The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-04-22
Washington Letter,

Irregular correspondence
Contested Seats in the House-C0mmisstone
Prize and tie IndEaas-EmaacIpatSo Day
at the Capttal.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April. IS, 1882.
There Is prospect of a lively resurrection
IN congress of the supposed extinct southern
question during the present month. -Four or
five democrats hold contested seats. The re-
publican claimants are on the ground urging
their claims to these seats, and legislative halls
will soon ring with that frey, sectional oratory
that has made so large part of the congress
ional record during the last fifteen years. AS
soon as the republican majority Is reinforced
by ousting four or five democrats 1t is expected
that the Tariff commission bill will be passed.
The new Chinese bill, as reported frem the
committee Of education and labor, will proba-
bly, pass the house to-day, under suspension
of the rules. II 1t receives favorable consld
Grafton in the senate and goes to the President,
the latter is very likely to pick some flaw in
it, The Farley amendment to the old BILL
torbidding Chinese naturalization, and the
ed and unskilled laborers In its provisions, are
incorporated in the new bill and are not sup.
posed to be acceptable to President Arthur.
There is a widely prevalent impression that
the new Secretary of the Interior, who takes
charge of his portfolio to-day, will introduce
a new policy IN relation to the Indians; but
it should be known that he cannot adopt an
arbitrary, out and out policy of his own.
There are bills and treaties limiting his pow
ers, which are ministerial or executive. But
ministerial powers may be so exercised as to
give very decided individuality to their adj
mlnistration, and it may be expected that Sec
rotary Teller will be influenced by extreme
western ideas In all the dealings OF his depart.
ment with the red man.
About two weeks ago Bishop Andrews
penned letter to the Methodist clergy, asking
each one OF them to hold special services last
night IN reference to the Indian question, in
cation for "Indlan Treaty Keeping and Pro-
lection" In accordance with this request,
Hon. Hiram Price, Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, delivered at Wesley chapel last even
ing an address on what the government had
done for the Indians, and what the citizens
should do A large majority of the American
people, SAID Mr.. Price, were totally ignorant
of everything connected with the Indian ques
ton. They are just beginning to understand
! It, 1t was not part of Gods plan to create
an independent man. What hurt the Indian
therefore, hurt the whites. While the govern
ment has done It's full duty by the Indians, il
yet has done a great deal which should bt
known. Mr.. Price thereupon gave number
of statistics, in which the Methodists made
poor showing. AS Methodist he was asham
; ed of this and urged his hearers to do better
= He advocated the giving up of the foreigi
f, misslons-until the Indians were civilized ant
christianized Earnest efforts, he believed
: would bring about such results In five years
The Indians were growing better, making
5 rapid progress morally and materially. Tn
l government cut off their rations of whlsk.
last year, intending never to supply them agail
with it, and had reduced their supply of toba(
: CO, both experiments meeting win marhe
success.
> This is Emancipation Day-the day that tn
colored population of Washington celebrate
J. The streets are full of colored military con
i panles, headed by colored brass bands, ma
II shaled by colored men on horseback, followe
hy colorcd women IN carriages and by my
l. lads Of colored youth and maldens ON th
IS sidewalks. Maryland and Virginia, Baltmor
y and Alexandria, have helped to swell th
q dusky tide on this gala day. No city of tn
IT Ozark Continent" can show as large a colore
population as the Capital today, and certainl
no city can show SO great variety of faci'
:, characteristics produced by generations I
70 practical miscagenation.
He was sitting in the parlor with her, whe
" N rooster crOwed in the hack ward and lea