The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-03
Washington Letter.
From or Regular CorrespondentD
WASHINGTON. October 3lst. 1882.

From OHf regular correspondents.
WASHINGTON, October 3lst. 1889.
The decline of the power of the Republican
party since the Ohio election, has been almost
visible here in Washington. There is an at
mosphere about this city which tells how the
politics of the country stand. The thousands
of office holders and dependents upon a Re
publican administration show in their manner
speech and actions, just how little of faith and
hope, and how much of chagrin and despair,
they have over the political situation. At
the present time the Republicans admit de-
feat. There is no outlook for them. That
New Y ork will go Democratic next week they
do not question, andthat the future of the party
is dark they do not seek to conceal. What
they dois to vent their Disappointment and
disgust in speaking of the Chief Executive as
an idler, trifer, and dude, and of their politi-
cal leaders as incompetent greedy for gain,
and '.all at sea- as to any policy.
In looking over the political situation as it
relates to the Republican party it must be
admitted that their case is a desperate one
The Reformers, so called, are in control and
this being the case it is easy to see the con-
elusion.
The party has succeeded in the last several
general elections, by just one policy, namely
the use of money in the elections. How they
came by the vast corruption fund is wela
known. The Jewels, and Dorseys in their
day raised sums aggregating hundreds OF
thousands of dollars which were distributed
in the doubtful states with cunning hand
The clerks were taxed without mercy, and a
complete organization of office holders,
stretching from Washington to the four points
of the compass, poured in money and gave
their individual exertions to the business of
carving elections. State Societies existed in
the Capital city and were so domineering and
exacting in requiring political service from
every office holder, that an office could not
be held without their sanction.
1t is doubtful if stronger political fortress
ever existed than was the Republican party
held together by the cohesion of plumber and
the cement of swag and plastered all over
with tracts and pious cant.
A terrible breach was made when the Civil
service reform bill was passed. This was a
Democratic measure. The Republicans swal-
lowed it as a bitter dose, which the people
required them to take. This bill divorces
money from politics. If forbids political as
sessments What has been the result. A
complete disintergration of the superb party
of despotsm which has controlled the country
for twenty years. 1t lived upon the profits OF
the offices. When these were diverted from
political uses the Republican party commenc-
ed to crumble away. The State organizations
the committees for funds, are unnoticed by the
clerks Election after election shows still
greater majority against them apathy and
anger have succeeded to the insoenee of
office, and bitter quarrels and jealousies to
the harmony which once prevailed. The era
or stage of personal abuse seems to have been
reached This is always resorted to by peo
pie when they fail in nefarious schemes 1t
is sure precursor of rout and ruin. One
blames the other, for want of something bet
ter to do, and excuse himself The Repub[i-
can leaders are engaged in saying 81 toldyou
500 or 'you are another and such like petty
insinuations and abuses. President Arthur
being the responsible head of the party gets
the largest share of abuse. He is now spend
ing the greater part of each day in the seclu-
sion of his cottage at the Soldiers Home
trying to devise some political scheme which
will rescue himself and his demoralized asso-
ciates from the abyss. He will embody his
plan in the Presidents Message to be sent to
Congress when it meets. l think this message
will be the last but one that Mr.. Arthur or
any Republican president will ever have oc-
casion to write.