The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-05-08
Washington Letter.
WAsH1Naros. DC, May 3, 1s

Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 8, 1879.
It is an old saying that He laughs
best who laughs last" The Republic
cans, after q season of fear that Mr..
Hayes would sign the Army Bill as
passed by the Democrats, are now re-
joicing in the discovery that he is still
partisan enough to interpose a veto
because the necessities of the party
demand it. But they are gently re-
minded that this is not the end of it.
Congress still has a word, and it is not
unlikely that it may be the last word.
Judging from the individual express
sions of Democratic Senators and Rep
resentatives, I do not think the major
ity will submit to executive dictation,
especially when the sophistry upon
which it is based issues from the mouth
Of man who is himself fraud and
the direct representative of the most
gigantic and outrageous election fraud
ever perpetrated in this or any other
country. As Congressman Morrison
says, The spectacle of such an official
lecturing the immediate representa-
tives of the people upon the subject of
pure elections is enough to make a
jackass sick at his stomach"
The whole sum and substance of the
case is, that Mr.. Hayes puts himself
on record as in favor of troops at tho
polls. It is the last desperate struggle
of the Republican party. Without
the use of troops and the aid of the
other machinery invented by them,
they have no possible hope Of carrying
the next election. If they can retain
all this machinery they expect to be
able to steal some States and possibly
succeed. The pretext of protecting
the ballot is q sham to cover their real
purpose. Every reasonable man
knows that there never can be fair
election where power rests in the
hands of one party to use the army
and to appoint hordes of marshals to
intimidate voters and arrest hundreds
Of opponents at every poll on sight.
The demand of the Democrats for the
repeal of every shadow of law covering
such outrages upon free elections as
these is sustained by the people. If
the question were put to a vote
throughout the country to-day, two
thirds of the voters would say, "repeal
the Ubiquitous laws" There is not q
doubt Of it.
= There is no disposition on the part of
Democrats here to back down from the
position they have taken. IF Mr.
Hayes aud his Republican advisers re-
gard their partisan election machinery
of more importance than the appro-
priations, let them take the conse-
quences. Nearly all the Democratic
leaders with whom I have talked say
he must sign the bills as we pass them
or go without the money. When it
was asked whether the Democrats
would stand firm or take to the water,
Gen. Bragg, of Wisconsin, said: AS
for me, there is no surrender; can't
SWIM" "There is no chance to turn
back, even If we wanted to" they say.
The people are with US, and If we
can't stand on this issue we had better
all resign and go home." This is the
feeling Of large majority. Whether
the appropriations will be suffered to
rest a while and other legislation en-
tered upon, or whether they will be
shortly re-enacted and an adjournment
taken, does not yet~appear; but do
not think there will be any surrender.
If there is, quite agree with those
who think these representatives of the
party will have outlived their useful
ness.
In the midst of the great cares OF
State congressman find some time to
amuse themselves. About hundred
of them attended the London Circus,
which remained here three days this
week to give them all chance. Not
only Senators and congressman, but
the whole populace, including MEM
bers of foreign diplomatic corps, turned
out to see the animals and things.
Most of them pretend that it was the
new electric light with which the tents
are illuminated that attracted them !;
buf somehow they contrived to endure
the rest of the show with fair degree
of fortitude. Telegrams received this
morning announce that u full sized
Brazilian jaguar, one of the most ferO-
cious animals in the menagerie, es-
capped from his cage on a fiat car of the
train after it left this city. just before
leaving, some twenty tramps were
elected from the train, but one, who
had escaped detection, remained on
this car, and when about thirty miles
out he opened the side of the cage by
the use of a long, stout stick, with
which he pushed up the sliding bar of
the door. The animal leaped like
from the cage and disappear
ed in the adjoining woods. Messrs.
Cooper, Bailey & Co., the proprietors,
offer a reward of $500 for the capture
of the beast, or proof of his death. Peo-
pie in the vicinity are very much exer-
cised and alarmed. Such animals are
not pleasant companions for the cattle
on q thousand hills, nor cheerful OBJ
jects to encounter in an evening stroll.
PHONO.
MANTUA STATION.
Correspondence. 4
Our community was inexpressibly
ahockei and startled at nnita AN aarly