Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-01-28
SPIRIT OF THE AGE,
Wednesday, Ian 20, 1880.
From our regular eorrespenden',l
WASHINGTON LETTER,
wAsHlsaros, u, O., Jan, "a, 1850,

new rules OF lht House " Nv ihhl pph'
eluded, and there will now DO pros
ceedlngs Of more general Interest IN
that body But the time spent IN
this ventilation and oyerhaullng OF
rules has not been wasted, II not on
ly results In simplyiyIng tho code BY
which business Ia regulated and dis
patched, Int II has given new mem
bem q better acquaintance with the
methods and practice Of the House
than they sould have obtained by two
years of service, which will he M nd
vantage 10 the entire body, rs well ~
10 the members Individually,
Aud nov the financial question has
begun. This queStion will not down,
much az majority ii both parties
appear TO desire II should, Debate
on the "Bayard resolution In the
Senate and Mr., Bucsncr's rational
bank bill in the House threatens IL
run into n wide opening up OF the
subject IN all lis aspects. II there
was any way to do II, ] think nearly
two-thirds OF both houses would favor
putting an end TO all talk, aud ADOPT
Tor the present The policy OF inacllon,
merely to keep the question out Of
politics until after tho national con-
ventions At least, There Il a wonder,
fnl lack OF unanimity IN the republic
can party when they strike the ilnan
cial issue, A few such men rs Spna
tor Allison egg on the agitation with
the expectation Of causing rupture
in the democratic ranks, when. as n
matter Of fact, his own party is in the
greatest danger. Quite laughable
scene occurred between Mr.. Chilten'
den, Of New York, and Mr.. Towns
end, Of Illinois, in the House on
"Wednesday. Both go, highly excited
in debate, aud advanced 10 the open
space in front of the Speaker, and
danced up and down before one an
other, entirely oblivious TO the pound.
ing OF The Speakers gaycl and the
calls of "order' all over the hall. At
one time it looked MS II the pleasant
little quad'ille would be turned into n
free fight, but Mr.. Mills, Of Texas, in
terierred, and quiet was restored.
1t is wonderful what u change has
recently come over the spirit of the
Grant boom among the republicans
here. CongrsssmeD, as a rule, are
careful readers OF the papers of their
districts and States and the many in
dications that the third term move.
ment has not the favor OF rank and
file of the party, has made strong
impression upon them. A few weeks
ago the nomination of Grant seemed
inevitable to-day it is exceedingly
doubtful. The machine in Pennsyl.
vania, according to all accounts, is
having some trouble with its voting
cttle, and all along The line there are
evidences OF revolt. Doubtless the
managers could carry their point, but
they are getting scared, What they
doubt now is the possibility OF elect
ing Grant, and the fear OF failure may
prevent his nomination. 1t seems to
inc the democrats are making a mis-
take to aid in killing oil the third term
now, when to defeat it after the NOM
ination would be- about the easiest job
they are likely to have.
The democrats have exhibited a
good deal of interest in the scheme
proposed in the New York legislature
to change the manner of choosing
presidential electors. The general
opinion seems to be that it is Conk-
lings own work, and that it will be
put through. 1t is desperate polit-
ical trick, and will in all probability
tail to accomplish the end sought.
a prominent democrat said yester.
day that while the passage of that bill
you'd divide the vote of New York,
the effect would be disastrous to the
republicans in other close states like
Ohio, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Con-
Aeclicut, Maine aud California. There
is love of fair play inherent in the
American people, and though the rad
icals have been permitted to succeed
III one enormous outrage, this spirit is
bound to assert itself. No matter
what schemes the radicals concoct,
the democrats will elect the next Pres
ident unless they destroy their chances
by their own hand.
The effort to keep politics out of
the census seems to have failed at the
very outset. The nominations for
supervisors are very un satisfactory in
many instances, on account of