The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-03-13
Our Letter from washington.


There has been nothing very startling
during the week in the political world, and
the status on the Republican side at least,
has not changed. II is still an almost even
race between Blaine and Grant, the popular
feeling being almost entirely with the for
mer, and the protest against the latter's can
dilacy is growing louder every day. 1t is
becoming apparent that Grant must be
ON the first ballot or not at all.
Some of the Pennsylvania delegation threat
en- to leave him and vote for Blaine on the
first ballot, but this courage and independ-
ence is hardly to be looked for from that
quarter. On the Democratic side the news
comes that Mr.. Tilden has both refused and
consented to be a candidate, That old
gentleman is the most hestating genius of
modern times. lie never can make up his
mind, and even after announcing decision
often takes it back, so that enterprising
newspapers one day will probably be busy
announcing his determination not to be a
candidate, and the next day precisely the
opposite, from now until the 22d of June.
This thing ought to be borne in mind, how
eyer, that whether Mr.. Tilden intends to be
a candidate or not he does not intend to
have a controlling voice in the convention,
and will, as the phrase goes, "name the
man." This being taken for granted, it is
highly probable that no announcement will
be made by his friends except he is TO be a
candidate.
1t is now stated on pretty good authority
that Secretary Evars, proposes to signalize
the last year of his control over the state de-
partment by giving a reception in that mag
nifcent building that will surpass anything
Of the kind which has occurred in Wash
ington for many years. 1t has long been
his ambition to give a grand fete in the
new building. Upon the two or three pre-
vious occasions, when the prospect of con-
sumating his plans were about rife, some-
thing intervened to thwart his project. AT
one time it was the criticism of an olIicous
press, which thought that public building
should not be diverted from its legitimate
purpose. At an other it was obstacles Of a
private character. 1t is announced that he
will select for the event some evening in
April, when the weather is mild and the
moon shall cast her silvery beams ever the
picturesque balconies of the building, and
thus show of the scene to the best adyan.
lage.
There is very evidently an ugly state Of
things among the unruly elements in Wash,
ington, which may be attributed partly tC
the inability of the police force to patrol eff,
fectively such an extensive district, anG
partly to the loose and irresponsible char
acters of a large part Of the population sine,
the war; but, at the same time, the crimi
nal administration of Washington does moi
| seem to have been heretofore all that has
been required Of it, especially as regard
| these frequent crimes against the person
and to this defect much of the trouble mus
be credited. By some means or other tn,
very lowest grades of criminals have beer
able to secure such formidable arrays o
counsel and to obtain for themselves so man,
Of the delays ana advantages and technical
tiles Of the law that the due course of justic
cannot help but be impeded. These thing
in themselves are a temptation to som,
classes Of criminals TO commit crime, tn,
risk of punishment being, to their low wa,
of thinking, compensated by the almos
certain eclat secured, In the last few year
Washington has had far more than its shar
of this sensational system Of legal procedure
In order to promote the navigation of tn
Ohio River. which is obstructed during L
months of the year at Louisville, KY, b,
what is known as the Rapids or Falls.
canal was built around them at a cost G
about Sl,0OO,OOO. The ownership of thi
canal has fallen into the hands of the Gov
ernment, and the House Committee on rail
roads and canals have made favorable re
port upon a bill to abolish all tolls upol
this canal, and 10 declare il free to the Who'll
world. The present committee announe
that the bill is in accord with treaties witt
France and Spain, aud with acts of Con
gress which provide for the absolute free
dom Of the Mississippi river and its tribu
taries as great national highways unrestric
Ted by toll, tax, or duty. AuousT.