Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-01-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our regular CoFTespondent.l
W. cIITNnrnH T.. II 1SQ1

w NAouANu1ONt JAIL 1tt lOCls
While the business OF Congress pro.
gresses steadily and quietly the pol
iticians and gossips have had enough to
occupy their attention in discussing pro.
liabilities as to the next Cabinet, watch.
ing the progress of the various Senatorial
contests, and gathering In the develop
ments of the ChristiAncy scandal. Per.
baps the chief interest has centered in
the Senatorship struggles. 1t is notice.
able fact, however, that politicians here
have, as usual, unbounded confidence
in the ultimate triumph of the machine
in New York. Pennsylvania, and all Other
States where machinery and Bosses
have healthy existence. The most
amusing. il not the most surprising
result was the selection Of Conger in
Michigan. Conger may be man of some
ability-he certainly must possess some
skill in manipulation, but in the House
of Representatives he has cut a most
ridiculous figure. Any one who has
watched him from the gallery for single
day would never suspect that such a man
obtain Senatorial seat. But they NAV
refrigerate him in that dignified body.
1t is an advantage to the peace and pro.
gress Of the House that he has been taken
out of its deliberations.
Concerning the Cabinet there is no end
of speculation, but the only portfolio
that seems to be definitely disposed of is
that Secretary of State is assigned to Mr.
Blaine. 1t is assumed that Conkline
personally, and some of the other fellows
Of the Grant crowd, will not like this
and that they will have to be violently
conciliated before things can run smooth
ly. 1t was asserted with great con.
tidenee, at one time. Governor Foster, OF
Ohio would be made either Secretary
of the Interior or Postmaster General
That would be good scheme for the few
remaining male residents of Ohio. The
President has provided for all the big fish
out there by putting them ir good places
and the Secretary of the Treasury ha:
satisfied the intermediate grade witt
special agencies and other berths. Now
if the Post Office Department could only
take in the smaller fry for clerks anc
route-agents, Ohio might struggle along
very well.
Senator-elect Malone, of Virginia i
an object of great interest, and he i,
shrewd enough to enjoy the situation
The Republicans are especially solicitor.
concerning Nahone's probable course il
the Senate, and there are evidence o.
strenuous efforts to win him to their sidt
by promises of aid in the coming struggle
in his state. The National Republican
now edited by George C. Gorham, q can
didats for Secretary Of the Senate, openly
urges the Republicans of Virginia to joil
tlNa IA. nd ,,,..,
derstood GOrham expects Mahone's vote
for the secretaryship. But the best in
formed Virginia politicians say that
Mahonecan not afford to affiliate with the
Republicans and he knows it; his power
would fail and his following disappear
A prominent Virginian said to your cor
respondent to-day: "Mahone could not
hold his own forces, nor one-third oil
them, in line on any ticket for State con.
troll by afusion with the Radical colored
vote, and he knows that perfectly well
because he saw how they scattered last
campaign, when regular Democracy
was held over them in earnest. His
strength rs leader, and all of it there
can be, must come from his position as
an independent Democrat. Another
thing; the negroes can't vote without
paying their poll-tak. This item amounts
to 100000, and the campaign expense
will make another $4,000, the total to
come out of the Republican party of the
North, as an experiment, and this with
the moral certainly that his own white
Democratic troops would break if he
hoisted the enemy's flag" Yet Malone
may vote for Gorham as matter of per.
sonal friendship.
During the extreme cold weather of
the past month much suffering has ex-
listed among the poor of this city, where
unexpected severity is not so we'll pro
'vlded against as in communities where il
is looked for. And we have large
class of poor here, not only consisting
of the lower elements, embracing many
who have known better times and possess
degree of culture and pride. To cal
of the authorities for means of relief
there was most generous response, and
within five days from the time 1t was issu
ed not a case of distress was to be found in
the city. Wealthy citizens, public of
ficials, and the people generally gave
literally and even the British minister,
Sir Edward Thornton, a most noble man
responded to the cry. The President OF
the United States, however, who received
q salary of $50,000 per year from the
public, of which he has boarded $3.50, ,00(
in four years, gave not one cent. II
Mr.. Hayes had any national pride, any
respect for the office he, holds, any
appreciation of what are known as "tht
proprieties" in his great Office, or any
sympathy with or anxiety about the sick
and lowly, he would blush with shame
when he contemplates the ignominiou:
fact that the representatives of foreign
countries gave literally to the suffering
poor of the Capital city, while the Pres
ldent of the great country kept his hun
dreds of thousands of dollars closely but
toned within his miserly pocket. Bu
Mr.. Hayes thinks of nothing but himself