The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-04-22
Washington, Letter.
IFrom Our Regular correspondence

WASHINGTON. ID. c., April II. 1880.
The interest felt in this country in
the vast funds accumulated in Europe !
through the various large unclaimed
estates of many extinct families, is sur
prising, aud it exhibits itself here in |
the shape of letters addressed to the
President or Secretary of State. The
impression seems to be prevalent that |
our Government is in a manner bound
to look after the interests of its citizens
who may have some genealogical con-
nectiOn with these properties, hence
the numerous inquiries which reach
the President or the State Department.
Recently the jocular inquiry was made
in some of the newspapers, Where
are the Kern family ?' and with this
the statement that the Holland Gov
eminent owed the Kern estate for
moneys loaned it by the family over a
hundred years ago, an accumulated
principal and interest exceeding one
hundred millions of dollars. Certain
members of this family settled in Penn
sylvania, and, judging by what letters
we have seen, we fancy that every
person in the United States named
Kern, whose ancestors can be traced
back to that State, imagines himself as
entitled to a slice ofthe Dutch millions.
And yet Col. Sellers castles in the air,
with millions in them," have less of
the g insubstantial' in them than this
legacy to the American Kern heirs.
The State Department., we presume, is
constantly issuing passports to those
who go to Europe seeking family titles
or estates. Yet of the thousands who
have gone for this purpose, not one has
succeeded in securing the slightest
recognition. We recently met one Of
these, whose claim to an English lord
ship seems unquestionable, but the
failure OF the younger son" who came
to this country Just after the War of
bars his lineal heirs from the enjoy
ment of place among the peers of
that country. Still his descendants
dilate as glibly upon their blood and
rights as were their claims fully estab-
| lished.
The House has tackled the rider on
tue deficiency appropriation bill, which
| restricts the powers of the United
| States marshals at elections, and in SO
| doing has presented us the most sim
gular spectacle ever seen in that or any
| other saw-dust arena. It was debate
| in which only the opposition partici-
pated. The Democrats had agreed
| among themselves that they would not
| debate the question, but would permit
| the Republicans to discuss it as fully
| as they wished, reserving, however, the
right to close the discussion with an
| argument, which was ably done by
General Ewing. The Republicans
talked in the most vigorous style
Frye, Conger, and all their best orators
| indulging in the finest efforts of sar-
casm, taunts and abuse, but without
| eliciting the usual response from the
Democrats, who gravely sat in silence
to the end. It must have been, indeed,
a trying ordeal one dictated alone by
or the average Congressman could no
more have resisted retort than Kan
tippe the last word in a scolding con-
test. It was an extraordinary scene to
us, and, like Capt. Cutie, we felt bound
to !" make note on t." Ewing's speech
was on a strictly party basis, and the
measure has the advantage, through
the peculiar manner of its adoption, of
not going before the country with Ger
tain indiscreet utterances which ait
tended its passage in the last Congress.
The Senate has taken one good step
in appointing commission to devise
some plan by which the immense loss
es of revenue through the evasion of
stamp tax on cigars and manufactured
tobacco may be prevented. The good
to flow from the labor of this commits
sion viii, we think, not SO much be in
checking evasions as in showing that
the reduction of the tobacco tax, by
the 44th Congress, was grave error.
Taking off this tax has not, in the
slightest degree, increased the con-
sumption, as was claimed would be the
result; hence the nine or more millions
of loss to the revenue which has en-
sued should have the cause fully dem
onstrated, and the original duty re-
stored. The country can well afford to
tax its luxuries. But we fear that so
long as such an article of prime neces-
sity as matches must make up the de-
ficit of millions of revenues which
should, by right, be raised through
duties upon whisky and tobacco, that
the latter articles of questionable ne
cessity will continue to bear the lighter
burden of taxation.
1t seems that the rowing match be-
tween Hanlan and Courtney for the
worlds championship, is to take place
at Washington. The parties interested
agreed that all the requirements of a
great contest like this could be had
here, and they have made a fortunate
selection. They will have fine course
and can rely on full protection from
interference of any kind, and upon
fair and honorable treatment all round.
No boats will be cut here, and more
people will witness the race than could
be assembled at any other point. The
Potomac is admirably suited for row.
ing purposes. The stretch from the
bridge which spans the river at George
town down to the Long Bridge and re-
turn, cannot be surpassed in the whole
country. ..s.
In all the presidential headquarters
we find the greatest activity, as well as
the extreme of hopefulness for the
various candidates on the part of the
workers. In general canvass, we
have met no supporter SO lacking in