war or
hold the democrats in check. The cry was raised
early in the session of Congress last Winter that
the country needed President with back bone ="
sufficient to prevent the democracy In Congress
from overriding the will of the people and captur
ing the government. General Grants name was
put forward as that Of the only man capable Of
performing such u deed and all other men were
cassed As below par in comparison. General Grant
has many warm friends and admirers all over
the country, who, on account of the high regard
which they have for the man, dislike to express
any opposition to third term, however much
they would regret to see him enter the lists again
as candidate For this reason the feeling at
one time seemed to be general among Republicans
that he was the coming man But like all other
and similar attempts to forestal public opinion in
advance OF the time, the sentiment Of Republic
cans is beginning be felt in direct opposition to
that idea. The time seems to have come when it
will longer do for the best friends OF this par
| tcular candidate to keep silent. Their opinions
are now being given and the cry for the one
man power is growing fainter as day succeeds
day. As the matter is sifted TO the bottom 1t Is
found that the popular demand. as it was termed,
has been made by a few sycophantic followers of
the ex-President for their own personal ends
This has been evident here in Washington from
the very first This ought to be one OF the best
of reasons for disapproval OF the candidacy while
there are Others no less prominent and worthy Of
note. The country has seen during the past two
| or three months that other men are able TO cope
with not only the democracy as n party, but u
democratic Congress AS well, and the national
need for backbone in the Executive chair Is
not so pressing as some would have us believe.
| 1t Is also believed by many that General Grant
| himself has too much wisdom to give himself up
to another canvass merely to please few persons
who hope TO use his broad shoulders to carry
them into office. lie has certainly nothing to
gain by such course after so long and proud a
career as his has BEEN while he may have every
thing to lose It must be acknowledged at the
same time that the Republican party was never in
better condition than to-day. The different causes
| for this present
| REPUBLICAN AsCENDANCY
| are all OF natural growth and easily noted. The
discontinue of their opponents just at present
may be one of them, but it is by no means the
principal one. The standing OF the Republican
party to-day, in the eyes of the country, may be
attributed u the prosperity and success which
has attended the present administration in con-
Quoting the affairs OF the government. Some Re-
publicans may take issue with us, and say that
the party has achieved its present success in spite
| Of the administration. More would have said so
twelve months ago. But let us look back at the
history of the Hayes administration for moment
! and see what ground we have to stand on.
J First, then, we have the attempts of the Presi
dent at Cancellation staring us in the face. This
was considered at the time az a fragrant crime by
the leaders of the Republican party. The ap-
pontment of a cabinet minister from the ranks
vi the uelhotfhcy was cspccHily uenounceu
! Then the settlement OF the dual governments in
South Carolina and Louisiana. This produced
| great excitement and much opposition within the
| Presidents own party. That 1t was consummated
| without bloodshed must be admitted, and without
| loss OF national honor. II also secured peace in
the South, and left necessity for troops in that
section. The result of these conciliatory meas
ures, although showing the spirit of the southern
| people To be unchanged since the war, does not
| detract one iota from the wisdom OF the course
| pursued by the President. lie made the attempt
upon principle, born of his own personal Impair
TALLY of character and grounded upon constitu-
tional rights. Had the attempt not been made
the Republican party would not present so solid a
front to the opposition as it does to-day. large
portion of the PARTY had been estranged from 1t
for the reason that they believed such trial
should DO made. They are now among the most
earnest supporters OF the party and OF the ad.
ministation, with but few exceptions. Second
consider for n moment the grand success made
| by the administration in regard To national tinan-
| ces Here is another OF the prime causes OF Re-
publican aseendancy in the minds of the people
to-day. No wonder that the hero OF resumption
is put forward rs one deserving the highest re-