The Portland daily press., 1882-03-06
Washington Letter.
Blaine's Oration-The Doings OF Congress
"A Business Session-Conkling's Nomi-
nation-Frye on the Tariff-Reed's Good
Work-The Maine Delegation.


Monday was the day of a life time in WASH
ington. 1t witnessed the elimination of the
mourning period for the Nations dead, and
such a elimination as is due to one of the
greatest Of the departed from one of the great
est of the living, and through him from
whole nation most generous in memory of its
lately beloved chief. To those who read Mr..
Blaine's memorial address (and who will not?),
words of praise here would be tame indeed.
But it is we'll to remark that among the people
who heard it there is but one opinion, which is,
that it was as charitable as Garfield himself.
and it will go great way to heal the wounds
of those who have arrayed themselves on either
side in the alleged divisions Of the Republican
party, The hest friends of President Arthur
are especially pleased with the whole memori-
al exercises, and sincerely feel that the occa-
sion is one which will firmly cement and rein
vigorate the elements which make up the party /.
of the nation. For it is in no factious spirit
that the declaration goes forth now, since the
quarreling and incoherence of the opposition
elements everywhere, that the party to which
James A. Garfield gave the greater part of his
life must be the party of the far distant future,
as well as of the present.
Congress is moving on slowly. This condi-
ton to some extent would be necessary to
majority which is determined to do well and
make no mistakes; but, as events develop, it Is
made manifest that precious time must be
wasted because of the agreement among the
Democrats to put obstacles in the way of legis-
latien SO that the Republican majority may ap-
pear to the country to be dilatory and inefi-
Gent There can no longer be any doubt OF
the Democratic purpose to oppose and to trig
every movement of the majority, under vari-
ous pretences, in order to force long session
and to be able to say in the coming campaign
that the Republicans are responsible for many
failures in legislation. They vote almost
solidly for adjournment whenever proposed,
and they are all the more solid whenever that
adiournmentis for two or three days. They in
terpose objections out of time, amendments
that have 40 relevancy, and talk for buncombe
on the most trifing provocation, so that 1t may
go to the world that Republican Congress is
a do-nothing body. This plan is being worked
so diligently aud blindly that it will plague its
inventors, however, for it will frequently ap-
pear that the only drawback to this Congress
is the small majority the Republicans have,
and this will be an excellent reason for increas-
ing that majority at the coming elections.
OF course the nomination of Conkling for the
Supreme bench is an absorbing topic, and OF
course there was great surprise at it; and yet
when we reflect, why should there be any
doubt? Mr.. Conkling has befriended the Pres
ident in years past very conspicuously. He Is
lawyer of standing and a man of sbility.
Could President Arthur be expected to ignore
him? Reasonably, the one alternative was to
give Mr.. ConkliDg this high position, or place
him in the line of political preferment. In
the interests of the country, of the administra-
tion and of the Republican party, all Of which
doubtless President Arthur has in view, he has
done what he conscientiously could to bring har-
mony out of discord, and to assure the continu-
ance of the principles which he is In power
to represent and enforce. 1 know that many
Republicans disagree with this view, but lbs
lieve events will confirm its truth.
The admirable speech of Mr.. Frye on the
tariff is one of the clearest and calmsst exposl-
tions of Democratic heresy ever made. 1t
ought to be read and re-read by every farmer
and artisan in New England. The attractive
eloquence of ''free trade and"a tariff for re-
source only" practically applied, would be SO
ruinous to Maine industries that the State
would lose its identity in few years. While
Mr. FRYE and all other Republican leaders
admit that the tariff ought to be revised and
changed occasionally to meet the needs OF the
country and to subserve the interests OF all
sections, the Democratic remedy" is bait to
catch ignorant votes and cannot deceive the
people of Maine who have so much at stake IN
the conservative legislation which their Demo
cratic Congressman are unable to reverse
against executive elected by the whole peo-
pie. Senator Frye deserves well of hispeo-
pie, whom he proposes to lead to signal victory
next fall.
Representative Reed is doing a good
work in promoting legislation which will
in future facilitate the work Of Congress in
great degree He and other Republicans are
working for laws that shall "provide for the
adjudication of the thousands Of private claims
that yearly cucumber the congressional calen-
dars and block public business. AS chairman
of the Judiciary Committee, Mr.. Reed has
good field at his command, and his popularity
as legislator will be greatly increased by his
present efforts. In fact, as whole, the he
nublican delegation from Maine is much above
the average in the Senate and House for ability
and efficiency, and its superiority becomes
startling when compared with the insignifi-
cance of the Demo- -Greenback couple from the
fourth and fifth districts. 1t almost makes
one shudder to reflect what might have been
Names disgrace had such competent" des-
tructiyes as Fogg, Philbrick & Co. completed
the delegation as Ladd and Murch began II.
II is the hope of the majority here that al
though reduced by one in Its future representa-
tion in the House, Maine will increase its real
force by one and drop out its misrepresentatiVe
element.
Two notable subjects will be brought before
the House in a few days if possible-the admis-
sion of Dakota as a State, and the settlement
of the polygamy question, both through Judge
Edmundsis bill to re-organize Utah, and the
elections committees report in effect decl airing
nolvgamists ineligible to seats in Congress as
delegates. The Republicans will press both OF
these questions to the issue. Dakota ia clearly
entitled to admission, and it IS difficult to see
what fight the Democrats can make against it,
although they threaten. On the Mormon ques-
ton the Democrats will make stand, as they
have on the wrong side of all questions for
many years. They will pretend to defend this
twin relic of barbarism as they did slavery,
upon constitutional grounds, but in reality
they will approve or try to protect 1t from
harm because all iniquity appears to be poilti-
cally Democratic. But the Republican ma
iority appears to be determined upon the ex.
termination of polygamy, and there Is real