The Russellville Democrat., 1881-11-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

" ASHfEGT0N U. 1., NOV. 1 4, lccl. Editors Russtuvine Democrat.
 However much Democrats may wish, frsm patriotic motives, to en- courage and support the Admins tration of President Arthur, the in dications unmistakably are that they will ere many months have pass ed find themselves earnestly oppos ed both to his methods and policy. The present Executive is a politi- elan pure and simple. He may be q shrewd politician, Tn the sense of sulting means to ends, but in all his plans and purposes he will never rise above the thought of party sue cess. This much is clearly foreshad owed both in his past record and in first steps of his administration. One of the first acts of the new Fix ecutive was to bring the power and patronage of the Government to the aid of Malone in the Virginia cam pain solely for the purpose oi gain ing small party advantage, which must be of questionable value to say the least of II. It is beyond contro- versy or doubt that we are to have a Cabinet of Grant men and return or Grant policies. On the inside and outside the Presidents advisers are drawn from the Old Guard at Chi cago-ths famous 306 and the in huences and connections surround 1 ing his Administration will be of the same sort. Political trading and seheming to party ends and for the success of certain individuals will be the chief characteristic of the Administration. Even Mir. Blaine acknowledges this prospect and rec egnizes that he has no place in the crowd. It IS not unlikely, therefore, that the relations of Democrats tow ard such ail Administration will be very different from their feelings toward that of Gen. Garfield.
 After all that has been said and done about the star route ring and it's robberiss the prospect now is that every one of the rascals will go scot free, No more doubt exists now ofthe guilt of the parties ac- cnsed, or the enermity of their steal lngs, than has existed at any time heretofore, but the difficulties sur rounding the prosecution of the cas- es are coming to be better under stood. There IS a strong suspicion obtaining here, also, that the Presi- dent is not in earnest in his express ed desire for vigorous prosecution. This suspicion arises partly from his anxiety to throw all the responsibil- ity upon the Garfield administrator and is strengthened by the stubborn determination of Attorney General McVeagh to retire. It has been as serted in circles where McVeagh's S purposes ought to be known that this is really his private view. Ger tainly he knows the value of the evi- dence that has been obtained and he asserts with the utmost positiveness that it is sufficient to convince any 1 unbiased mind. This leaves only the oneopinionthat the Attorney General has no faith in the professions of President Arthur against Dorsey, Brady and their associates, and therefore insists on retiring rather than be humiliated with a defeat his legal acumen could not avoid against the secret touches of Presidential in- fuences.
 Dorsey and Brady are the head and front of the offenders and the chief benificiaries. In other words they pocketed most of the swag. Dorsey is secretary of the Republ- can National Committee and knows all the secrets of that body. He was dined in New York for his success in bribery in Indiana, and one of his entertainers was President Ar. thur, who looked upon his use of "soap" in the Indiana contest as a good joke. The accomplished Dor sey is therefore perfectly unconcern- ed. He knows he is safe. He has said to the party managers: q must be fully vindicated or when l fall will pull down with me the pillars of the Republican temple. l can make exposures that would shame the party out of existence, and will do it rather than be disgra- ced for saving the party" He will not be punished, neither will Brady, and all this pulling and hauling by Arthur and McVeagb, has this mean ing. McVeagh does not want to be the scape- goat.
 But few Senators remain in the ci- ty during the interim and there is little hustle or interest in political circles. It will shortly return how ever, as members of the lower House will begin to arT1ve in about two weeks to participate in the canvass for the Speakership. More or less gossip and speculation is already in dulged in on this subject but there is nothing upon which to base re- liable opinion. Under all the cir cumstances the selection of & Wes tern man seems probable, but can didates are plenty as blackberries in that section, and that fact may re suit in turning the choice eastward. Kasson, of Iowa, Kiefer, of Ohio, and Burrows, of Michigan, are the lead | IT I