Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-06-08
Prom our regular eeTrsspeaash'
WASHINGTON LETTER,
WsshlnglOnl May 2alhl 81,

WASHINGTON LETTER,
w.shlaglour MAY salh' d.
10 those accustomed 10 observe lhe
course ofeyents IRON the standpoint OF
the National Capital, aud 10 note the W.
bratioas Of the political pulse a' lhey A'e
10 be seen here, the signs OF dlslnlefsfa'
lion aud utter dissolution Of The parry "
power could not be more dls''hety
marked than they are al this time " u
Ms II the edel we're written 10 large ehat'
aelers upon tho walls of the eip'ol
building 4 party with nothing 10 bold
Il together but the cohesive power OF
spells, aud beset on every side Win con-
dieting interests aud personal qaarfels'
cannot long eSist under any elfeuInslan'
cesi but wuen, besides this, u Is reat'hg
with corruption aud III leaders have
lost not only the confidence OF eael' othef
hut Of tic rank aud nle, aud The party
organs have sol 10 abusing opposite me-
lion. and threatening TO "bust things"
tho end il IN plaiu sight, This u the
condition of the Republican party to-
day,
IL il not the Conkling quarrel that Is
goIng u ruin the party. but II ID those
conditions that made the quarrel danger
Gus, which II has only aided In uncover
Ing, The National RpudiieaH, for years
the organ Of the party here, aud now
strong supporter Of Conklng, has Just
taken q very significant position Us
editor George C., Gorham, late candidate
for Secretary Of the Senate, was Dorseys
Lieutenant In Indiana aud helped to dis
tribute the CllrmOus fund with which
that State was purchased In October. lie
now declares that the republican party
has come 10 be the party OF corruption
aud monopolyi that It no longer repre-
senls the people or has any principal, aud
that the present Administration II the
creature aud embodiment Of the great
corporation monopoly power, This Is
strange talk TO come nom Republican
Journal but II Is the truth, hut for the
active influence ofthc corporation aud
the many contributions by them or their
representatives the party would have
been beaten IN the last campaign. The
President elected knows what he owes to
these Influences, and he has always leaned
coward them, His first appointec TO the
Supreme Bench Is corporation attorney
The leading members Of his Cabinet Is u
man who has been investigated by Con.
grcss for completely IN Jobs and who Is
believed to have pros,itutcd his former
position as Speaker ofthc House 10 the
corrupt service OF corporations, Every
scheme that has been before Congress for
years has had the support Of james q.
Blaine, aud for the brazilian steamship
subsidy Of John Roach he was the cspec-
ial advocate, We shall hear more Of this
later on.
The star route scandel Is hurting the
party quite rs much as did the whisky
ring exposures. The Postmaster General
and the Attorney General, now learn,
are in dead earnest In their determina-
tons TO get to the bottom Of II, but
among certain others In authority there
is desire to have the matter hushcd.
Yet they do not see how to to do It,
Even II the President or Secretary Blaine
were disposed to discontinue the investi.
CATION they could not well do 1t, for the
true inwardncss of that course would be
at once apparent. The matter has gone
so far that 1t must be allowed to take Its
coulsc. Meanwhile the local organs of
the ring are abusing the two Cabinet
officers engaged in the investigation and
the detectives employed by them, calling
daily upon the President to interfere.
The evidence is now so complete that 1t
will be laid before the grand jury at once
and indictments may be expected in Il
few days. The office of the Sixth Audi
tor of the Treasury, through which the
Postofiice accounts pass, has been cleaned
out by the removal Of Auditor McGrew and
Chief Clerk Lilly, so that no further
obstruction, or covering up evidence Is
to be encountered there.
There is little news or stir in politics
outside of the senatorial complication in
New York, but in Government circles
there is a good deal of flutter and excite
ment. Reports of numerous changes in
the different Departments are in circula-
tion and there has come to be little doubt
that number Of heads will shortly fall.
Bureau officers and chiefs who have had
their day will be called upon to make
room for new blood. Df. Loring will
take charge of the Agricultural Depart.
ment, July LIST; meanwhile LIE Due is
making hay while the sun shines. He
proposes to spend just as much of the
appropriation for his Department before
going out as he can. TO this end he is
about to start on trip to Colorado at
Government expense. Pension commits
sioner Bently is also uneasy, and those
who ought to be posted say that he may
feel authorized to pack his trunk. Prob
ably no official connected with the Gov
eminent could leave it and be as little
regretted, Notwithstanding the fact that
he has in some respects made good
Commissioner.
~ a contract has been made he