, 1880-04-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

SuO Il hD oOuu OILcE ChSC NY HiS au-
mirabs speech, and when at its close
the Republican caucus decided that
it was best to keep up the discussion
as long as tho Democrats desired, the
Jealous confedsrates began to look
about for some means of retreat.
Finally they have found temporary
comfort in postponing the bill for
time.
The Democrats tf the House are
no more fortunate. Some incousid-
crate member called up the bill to
prohibit political assessments, and
assailed the Republican party. The
retort has been seriously damaging
to Democratic character. The hasty
Democrats wish they hadn't. The
object of this bill is to disfranchise
a large number of soldiers who draw
pensions, and in other ways to reduce
the Republican vote. 1t has no hon
est purpose, and it is believed that
OH the final vote several Democrats
will vote against it.
And still the Democratic majority
do not 60 on with the business of the
session. 1t would seem to reasonable
men that after their repeated failures
to make political capital by their
course, they would learn some thing,
and get through with ths' sessi on as
soon as possible. Waiting for Re.
publican blundars, they experience
only disappointment, and have too
much time to commit blunders them
selves. Itis now said that some of
the leaders, Notwithstanding the late
decision Of the Supreme Court con-
irming the constitutionality of the
election laws, and the duty of Con
gress to control Federal elections,
threaten TO withhold appropriations,
for the enforcement of these laws.
This will be the biggest blunder yet,
and will commit the Democratic
party to disloyalsy and lawlessness
beyond dispute.
The report coming from General
Grant that he will be in New Orleans
about the 18th gives rise to the sup
position that he is coming into the
political field to take observations,
and if the prospect is not then suf-
ficisntly encouraging he will with
draw.
In dispair of the way in which
Tilden is carrying on his canvass for
the Presidency, several other Demo.
cratic candidates are using all sorts
Of means to head him off. Among
other expedients they are trotting
out large number of dirk horses.
This will not scare Mr.. Tilden, who
is an old campaigner and knows how
to go for anything he wants.
AMERICAN VS.. FOREIGN ENTERPRISE.
The Count DeLesssps came here as
the representative of foreign capital
lists, with great flourish of trumpets
and impressed simple people with
the plan that he was going to carry
out his idea of Panama Canal with
out delay. But the President first
checked his ardor by rs.aflirming
the Monroe doctrine of American
control over works of that nature,
and Capt. James B. Eads folio wed
this, showing the Congressional COM
mittee that DeLesseps' scheme was
impractical from engineering diff
culties, and the enormous expense it
would involve. He then read to the
committee paper in advocacy of his
plan of ship railway. He demon
strated that substantial and durable
ship railway can be built for half the
cost OF canal with locks, and FOR one
fourth that of canal at tide level;
that such ship railway can be built
in one.third or ons.fourth of the time
needed for the construction of a
canal; that, when built, ships of the
maximum tonnage can be moved in
safety at four or FIVE times greater
speed than in canal. That great.
or number of vessels per day can be
transported by the railway than can
possibly be transported by the canal;
that the capacity Of ship railroad
can be easily increased to meet the
demands of commerce; that the cost
of maintenance Of the roadway and
rolling stock would be much less
than that of the canal, and that q
railway can be constructed and oper-
atsd in localities where it is not
practicable to construct a canal. He
explained his plan by means of draw
ings which showed pit Of 5000 feet
long, in which the railway should be
made Into the harbor to the depth of
thirtu fnaf. tb m che mine. 1ho ..o IL