The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-03-23
Washington Letter.
From orr Regular Correspondent.
WASHlHGTUN. y. G.,
March IS 1882

Chinese bill! was really Democratic
measure, and had the support of near
ly every Democratic Senator ami Rep
rcscntative. though one of the most
effective speeches in its favor was
made by Republican Senator. Jones,
of Nevada. Diff ult as the question
is to deal with, there is no doubt that
the present measure is approved by Il
vast majority of the American people,
and that it contains no real infraction
o! the spirit Of our institutions. 1t
is certainly hard to reconcile the posi-
sition Of those ultra protectionlsts who
insist upon a high tariff to s'protect
American labor and still vote to ad
init to our shores swarms of Chinese
who are the most skilful and cunning
Of all laborers. But as Mr.. Jones
put it, alt is not the American la
borer but the lordly manufacturing
capitalist who is to be protected as
against the European capitalist, and
who is to sell everything be has to sell
in an American market where other
capitalists are driven out from COM
petition with him, while he buys
that which he has to buy-the labor
of nen-jn the open market and de-
mands for himself the broadest Stree
trade!!' the laborer, however, is CON-
PEELED to buy from his capitalist en-
ployer in a protective market"
On the anti-polygamy bill the Dem
ocrats were placed in somewhat false
position, for while they appeared to
be fighting the bill they were almost
to a man heartily opposed to Mormon
ism, but fighting for certain uuderly-
ing principles which the bill as it
stood seemed to violate. There was
no question on either side of the House
about the propriety Of bill for crush
ing out polygamy. The only question
was whether the bill as passed by the
Senate would accomplish that object,
and whether certain provisions of this
bill did not provide a remedy which was
worse than the disease. Many Demo
Gratis thought that the precedent OF
interfering with the right of outrage
at the polls, when the voter had moi
been tried and convicted of any crime
vas so dangerous that they could moi
| bring themselves to vote for the meas
ure. Among these Democrats were
Belmont and Hewitt, Of New York
and a number of others equally prom
inent. But they all stood ready tt
vote for auy measure which Woulc
effect the abolition Of polygamy with
out impairing the fundamental right
Of citi4eus in other parts of the ccun-
try. The majority Of them did fnall,
vote for this one rather than be mis-
represented on the question.
The Garfield Chase letter is still
discussed here, apd there has beer
considerable difference of opinion al
to the motive underlying its publica
tion at this time. It was at first salt
10 be brought out in the interest o
Gen. Fitz John Porter, and then tha
the purpose was to damage Gen. Rose
Grams chances for the chairmsnshil
of the Democratic Congressional Com
mittee, but these theories we're toj
far fetched, and lacked the first ele
ments of probability. Further con
sideration led to q more general con
elusion that some other aud deepe
object must have been at the bottom
Of the matter. The letter was mark
ed confidential, was Of the most pri
vate and personal character, and mus
have been among the papers of tn
late Chief Justice Chase, which cam'
into the possession Of his oldes
daughter, Mrs. Sprague. When thi
idea got started everybody said, "Oh
Mrs. Sprague must have given tn
letter to Conkling! And the publ
cation was unquestiouably for th'
purpose of throwing odium on th'
memory of its dead writer, for whos'
character ex-senator Roscoe entertain'
what be believes to be a lofty con
tempt. He wants to pursue ven
eeance beyond the grave, partly fo
Standardization and partly in the hop'
of inAicting some injury On Garfield
political friends and executors" Thi:
theory is not much disturbed by the
admission of Dir. Jacob Schucker
that he gave out the letter. He va
once q friend of Judge Chase, clerl
in the Treasury here, and is reported
to be identified with Conkliug'
friends in New York But whatever
the truth of this may be, if the mo
tive which led to the publication va
to blot the memory of Garfield and t.
advantage his political enemies, th,
indications are that the shot will fal
far short of the mark. Gar6eld''
course as President and the pathetic
malner Of his death endeared him t
the people of this country and cast
mantle over any fralities he may have
possessed. The mind of the country
is settled about him, and any attemp
to change it BY any such means al
this will react upon their authors
whoever they are.
Every observer at the Capitol Cal
not fail to notice that there is some
thing touching and almost awe.iu
spring in the sudden hush that fall
on the otherwise diaorderly House O.
Representatives when the venerable