Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-04-18
Pickings at the Capitol.



delicate one, and the most ably and grace
fully has he proven himself eqnal to the great
| emergency. or course, there is some disap-
pointment and mnlierngs as TO the formation
ui the committees, but as a general thing
there IS great satisfaction. II is evident that
they were made up so ne 10 give every section
of the country fair representation.
There are ifty-two committees, twenty-six
OF the Chairmen are from the North and
| tweniy-slx are from the South. In chair
manships New York and Illinois have Jared
The best. Five members from each Of these
two States are chnirmen of committees. Vir-
einia has four tk,irmen, Pennsy lvania, In
diana, Mississippi and Tennessee have three
each. The Hon. Fernando Wood gets his old
committee, chairman Of the Wavs and Means
whilst Tucker OF Va, is second Hon S. s
Cox, for the first lime in his congressional life
gets an important comm4tte, that of Foreign
Affairs. Mr.. Whithrone of Tenn, retains
the Craftsmanship Of Naval Aff,irs. Mr.. Bragg,
OF Wisconsin, is made chairman of the com
mittee on War Claims-so the Republicans
can rest easy about any Southern war claims
being paid tor the next two years. Mr.. Black
burn 10 on The committee on Appropriations
and will prove valuable acquisition. The
Banking and Currency committee is consi-
tuted in accordance with the financial views
of a majority of the members--it is a silver
committee. A majority Of the members of it
will oppose the free coinage and silver certif-
cafe scheme demanded by the infationsts,
but will favor the coinage of silver to the full
capacity Of the minis.
The people Of the District are highly pleased
at the appointment of Gen Hunton to the
chairmanship of the Dist rict OF Columbia and
he will not disappont those who desire that
he discharge the duties Of the position faith
fully aud impariially.
Mr.. Randall has NIL along been regarded as
an ultra Tilden man, and yet he appoints
Wood, Covert, Mullen and Cox, of New York.
10 chairmanships, all Tammany and anti-Til-
den. Then the same thing is true Of Pennsyl-
vania, where Cotiroth, Wise and Clymer who
are appointed to chairmanships are anti-Til-
den. Mr.. Randall has also be regarded as a
very hard-mOney man, and yet careful dis
section of his Banking and Currency commit
ice convinces your correspondent that il is
soft-money committee and will be greatly I'M
der the influence of Gen. Ewing.
1t is again proposed 10 cut off the publish
ing of speeches in the Congressional Record
to be used as campaign documents on both
sides. Hardly any important speech is made
that is not Intended rather for the country
than for those who listen to them. Take away
the desks so that members cannot attend 10
their private correspondence while debates
ART ROiuS out Indhe Tue RECORD really WHAT us
name imports, modify the previous question
SO that it may be a check to interminabe and
an obstruction of all debates, and the House
of Representatives may again come to be
deliberatiTe body.
The recent debate 10 the House upon the
Army bill and that which is now going on in
the Senate has given rise to much comment
throughout the country relative to the uses of
the army, and no one can now predict what
changes will be made within the next two
years, certainly very radical ones IL promi-
nent and leading members carry into execu-
ton their present views. The arbitrary spirit
OF armies il SO repugnant TO the spirit of
Americans aud the meaning of Democratic
institutions that there seems 10 be but one
opinion among fair-minded men as to the dis
astrous consequences that would follow the
unrestrained use of the srmy for political pur-
poses. IL certainly speaks but little for the
merits Of universal suffrage if its evils, from
necessity, must be projected by the vigilance
and dislastful existence Of standing army,
not to add to the enormous OUTLAY that is re-
quisite for its support.
The disastrous influence Of such a use of
the military over the civil power at this time
is Unreasonable. This nation wants peace
above verything else, for which it is now
struggling. In place of animosity and Sec
tional discord that would be provoked by the
presence Of bayonet, the people want har
mony and prosperity restored. Instead of the
renewal Of issues that have long beeb settled
at enormous sacrifices, which would result in
favor Of military interference the true patri-
OTIS Of the country want to witness the SUBJ
stantial blessings OF a settled prosperity.
All Of those governments which call con-
stantly upon the bayonet for protection are
running deeper and deeper into debt, every
ANIla 10, Anao
by taxation. Effective labor is taken away
and the people are crushed 10 death to pay for
this extravaganza and military display. The
screw is turned more and more snugly until
utter despair makes the people break out into
wild rebellion and irenZied resistance-then
comes revolution, which the Radical leaders
and Radical press is now sounding through
out the country and which they will con-
inue TO sound until the last horn of the great
campaign Of 1880. In nation like ours, we
should be able TO proclaim 10 the world that
we trust 10 the people and not to our guns.
The campaign OF 80 has certaicly opened.
There can be no doubt as TO whom the Re-
publican party will nominate, and it seems to
be very generally conceded now that Tilden
will get the Democratic nomination. 1t will
be an unfortunate blow for the Democracy,
but the Presidential makers have so decreed.
You remember what Gen. Grant said when
basking under the sunlight of Spanish skies,
when be heard Of the Democratic wave Of
triumph at the North aud was asked II it did
not look ominous. He replied, "Give your
self no uueasiness; In the moment Of prosper
ity the Democratic party will commit some
foolish blunder They have too many leaders,"
More truth than poetry in this. Hundreds of
thousands of speeches are now being sent by
members and executive committees throughout
the country. II is said by some OF our friends
that one of the most effective weapons we
could use is TO urge the exodus OF the negroes
North and Northwest. They would soon be-
come disguised with their Northern friends,
and would vote the Democratic ticket, whilst
their proessed friends would become equally
disguised, aud, in order 10 get rid of them,
would vote with us likewise.
The Senate Republican caucus on Saturday
last determined to oppose with all the means at
its disposal the passage of the Army Appro-
priaiion bill now under discussion This de-
termination, doubtless, has been influenced by
the current rumor that the President, like q
sensible man, will approve the bill when ii
shall be presented TO him, knowing, as he
does, that he has no just or proper grounds
for vetoing It.
Notwithstanding the general reduction in
salaries and partial decrease ia the nations
interest account through the substitution OF
four per cents. for bonds bearing q higher
rate Of interest, yet there has been under the
Gus ncial manipulation of Secretary Sherman q
considerable increase in the public debt, and
that too whilst the productions Of the coun-
try IN all the great essentials Of life and ma
terials Of trade, including the precious metals,
has been enormous Yet the startling fact
cannot be concealed or denied that majority
Of our people are now living in extremely
straitened circumstances. Some of them. in
deed, 10 the very throes Of want, and yet the