Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-11-17
Prom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsHIseIos, ID, o. Nov 10, 1853

the Republican leaders here over the
reports from New York that the
frauds Ia that State were TO be shown
up aud made tho basis Of a contest for
the presidency, but II ID the quaking
of a guilty conscience, Ever since
the preparation Of that great outrage
Of four years ago, ghosts OF counted
out presidents have haunted these
leaders by night aud made crayeas Of
them by day, They know that It In
the commission Of that crime they
were not sowing the wind TO reap the
whiHwind all tho teachings of history,
and all the logic OF human affairs go
tor naught, And there are other rca'
sons tor tho present nervousness
They know that the charges concern
Ing the means aud method by which
New York was carried Tor Garfield,
are we'll founded. Beyond all doubt
there Ia a majority OF at least 10000
tor Hancock in the Empire State TO-
day, but for all that the radicals need
have no uneasiness. 1t is the purpose
OF tho Democrats TO let the result
stand. There il just IN much real
ground for contest now IN IN 1876,
but the Democratic party will not IN
augurate It. This is tho view of all
leaders here, of Gen. Hancock himself.
and OF the best men Of the party
throughout the country. There is
other work to be done, and settle
mcnt to be had with some Of our own
"leaders." Ben Butler, however, Gre.
ated SEINE excitement here the other
day, by declaring in the Supreme
Court room that tho vote OF New
York would be cast Tor Hancock, and
Offering to bet he would be the next
President.
IL is now definitely settled that the
next House of Representatives will be
Republican by u small majority and
that the Senate is Democratic, ii SO at
oil, by n very uncertain tenure. The
latter body stands 81 Democrats to 81
Republicans, with Judge Davis and
General Malone to hear from These
are classed rs independent Democrats,
or more properly "uncertain" Demo-
Gratis. There is, in my opinion. more
reliance to be placed upon Judge
Davis than upon Malone. The latter
has schemes and purposes of his own
which will be made the price of his
political action. He is capable OF
looking cut for No. One, and if the
Republican administration can offer
proper inducements he will be an ally
Of that party.to some extent. The
situution is therefore favorable tor the
Republicans to Substantially control
all departments of the government.
In my opinion there is no real cause
tor Democrats to regret this. The
Democrats can gain little by the con-
troll of Congress, Or one branch of it,
by a slender majority, when the Exec
utiye and all other departments arc
against them. We have seen how
this works in the past, and the shrewd'
est members Of the party here believe
that an opposition without any divis-
ion of responsibility is the more ad.
vantageous position to occupy.
The coming session Of Congress,
the organization of the next Congress,
and the probable composition OF the
new cabinet, are subjects of specula-
ton here now. There is much differ.
ence Of opinion as to whether Garfield
will stand up to the stalwart compact
and permit the Grant interest to shape
the policy of his administration, or
whether his own natural conservatism
will manifest itself. There is likely
to be contest between Secretary
Sherman and Governor Foster for the
Ohio Senatorship, unless one OF them
accepts seat in the Cabinet. Both
have announced themselves candidates
for Senator, and both disclaim any
desire for a Cabinet position. Under
the circumstances the most probable
outcome is the retention by Secretary
Sherman Of the Treasury portfolio.
Don Cameron is known to desire
seat in the Cabinet, and is generally
credited with q wish to return to the
War Office. 1t is not improbable
that be may get it, and that ex-Sena.
tor Dorsey, the premium briber and
trickster of the campaign, may become
Secretary of the Interior, though ex.
Senator Hitchcock, Of Nebraska, is
credited with chance TO become the
successor Of Carl Schurz.
Judge Kelley Of Pennsylvania. the
Oldest member Of the House, and with