Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-05-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May Is.

1ne oreary, colu anu uise6feeeoao "es-
thsr experienced in April still continues.
The sun has not put in an appearance
for q full week to-day. In an experience
of eighteen springs in this climate ! have
never seen anything to compare with thin
weather. Ovsrcoats and winter wrap
pings are still generally worn upon our
streets, and fres are kept up in the houses
nearly constantly. This has a very de-
pressing effect on business, and much
complaint is heard from dealers in spring
goods. Prices for the necessaries Of life
have advanced this season beyond any
thing experienced heretofore; meats sell
now at an advance Of more than thirty.
three per cent. over the prices that pre-
vailed one year ago. Rents have gone
up fully twenty per cent. during the
year, and yet houses are in great de-
mand.
Now that both political parties have
organized their Congressional Committees
and Conventions are being held. there are
many who are casting about for positions
and canvassing for the purpose of dscid-
ing which side to take in the approaching
campaign.
The most important event Of last week
was the State Convention of Pennsylva-
MIA Republicans. There was much proph-
ecying prior to the Convention The
leading men Of both wings of the party
held a consultation more than a week
before the assembling of the Convention.
The reports of that meeting which reach
ed the public gave reason to hope that
all differences had been settled. The
Convention appeared to work harmoni-
ously and a ticket that should meet the
approval Of all reasonable men was
agreed upon; the stalwsrt or Cameron
wing getting the Governor, the half
breed, or Mitchell-McVeigh wing the
Lieutenant Governor and Congressman
at-large; the other candidates being di-
vided between them. This was conced-
ing quite enough to the half-breeds, yet
there are mutterings Of dissatisfaction
among them. General Beaver, the can
didste for Governor, is very popular; he
served in the army during the war, COM
ing out with one leg. He will make a
good run and be elected beyond doubt.
Only one other State has yet got
ticket in the field, and that is far-of Or
eson, where the party seems to be united
and have selected an excellent ticket and
ought to succeed. Their election takes
place in June. The Legislature to be
elected then has the selection of q sue
cessor to Senator Grover. A portion OF
the Senate holds over, and as those elect
ed last year are nearly all Republicans,
il seems that with this advantage the
Republican party should hold the Legs
lature.
1t will require harmony in the party,
and earnes, work for the Republicans TO
retain control Of the House in the next
Congress. The loss Of one member each
in Maine. New Hampshire and Vermont
should be overcome by the Republicans
of the former State electing full delega-
ton and the additional member IN the
latter. There are eight districts that are
represented in the present Congress by
through dissensions In the
ranks of the opposition, or where the un-
tied votes cast against the successful man
exceeded the number he received VIZ;
9th Illinois, LIST, 9th and Sth Michigan,
sth Missouri, 9th Ohio, and 18th and
Goth Pennsylvania and ten districts are
by Democrats in which ma
jority Of the votes was against those
elected, viz: End and 4th Arkansas, 4th
9Th and l4th New York,
5th and sth Tennessee, lst Virginia and
LIST West Virginia; also eight Republi-
cans who were elected by less than 500
plurality, and four Democrats and three
Greenbackers who were elected by a like
close vote; and the 9th Virginia is repre-
sented BY Readjuster, while the vote
against him exceeded his own by more
than three thousand. The Republicans
cannot hope to carry any of the close
Greenback districts. They will redeem |
the 32nd New York, and possibly one or
two other districts, and gain FIVE men,
bers in Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska,
but the large gains in representation in
the South will all be Democratic. Our
only hope lies in the earnest and well d.
rscted efforts Of all Republicans. New
England should return twenty-three (23)
members to the Forty eighth Congress,
and ! expect it viii be done.
The present House has accomplished
much in the way Of hearing and acting
upon contested cases; several have al