The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-06-03
Washingt Letter.
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent

The great international boat races are
over, and our city has subsidized into it's
wOnted quiet. On the 10Th we had the
Hahlan and Courtney fiasco, in which
Courtney played the part of the !" wet
dog" SO efiectually as to disgust every
body, not only with him, but with
boat racing generally; hence on the
26th, when Riley pitted himself against
Hanlan, not more than half the crowd
turned out to see the contest that greet
ed the last one. In so far as results are
concerned, this race was as barren as
the other, for Riley is no match what
ever for Hanlan, and is as inferior in
strength,,as lad to an athlete. He made
a gallant effort: but failed SO utterly as
a competitor that we can hardly chrOn-
icle what he did as race. From the
moment of starting to the hOmestretch
Hanlan had merest boys play before
him, and we were not at any time
gratified with an exhibition of his ca
pabilities as rover. Courtney made
no attempt to draw him out, while
Riley was physically unable TO compel
an exercise of reaf strength /; hence we
have had all the accomplishments of a
race without the race itself, or, we
might say, the play of Hamlet with
Hamlet left out. Our impression is
that Hanlan is the champion rover of
America, and, we doubt not, of the
world. He leaves here with at least
$50, 900 cash as reward of victorship,
and much as we regret we have not
been gratified with real muscular
contest, and signally failed to see
what he can do with his oars; yet he
departs without an unkind feeling to-
wards him, for he has acted only as a
gentleman of the highest honor. But
how much nicer it would have been
could some Yankee have beat him, say
boats length. ~ sur r. z-l p,
- Congress is pounding away at the
appropriation bills, and paying little
attention to matters of general legisla-
tion- Just now SO many of the solons
are absent that it is difficult at times
to secure quorum. The Chicago Con-
venrion has taken away scores of Re-
publican Senators and members
Conklingn Logan, and other leaders
are among these, and the convention
will have among its wire-workers and
rstring-pullers the ,ablest men of the
party. Grant undoubtedly has, the
strongest following of Legislators, and
they are going into, the fight to, win.
If there be, doubt in. their minds, it
does not appear in words or actions,
and with such henchmen as Conkling,
Logan, etc, Grants forces will un-
doubtedly be strongly and skilfully
handled-not only for him, but against
his opponents. Mr.. Blaine will realize
this before the final ballot. for there
seems as earnest desire to beat him as
to nominate Grant. It is difficult here
to determine whether the object before
many of the delegates and attendants
is to secure Grants nomination, or
Blaine's defeat; hence we anticipate a
repetition of the struggle at Cincinnati,
when Mr., ,Blaine's adverse influences
combined against him and forced the
nomination of Mr.. Hayes. ,,,., q. -a .a5,!
The question Of election supervisors
provoked an interesting. running de-
bate in the Senate between Mr.. Hoar,
of Massachusetts,, and Mr.. Hampton.
of South Carolina, in which the, latter
quoted certain disparaging. remarks
made by Washington against NIassa-
chusetts troops shortly after the battle
of Bunker Hill, and rather worsted
Mr.. Hoar on that point. 1t would
seem, from these quotations, that Gen.
Washington at that time had no. eX-
allied opinion of the officers command
ing the Massachusetts troops, as he
characterized them as the most indif-
ferent kind of people he had ever seen
and stated he had broken quite num-
her of the colonies and captains for
cowardice, etc. The men, he, said,
might fight, if properly, ofiicered, al
though they Were exceedingly dirty
aud nasty people. Mr.. HQar natural
ly. of course, endeavored to parry the
force of these unsavory allegations, but
failed, and then asked to have further
discussion of the subject dropped Mr.
Webster turned Mr.. Haynes flank
when he attacked Massachusetts, but
Mr.. HamptQn's blows were not re-
turned, owing, we presume, to the
fact that Mr.. Webster's sword is not
worn by rs able champion as he.
South Carolina bore off, the spoils in
this contest.