The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
1rrom our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON. ID. c., Nov. 7, 1881.
Does anybody know ola Democrat
10 principle lying around loose. any
where? Is there any such thing as
a Democratic policy? Since slavery,
around which Democracy was built
unlike the wicker-work about
whiskey demijohn-was smashed,
the "grand old Democratic party"
has been in 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 existence. 1t was
"for more greenbacks. with Young
Greenbax, Gentleman George Pen
dleton as it's prophet, only when the
Republican party was ready to begin
gradual return to specie. And it
has hung on the rear of the grand Re-
publican army ofprogress. attempting
TO retard the onward march by har-
RAISING bushwhaching ever since the
war. If it had preserved in its old
curiosity shop of party effects-house-
hold straps and calamities, "a sip
gle relic of boosted Democratic or'i$
ciples as they existed "befo' de wah,"
that "thingness of TT e here" was sup
posed to have been free trade.
But since Sam Randall has been
over among the tribes on Manhattan
Island telling them that "the tariff
is something that Pennsylvania
must not talk about ;" and since Tom
Hendricks, and Dan voorhees,, the
roaring lion of the Hoosier jungles,
have come out for American protec-
ton and thrown the COurier-Jo,a7adt
mamie of the tariff for revenue
only" clause of the last Democratic
platform-into spasms, the last prop
seems to have been knocked from I'M
der the rotten and lettering fabric of
boosted Democratic principles. The
tariff question seems to have dumb
founded the whole party now. as 1T
did their Presidential candidate in
the last canvass. Candidly, the par
ty ought to offer chrome for prin-
ciple. It had the 'solid South" as a
CHASTITY 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
is in the course of ultimate extinc-
ton" But Mah0neism will spread.
Already Mississippi and Alabama
have caught it, and in future cam
paigns it will march and raid through
the "solid South" and the liberators
and Union reclaimers and restorers
march through the Confedercy under
Grant and Sherman.
The Bourbons want to be kicked
by jackasses- do it themselves
for having given another exhibition
of their accustomed and constitution
al lack of political sense in the extra
session Of the Senate. They let the
Republicans pick David Davis up
and place him astraddle OF the neck
of Democracy-David enjoys strad
die. Then the Republicans would
not let the Bourbons raise a breeze
over the re organization, and even
denied them the poor privilege of en-
joying dead lock over a Virginia
postmaster. The coat tails of sena-
torial broadcloth had hardly disap-
peared down the grand. green slope
OF Capitol Hill before President Ar
thur had appointed Stratham, the
Republican readjuster-and every
point in the Republican game was
made.
Secretary Folger will assume the
Treasury portfolio in few days,
when no doubt there will be not
few changes in the organization of
the Department., and some changes of
policy recommended in its conduct.
L have it from enc very near the
fountain-head of authority and in
formation in the Treasury that
halt is to be recommended in the
present rapid paying off of the pub
lie debt, and consequent reduction
OF internal taxes. And notwith-
standing the very able and popular
administrations of Messrs. Sherman
and Window, through which our
credit has been rendered almost the
best among the nations of the eartn
and SO much has been saved to the
country in interest. the fault of their
policy has been that it was "too
much of a good thing" -the debt
is being paid too fast. The present
generation has borne too much in
putting down the rebellion, spent too
much blood and treasure, to be re-
quired to pay off the National debt so
precipitately. Let's take the tax off
OF matches, bank checks, some off of
tobacco, etc., and let up a little.
nF kA