Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-11-17
DR1FT-wooD FROM WASHINGTON.
ooRREspoNDENcE OF THE SENTINEL.

uOui WithOub hCuiiHS Ia CNCly NhCSViOh viz
remark, ut is q shame and disgrace that
such man and statetman as Judge Blair
should have been defeated. His election at
this time might be considered national bless
ing" 1t is even so, and let the shame and
disgrace rest where it properly belongs
when he created his lago
with delight as he imagined that
he had outstripped God Almighty in the
building Of Judas Iscarot, but these char
acters are but half impostors when com
pared with those stately political crimina s
who sold and traded Judge Blair for their
individual advancement
Members oil the Senate and House are
daily arriving; the congratulations at the
great Democratic success throughout the
are fast and thick. 1t might he
that after such great storm We
would have calm, but not so. The con
test for Speakership Of the next Congress
has doomed up with gigantic proportions
and creating much excitement and specu
lation. Many prominent Democratic mem
bers are mentioned in connection with the
same, and their respective friends are hard
at work.
The Speaker of the House is the mouth
piece Of its members. He is a presiding
officer In the real theory OF the position
his qualifications need only be those of clear
and quick perception Of rules, fl,mness in
decision and courtesy in bearing But this
traditional theory Of the important office
has lost all its significance because Mr..
Speaker appoints the committees of the
House, because he can thus pack important
committees with men of known views on
great issues, because he can trade for his
election by tickling the vanities Of great
statesmen by placing them as chairmen OF
committees for the peculiar duties OF which
they have no special training. by this
method of congressional procedure, by TINS
committee custom and Senatorial cour-
tesy" that have been engrafted upon the
system of representative bodies, the com
mittees and the Speaker have become para
mount to the whole House. Defeat, post
ponement, curtailment, amendment, are va
rious results that can be attained by com
mittees working TO such ends and not with
the purpose of preparing measures for the
consideration of the House. There is no
objection intended to the system of com
mittees. They are Indispensable, and legis-
lative work could proceed in no other man
ner, but their selection and the scope of their
work have been for years in the House
rather an example Of machine politics, than
part Of the deliberate process of House OF
National Representatives.
The most prominent names in connection
with the Speakership are those of ex Speaker
Randall, OF Pennsylvania, and Hon. John
G. Carlisle, of Kentucky, the ablest man
to-day in either branch of Congress. Mr.
Carlisle would make an excellent Speaker.
He possesses all the qualities to fit him Tor
that high position. His selection would
doubtless meet with little adverse criticism.
The question of revenue reform is one OF
the true and living gods of Democratic
polity. But that reform should certainly
be the result of the best thought and the
fullest discussion of the Democratic mem
bers of the next House. Sweeping reforms
in business are dangerous. There are great
opportunities for abolishing needless tax
exactions, there is crying demand for the
proper treatment and determination OF the
tariff reform, but if it be sought to destroy
all that exists, to remove every vestige OF
the present, then the Democratic party will
be left stranded far up on the shore whittier
Its recent success has carried it. The Speaker
ship, properly, has no connection with the
course of legislation. That is, 1t should not
have. Either Mr.. Randall or Mr.. Carlisle
would admirably discharge the duties. The
House should not be organized in the inter-
est of any particular kind OF revenue re-
form. Let the contest be an honorable one,
anu nave all tilc clcllicuIS bhuO SutSi INV q
friendly contest and let it not partake of
what this or that man would do in the di-
rection of certain legislation.
| Now that the Democrats have carried
New Jersey, Senator Mcpherson is in the
| field for denomination and election. He
stands well with his party and made good
Democratic representative.
The Delaware Republicans have elected
just one member Of the Legislature, and
the Chairman of their State Committee, the
notorious Dick Harrington, of safe burglary
fame, telegraphed 10 friend in this city,
ave are defeated, but not demoralized." 1t
| is generally conceded that nothing but the
penitentiary would ever demoralize Dick
Harrington.
There is no longer any possibility Of mis-
taking the meaning Of this deluge. The
people have issued writ of ejectment
against the Republican party. II the Demo
cratic sheriff is equal TO the situation the
writ will be served on the first Tuesday OF
| November, 1884, and carried into effect on
the 4th Of March, 1886.
1t is now said that the only material lefl
the Stalwart machine to make up ticket
for 1884 is the following: For President
William Malone, of Virginia; for Vice
President, James II. Chalmers, of Misssis
sippi They are about all that Arthur saved
from the Stalwart wreck, they are the sur
viving representatives of Stalwartism, then
let il be Malone and Chalmers, or Chal.
mers and Malone.
This country is full of unfinished monu-
ments Garfield has been dead a little more
than year, and II he is to have monu
ment, the fact is appreciated that the money
must be raised at once. Hence the fair al
Washington on the 25th. There seems to
be general desire to make the Fair all that
it should be, at least as q money getting en-
terprise. Long ago all the space in the
rotunda was taken and several government
buildings and halls have been procured for
branches Of exhibit. The demand for space
from the largest firms in New York, Phia
delphia, Boston and indeed from every large
city in the Union, has been unprecedented
The sickening details of the star route
business are no nearer at an end, seemingly
than months ago. Conversing with one Of
the leading attorneys in the case, he re.
marked, that the trial had just begun.
1t would appear that the office-holders
have not yet escaped the per cent. assess
ment. The Republican State Committee
have issued another circular, requesting
those who have not yet paid their assess
ment ITO step TO the captains's office" 1t Il
said that the language of the circular il
more imperative than any that have pre-
ceded--the clerks understanding their mean
ing, doubtless will heed the demand.
1t is evident that the testimony OF the
/ Inflated Jeanette is fast convincing the
minds of the people that we have sacrificed
enough in the last twenty-five or thirt,
years in the insane attempt to fathom the
unknown mysteries environing that land o
silence and frost, and that the country has
a right TO ask that the government shall cal
halt in this waste Of human life and use
less expenditures.
The lengthening shadows OF waning
autumn betokcn the return Of the season
hallowed by our ancestors for many gen
erations in returning thanks to the Suprem,
Being, and already many are the prepare
tons for Thanksgiving Day.
II is truly wonderful with what rapidity
the Capital is growing Its influence upor
the national life is increasing every year
AS winter residence its charms are becom
ing more and more appreciated. The nu
merous parks and reservations, the splendid
suburban drives and smooth asphalt paved
avanuac 90 Mt vata and charm, tho thn.oa nd,