Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1880-03-09
WASHINGTON LETTER
From our regular Correspondentl
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., Feb. ~, 1880.


tional Committee here this week at
tracted the interested attention of poll
iticians Of all shades, and its 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
localities and the evidences of spirit
and determination prevailing among
them had an exhiliarating effect upon
Democratic Congressmen and others
here. The lively degree of interest
manifested in locating the Convention
is Of itself ali Indication of !. spirit of
and the expressions Of
the various delegates betoken posi-
tive confidence in the success of the
party. These expressions were not
wild assertions, based upon the gen
eral idea that the party must win Ie-
cause it fought to-" but the leading
Democrats took practical view Of
the situation and agreed universally
that they would win if wise action
aud counsels prevailed. Whatever
may be said about the Significance Of
the selection of place for hol!ing the
convention, it certainly has none in
relation to candidates. The Interests
of no candidate was consulted and
none of the candidates took position
in favor Of any particular place,
But while this is the Democratic
situation, things amcng the Republic
ans are getting pretty badly mixed
Mr.. Conkling's New York Convention
has done the 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 a
feeling of alarm is taking possession
Of a portion of the Republican party
A candid Republican Office holder,
who is for Sherman first and Blaine
next, said to me this morning, Il am
afraid we are going to be wrecked y
The situation of the party is certainly
desperate. The Senatorial Syndicate
that is running Grant rough shod
over the heads of the people, arc dc
termined upon two things-to beat
Blaine at all hazards, and to secure a
man who will obey them. 1t matters
not from their standpoint whether
Grant can poll the largest vote OF not
They know him to be a man VIII,
cares nothing for any methods but his
own, and to recognize no restraints
They know that at the critical mo
ment he will, if necessary, declare him
self elected, regardless of the vote
and proceed to seize the reins of gov
ernment. This is not mere bunk kum
Let any man hear the talk | 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 les
son taught by all these signs is thai
the approaching contest will he hot
one.
| just after my last letter was SEM
the news came that poor old Brumidi
the Italian fresco painter, who has
heen painting frescoes in the Capitol
was dead. Every visitor who has
been through the building for many
years has seen the old man at wort
and inspected the results OF his labors
No change Of administration; ne
change OF library committee In Con
gress or in office of architect of tho
Capitol ever affected Brumidi He
was subject 10 no authority, and as
nobody knew exactly how he came