Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-12-14
WASHINGTON LETTER
fYrom our Regular oorrnDondsnf.l

bears internal evidences OF a labored eff
fort in that direction. There are few
who accord it rank as an able state pa
per, but worse than that a large proper
tion of the Presidents own party are
positively displeased with many Of his
utterances. This feeling, slightly appar-
ent at first, has been growing daily ever
since the message appeared in print.
The Stalwart leaders re not only dssat-
isfied with the message. but with the
Presidents Southern policy, which is en-.
tirely controlled hy that astute andsun-
scrupulous wire.worker, Secretary Bill
Chandler, and has been so managed as to
squclch the staunch Republicans Of that
section in order to further the purposes
of such schemers as Malone. The Half.
breeds are best pleased with the mess
age, though filed with doubts of its sin
cerity. An ironical smile played upon
the face of listeners in both houses of
Congress when the Presidents express
tons on the subject of political assess
ments were read. One leading Senator
said balf aloud: HE should have put
those sentiments into practice before
the elections instead of giving Hubbell
and Malone a carte blanch to rob the
poor. clerks" 1t will be remembered
that the President went fishing last sum-
mer and allowed his position on the as
sessment. question to be interpreted by
Jay Hubbell and Malone and Don Gamer
on, whose demands were made impera-
tive, and there never was more general
beliefJthat the status of Office holders
depended upon compliance with these
demands. 1t may safely be said that the
message has taken mary persons by sur
PRISE One hears it said on the streets and
in the hotels that the President has heard
the verdict of the people and been guided
by it. Some are agreebly surprised by
his recommendations and others speak of
the message as 'death-bed repentance. :"
Senator Miller New York, laughing
ly refers to the Preslden't recommends
tions as those Of d convert.
There is good deal Of amusement for
us lockers on 10 note how the views and
purposes Of CoLgressmen change from
time to time. For instance. some repub-
lican members are suddenly discovering
necessity for revision of the tariff this
winter. And then Judge Kelley who on.
| ly short time ago wanted to wipe out
the entire internal revenue system, for
the purpose of protecting the tariff, is
now conceding that his plan will have
to be abandoned and that after all a
small amount of tariff revision might be
endured. These are questions which very
much trouble the Republican mind just
now. Then, too, some Republican Con-
gressmen are coming out for civil service
reform, among them the very fellows
who have heretofore said: "Civil service
reform he blowed," with good deal of
emphaticness. While this humor is on
them, Senator Pendleton proposes to
bring forward his little bill for considers
ton. Senator Beck created something oi
a breeze in the Senate by moving for an
investigation Of the Hubbell committee
methods. His idea is to have it shown
how much money was collected, where
and how it was expended; how much
if any, is still Oh hand. The right Of
Congress to make this inquiry arises
under the law against assessments. It il
also proposed to find out how many
clerks have been dismissed for failure tC
contribute. They say that Hubbell, who
is now in Washington, intends to keeI
away as long as he can, and that it il
very doubtful in any event whether hi
comes back to Washington until aftel
, 1.-THE Senatorial election m Michigan.
| IL is taking considerable time to gel
started with the new Star.route trial and
! to get jury. Dorsey, too, Is said to b
playing possum, with view obtaining
postponement. Now that the Washing
ton atmosphere has been cleared allittle
the rogues are badly scared and Dor
sey's late "card" is regarded here in thu
light OF shrek Of distress. There il
still good deal OF discussion touching
the attitude OF the President, and thu
prevailing opinion is that his spasm o.
virtue comes little late, and that hi
sincerity corresponds with his afte
election civil service and political assess
ment sentiments. Mr.. Arthur has al
along known all he knew two weeks ag'
when he made the move which was in
! tended to give him the credit Of being ii
! earnest; yet for whole year he neg
lected to act. When Attorney Genera
Mcveagh resigned for the very conclu
siye reasons given by him in his letter re
Gently published, the President delaye'
the appointment Of his successor ia
three weeks after the time he agreed t
h appoint him, thus encouraging the abus
|. of Mcveagh in Dorsey's newspapers an
aiding them to create the impression tina
7 Mcveagh wanted to run away from tn
cases because he believed they wer
weak. It is since the election that MI
+ 4 81 IA -vr - Il.