Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-05-18
SPIRIT OF THE AGE,
Wednesday, May 10, 1891
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER,
Washington May iSIh' 81

weather as has prevailed, Things have
been br0iliHg hot IN ia0re senses Than one
At one tine there was some hope among
the Republicans that compromise OF The
unpleasantness over the New York noml
tlons might be arrived ut, and senators
lahored zealously 10 that end, iinl the
hope has 80 far failed, ltobesison must
stand, aud no viii be eOnhrmed, perhaps,
before this letter II Ia print, while the war
" the Conkling element aud the "star
route" ring against the Administration
will 40 on % the bitter end, Not the
least part OF the weeks excitement 10
political circles was caused by the attack
upon the President and Secretary iilalne
through the correspondence Of tho New
York Herald, This relation OF what Is
claimed TO 10 the inside history OF the
campaign and IT. subsequent results,
charges series OF bargains and broken
pledges upon Gen, Garfield almost too
base for belief, even In these degenerate
days. Governor Foster has passed some
DAYS Ia the city In M endeayor to patch
up truce meanwhile the bitter attacks
Of Corham upon Garfield aud Postmaster
General James continues with Increased
yehemence. Governor Foster also thinks
this "star route" scandal should stop
He IL a shrcwd politician and knows bet
ter than we do here at Washington how
much II IL hurting the party, Besides no
has some inkling OF the terrible secrets
Dorsey talks about revealing, Dorsey,
with other wounded birds OF the "star
route" explosion, has been here aud from
tho way he iluttcrs II Is plain he Is hurt
badly. 1t Is reported that In conference
with Attorney.Gene McVcagh few
days since Dorsey aeked the latter " he
meant 10 utter Il as his opinion that he
was party to any OF the mall frauds
10 this Il Is said the Acknowledgement
b,untly replied that he did, Altogether
things arc real interesting.
The opposition shown In the Senate 70
Stanley Matthews confirmation as SUI
prcmc Court Judge, cannot be charged as
the result OF political differences or OF
personal anmositics. 1t came OF pro-
found conviction that, notwithstanding
his great abilities, and his high personal
character, Mr., Matthews possesses quail
ties of mind or holds opinions which
unit him for discharge Oft the functions
Of that office. The most pronounced
objection 10 his confirmation last winter
were the two most eminent tourists In the
Senate-Senators Edmunds and Thurman
belonging to opposite political parties
The grounds Of this opposition was Mr.
Mathews well.known views touching the
rights of corporations, and the fear that
his judgement might be the means OF
multiplying legislation lately accomplished
with reference to the Pacific railways.
This Is the argument and the consider
alton that weighed most in the committee
which reported against him and that has
rendered his confirmation ut any time
doubtful. The soundness Of this objec-
ton will be more fully comprchended
when the influences that have been at
work to secure his confirmation are bet
ter known. 1t probably would not ad-
vance Mr.. Matthew'S canse In popular
minds to have 1t generally understood that
q gentleman in New York having large
railroad and business interests In this
country had been telegraphing to Sena-
tors the inquiry whether certain favors
extended ought not to be followed by
their votes for his confirmation. Mr..
Matthews, as a private citizen, has a
right to engage bis services to railway
corporations, but the present is certainly
not the time to attorneys Of these corpor-
atoms on the Supreme bench.
The fact that Mr.. Matthews has been
strong partisan and that he played u
prominent part in the electoral compli-
cations of 1879 was expected to help him
with his own party friends and create
antagonism among Democratic Senators.
But this seems not to have been the
case, especially with reference to the
Democrats, for the majority Of his sup
port comes from that side of the chamber.
1t has been asserted in explanation of
this latter circumstance that strong
representations have been presented to
Democratic Senators that Mr.. Matthews
would be certain to range himself along
side Of Justice Field on all political ques-
lions that might come before the Court.
This seems almost incredible. How
lnanifestly improper it would be for Mr..
Matthews or his friends for him to give
any such pledges. And if they We're
given and accepted as reasons for con
tirmation how certain it Is that they
would be disregarded-that those relying
upon them would only be once more
taken into camp and betrayed. The fact
urged by Senator Edmunds in the discus
sion, that sentiments uttered by Mr..
Matthews in his address at the unwilling
Of the Thomas statue showed dangerous
tendency toward Capitalization, did not,
strangely enough, seem to produce any
effect upon the minds Of Democtatic Sen
atOrs.
Developments have plainly shown
that Haves's honest administration