The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-11-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
fFrom our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON LETTER.
fFrom our Regular Correspondent
Does anybody know of a democrat
10 principle lying around loose, any
where? Is there any such thing as
. democratic lpolicy? Since slavery,
around which mocracy was built
up-like wicker-work about whis-
key demJohn-was smashed, the
"grand old democratic party" has
been in a state of "betweenity";- for
this, or against that. only as matter
of sullen opposition to the republican
party that had well nigh drubbed it
out of exis. ence. 1t was for more
greerbacks, with "Yoang Greenbax,
Gentleman George Pendleton' as its
prophet, only when the republican
party was ready to begin a gradual
return to specie. And it has hung on
the rear of the grand republican
army Of progress, attempting to
retard the onward march by a har-
RAISING bushwhacking, ever since the
war. If it had persevercd in its old
curiosity shop of party effects
household "trapc and calamities, "a
single relic of boasted democratic
principles as they existed "bofo' de
wah," that "tbingncss of the here
was supposed to have been free
trade.
But since Sam Randall has been
over among tribes on Manhattan
Island telling them that "the tariff is
something that a Pennsylvania
must not talk about" and since Tom
Hendricks, and Dan Voorhees,, the
roaring liop Of thee Hoosier jungles,
have come out for American protec
sion and thrown the Courier-Jo Journal
man-he of the "tariff for revenue
only" clause of the las. democratic
platform-into spasms, the last prop
seems to have been knocked from
under the rotten and tottering fabric
of boasted democratic principles. The
tariff question seems to have dumb
foundered the whole party now, as it
did their presidential candidate in
the last canvass. Candidly, the party
ought to offer q chrome for princi-
pie. It had the "solld south" as a
ghastly substitute for principles until
Malone and the extra session of the
senate which has just adjourned,
"placed it in condition where the
country will rest in the belief that it
IL in the course of ultimate extinc.
tion." But Mahoneism will spread.
Already Mississippi and Alabama
hsse caught it, and in future cam.
paigns it will march and raid through
the 'ssolid South" as the liberators
and Union reclaimers and restoreri
marched through the confederacy
under Grant and Sherman.
The bourbons want to be kicked
by jackasses do it themselves
for having gwen another exhibition
Of their accustomed and constitu tIon
al lack Of political sense in the extr:
session of the senate. They let th'
republicans pick David Davis up ant
place him astride the neck of democ
racy-David enjoys straddle. Thel
the republicans would not let tn
bonrbons raise a breeze over the re
organization, and even denied then
the poor privilege of enjoying a dea'
lock over q Virginia postmaster. Tb
coat tails of senatorial broadclot;
had hardly disappeared down th
grand, green slope Of capitol hi
before president Arthur had appoin
ed Stratham, the Republican reae
iusser-and every point in the repul
kcan game was made.
Secretary Folger will assume th
Treasury portfolio in . few day
when no doubt there will be not
few changes in the organization
the department, and some changs
ofpslicy recommended in its col
duca. I have it from one very nes
the fountain head Of authority an
information in. the treasury that ]
halt is to be recommended in th