Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-11-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
sFrom Our Regular correspondent,

6From Our Regular Correspondent)
To the Chronicle:
The canvass for the Speakership,
and the other important offices in
the House and Senate is progressing,
but it is next to impossible to deter
mine at this time who will be the
lucky ones. Up to a recent date it
has been conceded that the repub-
licans would be able to elect new
officers in the Senate in place OF
the present democratic incumbents
but it now appears that they have
reckoned without their host. The
absence of Senator Cameron who
will remain in Europe some time
yet, the fact that Senator Edmunds
will not be present ut the opening
of the session, and the further fact
that Malone and Riddleberger will
support no one but Gorham for
Secretary of the Senate, and that
Frye of Maine and Harrison of In
diana will not vote for Gorham,
make it exceedingly probable that
the republicans will not.be able to
muster sufficient force to agree upon
and elect a corps of republican Of
ficers. The better class of repubIi-
cans will not cOalesce with the Ma
honeites. They do not believe in
the alliance, and as it is necessary
that perfect harmony should pre-
vail in order to elect republicans, it
is almost fOregOne conclusion that
they will not be able to agree or to
elect a republican staff. This is not
a very important matter but it IL
Illustrates how frail is the tenure of
the republicans in the upper House.
1t is by no means improbable that
the Senate will return to Democrat
ic power by March 4th, next.
Talking with careful observer of
affairs the other day he said that
the democratic party is in the best
shape now that it has been in since
1860. On the other hand the repub-
hcans are disorganized and demon
allied beyond precedent. The con-
versatiOn naturally fell into COM
parison of the respective methods
of the two parties. 1t is evident, he
remarked, that the democrats are
the superior politicians. Look at
the results. With the administra-
tive power, with the colOred vote
corraled, with money and means
unlimited against them, the demo-
Gratis nevertheless possess the South
as a unit, they have large MAORI
ty in the House, and the Senate is
only saved to the republicans by
the recreancy of Virginia democrats.
When this is overcome the Opposi-
ton will be completely broken
down. Unless the democrats go out
of their plain path, the next election
Is theirs as sure as fate. If they con-
sent to let we'll enough alone, there
is no doubt that a democratic Pres
ident will succeed the present in
cumbent. This opinion is sound.
To turn to lighter topics, it is
openly confessed that the republic
cans are going out in a blaze of glO-
ry. The extravaganza of the times
centers at Washington. We have
here an idle and profiigate class
who go to all lengths in display and
fashionable folly. The President
sets the example. He will turn the
White House this winter into
place of entertainment, and inaugu-
rate a new idea In society. The
proper thing in the way of getting
up a grand dinner, in receiving
guests, in table etiquette, in fashion
able attire, in how to use knife
and fork, in how to converse, in
how to appear to the best advan-
tage in polite society will engage
his attention and efforts. He is to
be the fashion plate for the Ameri-
can people. The records of his ad-
will be the triumphs
of dudeism. This is a new depart
ure. 1t is an epoch in American
history. Other Presidents have
been great in war, or craftsmanship.
Ours is to be grand as an example
OF good manners and polite CONVEX
sation. That there is an army of
people who make these things the
chief end of existence accounts for
the fact that we are to have most
brilliant season as it is called. 1t is
a step toward aristOcracy. If it
proceeds it will be only a few years
before we have a Court, where snObs
will be considered superior to men.
But fortunately for the country
the whole train of fashionable fol-
lies must go. The people have de-
termined to return to the simplicity
of democratic ways and manners.