The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-03-28
SoufA
-A.DvERM
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. q, March 25. 1882

Washington, ID. u, March 25, 1882.
With the passage Of the anti. Chi
ucse bill and the anti.poly gamy bill.
two very important and exceedingly
troublesome questions take them
selves out OF the way, Tor time Ut
least, so far as Congress is concerned.
The Chinese bill was really a Demo-
cratic measure, and had the support
OF nearly every Democratic Senator
and Representative, though one Of
| the most effective speeches IN its ia
vor was made BY Republican Senn.
Tor, Jones, OF Nevada. Difficult ns
tho question is TO deal with, there 10
no doubt that the present measure IL
approved by y vast majority Of the
American people, and that II con-
tains no real iniractiop OF the spirit
OF our institutions. II is certainly
hard 10 reconcile the position OF those
ultra proteclionists who in'isi upon a
high tariff 10 "protect American Ia.
bnr' and still yoie TO admit to our
shores swarlns Of Clinere who are ths
most skill full and GINNING of all la
borers. But as Mr.. Jones put It, ut
is not the American labortr but the
lordly manufacturing capitalist who
10 to be protected as against the Euro
pean capitalist, and who IL 10 cell
everything lre haste sell In an Amer.
lean market, where other capitslists
are driven out iruln compeiiiion With
him, while no buys that which he has
to buy.-the labor of men-in the
open market, and demands for him
.elf tho broadcsl tree trade The Ia
borer, however, is compelled to bur
from his capiialisl-elnployer in q pro-
tective market"
On tie anti polyRamy bill tho
Democrats were placed ina some
what false position, for wiiilc ,hry
sppcared to be lighting Tho bill they
were ALMOST 10 man heartily OPP
posed to Morlnonisnl, but fighting
for certain underlying principles
which the bill rs IL stood seemed 10
violate. There was no question on
either side of the House about the
propr ETY. OF a bill for crushing
out poiygainy. The only question
was wheihcr the bill ne passed br
tho Senate, would accomplish that OBJ
jcct, and whether certain, provisions
Of this bill did not provide remedy
which was worse Than the diseasr.
Many Democrats thought that the
pre-, o lent Of interfering with the
right OF suffrage at tho polls, when
the voter had mol been tried and con.
yicied OF crime, so dangerous that
they could not bring themselves TO
vote fer the measure. Among these
Democrats were Belmont aud Hewitt
Of New York, and number Of others
equaly prominent. But they all
slsod ready to vote for any measure
which would effect the abolition of
poIygamy without impairiug tho
fundamental rights of cilizcns In
oiler pate Of the country. The IN :
jority Of them did finally vote for
This one rather than be misrpprcsont.
ed on the question.
The tiarfield- Chaso letter 10 stiIl die.
cursed here, and there has been con-
siderable difference Of opinion as 10
the motive underlying its publication
At this time. II was iirs, raid 10 DO
brought out in the interest OF Cen.
Fitz John Porter, and then that tho
purpose was TO damage Gen. Rose
Grams chances for the Craftsmanship Of
tho Democratic Congressional Com.
miitee, butihese theories were too
TAR. fetched, and lacked the first cle-
ments of probability. Further con-
alteration led TO more general con-
clusion that some other and deeper
object must haze bren at the bottom
of the matter. The letter was mark
ed confidential. was of the most pri-
vatc aud personal character, and
must hnve been among The papcrs Of
the latc Chief Justice Chase. which
came into the possession Of his elde't
daughter. Mrs. Sprague. When this
idea got started every body said, "Oh,
Mrs. Sprague must have given the
letter TO ConkIing! Aud the pnblI.
cation was 0unqnestionably for tha
purpose of throwing odium on the
momory OF its dead writer, for whose
character ex-senator Roscoe enfer-
tains what he believes TO be lofty
contempt. lie wants TO pursue .vcn-
geancc beyond the grave. partly tor
self.viudication aud partly In the
hope OF inflicting some injury on
Gartield's political friends and execu-
tors.n This theory is no. much dis-
illrbed by the admission of Mr.. Jacob
Schuckers that he gave out the letter.
lie was. once o friend OF Judge Chase,
q clerk IN tile Treasury here, and ~
reported TO be identified with Conk-
ling's friends in New York. But
whatever tho truth of this NAV be, II
the motive which led the publica.
ton was 10 blot the memory OF Gar
field aud to advantage his political
enemies, the indications are that tho
shot will fall tar short of the mark.
Garfiell's course as President and the
pathetic manner of his death endear.
ed him to the people Of this country
and cast mantle over any frailiies hc
may have possessed. The mind OF
the country is settled about him, and
attempts to change II by any snch
means as this will react upon their
authors, whoever they arc. is
Every observer At the Capitol can
not fail TO notice that. there is some-
thing touching and almost awe.in.
spiring in the sudden hush that falls
on the otherwise disorderly House OF
Representanyes when the venerable
Alexander ii. Stevens makes one OF
his rare and powerful addresses 10 Il.
Such a tribute OF deep and respectful
attention Is perhaps never accorded
to any other member. When that
shrill, strange voico Is heard, tho
laugh and jcst die away even to tho
remote corner where ANAL knots OF
members are having their little jokes.
cigars 70 out, while tho abstractcl
smokers are intent on listening, and
one hy ono genilencn In the rear
rows como tip tocing down tho ais'ss
10 yet nearer to that invalid chair,
which 10 wheeling nervonsly first to
one side aud then to tho other IN tho
little semicircular space before tho
speakers desk, and before the fiery
eyed little pray.haircd orator has fin