Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-06-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From ourregulAr Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June 4, /

Prom ourreeulkr Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, June 4, 1881.
To those accustomed to observe the
course OF events from the standpoint of
the National Capital. and to note the vi
brations of the political pulse as they are
to be seen here, the signs of disintergra-
tion and utter dissolution of the party in
power could not be more distinctly
marked than they are at this time. 1t is
as II the edict were written in large char
acters upon the walls of the Capitol
building. A party with nothing to hold
it together but tho cohesive power of
spoils, aud beset on every side with con-
tlictfng interests and personal quarrels,
cannot long exist under any circumstan.
| ces: BUT when, besides this, it is reeking
with corruption and its leaders have lost
not only the confidence of each other but
of the rank and file, and the party organs
havtyset to abusing opposite factions and
threatening to bust things" the end is
in plain sight. This is the condition of
| the RePublican party to-day.
1t Is not the Conkling quarrel that is
going to ruin the party, but it is those
conditions that made the quarrel danger
Gus, which it has only aided in uncover
ing. The Ndfiondl Republican, for years
the organ of the party here, and now a
strosg supporter of Conkling, has lust
taken very significant position. It's ed;-
| tor, George c, GOrham, late candidate for
| Secretary of the Senate, was Dorsey s
| lieutenant in Indiana and helped to dis
tribute the enormous fund with which
thatState was purchased in October He
now declares that the Republican party
has come to be the party of corruption
ana monopoly; that it no longer repre-
sents the people or has any principle, and
that the present Administration is the
embodiment of the great corporation
monopoly power. This is strange talk to
come from Republican journal but it is
the truth. But for the active influence
of the corporations and the money con-
tributed 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 toward them,
His first appointee to the Supreme Bench
is a corporation attorney. The leading
member of his Cabinet is man who has
been Investigated by Congress for COM
plicity in jobs and who is believed to
have prostituted his former position as
Speaker of the House to the corrupt serv-
ice of corporations. Every scheme that
has been before Congress for years has
had the support of James G. Blaine, and
for the Brazilian steamship subsidy OF
John Roach he was the especial advocate
We shall hear more of this later on.
The star route scandal is hurting the
party. auite as much as did the whiskey
ring ex5esuTts. The Postmaster Genera
and the Attorney General, now learn
arein dead earnest in their determine
tion to get to the bottom of it, but among
certain others in authority there is de
sire to have the matter hushed. Yet they
do not see how to do it. Even if the Presi
dent or Secretary Blaine were disposed tt
discontinue the investigation they could
not well do it, for the true inwardness OF
that course would be at once apparent
The matter has gone SO far that it mus
be allowed to take its course. Meanwhile
the local organs of the ring are abusing
the two Cabinet officers engaged in the
investigation and the detectives employ
ed by them, calling daily upon the Presi
dent to interfere. The evidence is now sc
complete that it will be laid before tht
the grand jury at once and indictments
may be expected in a few days. The of
flee of the Sixth Auditor of the Treasury
through which the Postoffice accounts
pass, has been cleaned out by the remova
OF Auditor McGrew and Chief Clerk Lii
Iy, so that no further obstruction, or GOV
ering up of evidence is to be encountered
there.
There is little news or stir in politics
outside of the senatorial complication ir
New York. but in Government circles
there is good deal of fiutter and excite
ment. Reports of numerous changes ir
the different Departments are in circula
ton and there has come to be little doubt
that numder of heads will shortly fall
Bureau officers and chiefs who have had
their day will be called vpon to make
room for new blood. DR.. Loring will
take charge of the Agricultural Depart.
ment, July 1st; meanwhile LIE Due is
making hay while the sun shines. He
proposes to spend just as much of the ap.
preparation for his Department before
going out as he can. To this end he is
about to start on a trip to Colorado al
Government expense. Pension Commits
sioner Bentley is also uneasy, and those
who ought to be posted say that he may
feel authorized to pack his trunk. Proba
bly, no official connected with the Gov
ernment could leave it and be as little re
gretted, notwithstanding the fact that he
has in some respects made good Com
missioner.