The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-04-17
Washington Letter.

pJWAsHINGToN.D d. G, April II, 1879.
! To Saryithe monetony of SO much
talk on one subject, the Democrats
haye held q caucus and decided that
there shallsbe 4 chance. at least, for
something else. The representatives
of the greenback element have been
anxious for an opportunity to bring
forward measures looking to financial
legislation, but have, 80 far, been cut
off by the refusal to hold sessions on
Monday, which, under the rules, is
bill day. Now, however, House Dem
ocratic causus has decided, unanimous
ly, to vote for sessions on Monday In
order to let in any measures the Green
hackers may desire. I am not SO GER
tain that anything definite will result
from this indulgence for, while large
proportion of the Democrats are. in, fa-
vor of abolishing the national banks,
the free coinage of gold and silver, etc.,
there are still quite number who OPP
pose any action at the present time, a
large majority of the Republicans being
also opposed to such legislation, the
chances are that none of the proposed
measures will get through this session.
Yet nothing short, of a test vote will
determine their strength. 1t is GER
tainiy fair to give them chance.
People who fancy that Democratic
domination means battle. murder, sud
den death and other things too fearful
to be named, will do well to consider
the debate now pending in the Senate
over the admission of Mr.. Bell, ap-
pointed Senator by the Republican
Governor Of New. Hampshire. The
sessions on that subject read like story
from the land of spirits. Senator'S
Thurman and Bayard are found, with
other Democratic Senators, fnclining
to admit Bell, while protest against his
omission is led, and led with signal
ability, by the Republican Senator,
Carpenter. side by side with the DEM
ocratic, Senator HILL Now, observe
that such. q thing as this never occur.
red, but was never so much as expected
to occur during the long Republican
domination in the Senate. While the
Republicans had control of either
house the admission Of new member
was always treated openly as a party
question. The truti, Is, that changes
in party preponderanee are absolutely
necessary to give any country a chance
at on-partisaa legislation. AS q pure
Iy legal question, there is a pretty plain
case agsainst the admission of Mr.. Bell.
His appoi ntment is not for, an actual
vacancy, but to begin q new term. The
Legislature should have elected Mr..
Cragin's successor last winter, but the
Republican majority could not agree,
upon q candidate, and let the mattergo.
over, hence il is their fault that the
State is unrepresented. But upon the
broad principle that every State is en-
titled to two Senators, several liberal
minded Democrats will vote for Bell's
admission without regard to the legal
question, though really itseems like a
bad precedent to establish &: g.9rnfl
Every reader is familiar with the
old Freedman's Bank swindle, where
by few Radical lights were successful
in gathering in the savings of the poor
colored people of Washington and the
South. Senotor Bruce (colored) has
been placed at the head of a special
committee of the Senate, with author,
ity to investigate the affairs of the
bank. If the committee will take time
to give the matter q thorough over
hauling, they will develop some of the
champion rascality of the era of good
stealing. They will find that, under
the disguise Of true goodness and pecu-
liar love for the colored people, num-.
ber of leading lights OF the Republican
party gained the confidence of the me-
groes for the purpose of getting hold
of their savings, and, having gotten
the money into their control, appro-
priated it to their own use. . They will
find that money was loaned to the ring
on imaginary security, and that the
pretended friends of the colored race
reduced their robbery and plumber to a
thoroughly organized system. s.i ol.H
In the removal and changes in the
Senate the Journalist does not appear to
have been lost sight of. Colonel Burch
the Secretary of the Senate, is an old
newspaper editor, and is now the owns
er, OF part owner, of the Nashville
American. He seems not to have for
gotten his profession, and is quick to
see point and ready to impart it. He
is particularly kind to the guild here.
Mr.. Bright, the Sergeant-at-Arms, is
also an old editor of the Indiana Senti-
mel. The Clerk of Printing Records,
Mr.. Richardson, the Washington cor
respondent of the Baltimore Sun, is as
good journalist, if not as old a one, as
his predecessor, Major Ben Perley
Poore. The Republican press of WASH
ingtonton has made a great fuss about
the removal of Major Poore. But it is
all bosh. Major Poore has been a long
time. it is true, in the position, but, in
stead of becoming thereby an object of
sympathy, he has grown sleek and ia t,
and has put by a snug little fortune.
He owns a comfortable country seat,
and still has sufficient income, as he al
ways had, without the salary of clerk.
There is no reason why anybody should
have life lease upon these few lucra-
Tive and easy official positions. Captain
ofthe Sunday Herald, has been
made clerk of the Committee on Re
vision of the Laws, and s. P. Butler, of
The Baltimore Gazette, to that on Ter
ritories. Mr. A. G. Buell., who has
been one of the brightest and abiest
to the st. Louis, New Or
leans and Washington papers, is to be
we'll provided for, I understand, al
though he has not yet got his designa-
lion. In the House there are number
of journalists. Mr.. III. II. Smith, the