The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


All is quiet along the Potomac.
The political flood has rolled by and
it is useless to deny that it was a good
deal of shower. The common SAL
utation among politicians is, in the
language of Bardwell Slote, LET US
take suthin'." But the feeling among
the Republicans in Washington. after
admitting that the party has met
with great diSaster-a regular Bull
Run, as it were-is that. after all,
things might be great deal worse.
Without stopping to explain away
that which has happened, or to dis
cuss the why's and wherefores, the
business in hand is to repair damages
and look to the future. The cam
paign OF 1884 is two years away, and
there is ample time in which to close
up the ranks. pick our fiints and
march 10 the attack. There is little
exultation among the Democrats here
because they know it is not a Demo-
cratic victory pure and simple; and
the WiSe,t of them realize the diff
culties of their position. What will
they do with their suddenly acquired
power? is the question in every
mouth; but nobody expects them to
use it wisely. Some of the shrewdest
Democrats regret that their party OBJ
tanned majority of the next House,
carrying with it obligations and re.
sponsibilities which may if not prop.
erly met, destroy whatever chances
they might otherwise have had for
success in 1884. Even men ofstrong
Democratic sympathies have no con-
fence in any other result. In this
view of the matter there is plenty Of
consolation and encouragement for
Republicans. There are things re-
manning for the present Congress to
do of which it will be time enough to
speak hearafter. President Arthur
has returned to Washington wearing
a thoughtful air, but cheerful and
evidently not crushed. Secretary
Folger is daily at his desk in the
Treasury Department attending to
his duties as though nothing had hap
pened. He will not resign at present
and is more than likely to serve his
term out.
1t seems to be settled that the no
tOriOus Tom Ochiltree is elected to
Congress from Texas. Tom has been
one of the eccentric characters about
Washington more or less for the last
ten years. He is Il stout, genial, spnr-
tive sort of customer; a cOnSort of the
judges and majors about the hotel
Hobbies, haying no special 9ualifica.
tons for the Office of Congressman,
though perhaps ats well fitted for the
place as many others who get there.
His faculty ofinventing good-natured
yarns is a distinguishing trait, and
in the House he will tower head and
shoulders, like Norway pine, above
Congressional pigmies who try to
make little nOtority by taking lib
critics with the truth. There may be
competitors in the field who have
tampering with the truth, but for Or
namental work, with deep fiouucea
and double row of f1uting up the
back, there are experts who regard
Tom Ochiltree, in a national sense,
as the most scientific producer of rO-
mantle fiction of the age. He is not
malicious, ugly and dangerous, but
genial, versatile and amusing-as
much of an American feature as the
cotton gin. While he is in Congress
the standard for Munchausens in
that body will he raised. Another
incident of the Congressional cam
paign is the petticOat issue said to be
involved in young William English's
candidacy in the seventh district of
Indiana. Mr.. Engish's wife was
formerly an actress, who, because Of
her antecedents. had been denied rec
Ognition in aristOcratic society in In
dianapOis. This has aroused her
wrath and made her ambitious of
going to Washington with the social
prestige accorded to the wives of
Representatives in Congress. To ac
complish this she appealed. report
says, to William II. English, who
placed his bar'l at his sons disposal.
But there must be some mistake
about the size of the bar'l, or else it is
not potent factor in the yirtuous
city of Indianapolis.
For the past six weeks or more =
ever since October's mellow air began
to tint the Washington has
been completely showed under with
bridal couples. There was never any,
thing like it. To all appearances
every married couple In the whole
country comes TO see the Capital and
then sail down to Mount Vernon to