The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-03-19
WARRINGTON RITTER.
Iraoa ORR tsocaAa copar.rospssT.i
wAsnlNeros, D. q. Feb. 2a

fs0tt9f fteHuffttts
The meeting of the Democratic
National Committee here this week
attracted the interested attention OF
politicians of all shades, and It's effect
has been to leave better feeling
among Democrats than has existed
since the last Presidential election.
A large number OF representatives Of
the party were present from various
localaties and the evidences of spirit
and determination prevailing among
them had an exhileratlng effect upon
Democratic Congressman and others
here. Tho lively degree of interest
manifested In locating the Convention
is of itself an indication of spirit of
hopefulness, and the expressions Of
the various delegates betoken positive
confidence In the success Of the party.
These expressions wero not Wild as
sertions, based upon the general idea
that the party must win because II
'sougat to-" but the leading Demo-
Gratis took practical view of the sit-
uatlon and agreed universally that
they would win if wise action and
counsels prevailed. Whatever may
be said about the significance OF the
selection of place for holding the con.
vention, ii certainly has none in re-
lation TO the candidates. The inter
ests of no candidate was consulted
and none OF the candidates took POI
sition in favor OF any particular
place.
Bat while this il the Democratic
situation, things among the Republl-
cans are getting pretty badly mixed.
Mr.. COnkling's New York Convention
has done TIE work mapped out for It,
and now the strikers wait for John
Logan TO bring Illinois to the scratch.
There Is no Disgusting the fact that
feeling OF alarm Is taking possession
ofa portion of the Republican party.
A candid Republican Office holder,
who is for Sherman first and Blaine
next, said to me this morning, sI am
afraid we are going to be wrecked"
The situation of the party il certain
ly desperate. The Senatorial Syndi-
cate that IS running Grant rough shod
over the heads of the people are de-
termined upon two things to beat
Blaine at all hazards, and to secure
a man who win obey them. It mat
tiers not from their standpoint wheth.
er Grant can poll the largest vote or
not. They know that at the critical
moment he viii, II necessary, declare
himself elected, regardless of the
vote, aud proceed to seize the Teins
Of the government. This Is not mere
bunkum. Let any man hear the talk
l have heard among the advocates Of
Grant right here in Washington and
come to any other conclusion If he
can. The candidacy of Grant means
Republican rule by fair means or foul.
The lesson taught by all these signs
is that the approaching contest vii
be a hot one.
just after my last letter was sent
the news came that poor old Brumidi,
the Italian fresco painter, who has
been painting frescoes in the Capitol,
was dead. Every visitor who has
been through the building for many
years has seen the old man at work,
and inspected the result OF his labors.
No change OF administrations nc
change of library committee in Con.
gress or in the Office of architect o.
the Capitol ever affected Brumidi.
He was subject TO no authority, and
as nobody knew exactly how he came
there, so nobody ever thought Of in.
terfering with the work he carried or
behind his perpetual scaffolding. He
began in the Committee room Of the
House Committee on Agriculture un.
der sort of underlined engagement
) and has been at it ever since
Wherever there was blank wal
there Brumidi set up his scaffoIding.
In the rotunda, in the corridors, ii
the committee rooms, in the cellars
he and his workmen were continual
~ engaged The dirk passages II
the basement he covered with mos
elaborate fora and fauna. Birds
beasts and fishes, cupids, goddesse
and distinguished Senators were al
alike subjects for Brumidi's brush
He was the author of that extraordi
nary composition which excitcs th,
wondor of the rural mind in the dom,
of the Capitol, and for long tim,
before his death he was engaged up
on vast scheme of decoration whicI
5 was perhaps his most important worl
and which is left unfinished. It wa
his cherished wish to be able to com
plete This work with his own hand
but the fall he sustained in Octobe
!, suspended il for a time and he ex
: planned the plans and designs to
workman of his own -selecfinn uh