San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-05-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
d. G., May 10, 1881.

What is most ridiculous seems
most fitting to Republican action just
now, and the resignation of Senators
Conkling and Plat does not strike
one who has watched the course of
Republican Senators for two months
past as in any respect strange. Their
reelection or their defeat would not
surprise me. Their party has been
kept alive for years upon the actual
payment Of money for votes. the ex-
change OF offices for influence, an ab
surd affectation of superior virtues
Senator Conkling has seen his state,
with q clear majority Of $4,000 for
Hancock, throw it's electoral vote for
Garfield, and he knows the influences
which brought that result about, and
he thinks he is. as much the master of
affairs now as when he traded with
his honest Democratic friends in
New York city six months ago. He
is clearly mistaken. He can ruin the
the Republican party in the State Of
New York and in tho country, but at
tho beginning of an administration,
and against that administration he
cannot control the party. In his
present strange fight with Garfield
and Blaine he unquestionably has
tho sympathy--nothwithstanding his
personal unpopularity-of nearly ov-
cry Republican Senator. He will got
the votes Of only three or four on the
Robertson nomination, however. It
is patronage that will beat him, as it
was simply patronage that caused the
final trouble after Garfeld's inaugu-
ration. OF the final result of the
quarrel there is of course no certainty.
An administration is strongest with
its party the first year-stronger in
the second than in the third and
weakest in the fourth, unless there is
chance that the President shall be
reelected. This trouble with Conk
ling whatever its offoct may be on
his own future, makes q reelection of
Garfield impossible. The frivolous
and unworthy subject of the disagree
ment-the mere application Of spoils
to politics, are getting to be fatal to
the Republican party, also, as well
to the party's chief.
Tho Senate will adjourn tomorrow
or next day, first confirming Robert
son and rejecting Chandler. I have
in a previous letter discussed Chand
ler's chances of confirmation, and his
fitness for tho position Of Solicitor
General. While nothing seemed
to be clearer than the duty Of Dem
ocratic Senators to vote against con-
lirmation in tho case, I'm told there
we're two or more of them who had
agreed to abstain from SO voting.
The resignation of the New York Sen
,tors makes combinations impossible.
During the last session of Congress
almost every citizen Of the District
,sked that some plan be adopted for
he improvement Of the river front OF
he city.
Two facts are alleged, viz: That
.he harbor was rapidly being destroy
d ami that the health of the District
people, congressman and visitors,
vas in peril Owing to local dis
,utes as to methods, nothing was
lone. The illness Of Mrs. Garfield
gain calls attention 10 the fact; des-
ute what her physicians say, almost
very one believes her sickness wholly
VI partially due to the malaria which
S fast giving Washington bad rep
station among cities A Senate Com
nittee has lately enqured into the
iubject thoroughly, and viii make an
,ficial report on the 4th Of March,
yhen Mrs Hancock or some other
,quaIly worthy wife Of Democratic
President shall become The first lady
4 the and DIX