St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-11-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

There has been an election since L
last wrote you, and Virginia, the eldest
and most majestic OF the colonial sister
hood, has escaped from her abductors,
repudiated her repudiators, and come
home to stay. In Massachusetts, the sad
siest words Of tongue or pen are 1t
might have been Ben, bnt it was not.
The Dutch have retaken Holland not
however with the old fee simple tenure
do they hold it, but by the skin Of their
teeth and with knowledge that every
button maker among them will have to
stay at home and vote only in his own
State, if it is to be kept in the Repubii-
can line. Buffers collapse is not to be
compared with the obliteratiou OF Ma
hone. But yesterday the manakin be-
strobe the Senate, and now nothing is
left of Mahoneism and the Southsweep-
ing Malone movement but the skeleton
form and death head face OF Mahone
itself. Even Riddleberger, it is said, Is
wavering, anu refusing to be a ''me too
TO the late Boss.
Political wise men and sages, are
somewhat confused by the result OF the
elections in the other States. They ad-
anti that they cannot be interpreted by
either party as a promise OF success
next year. But the Republicans who
are just now hysterically grateful for
small fayors, derive much comfort from
the fact that they have been simply
beaten, and not beaten to death in New
York. Far seeing Democrats look upon
the closeness of the vote in New York
asa wholesome admoniti0n, and con-
gratulate themselves that a number OF
.callow and vealy presidential aspirants
have been effectually cleared away re-
vealing more distinctly true issues and
tried men. And now all eyes are turned
TO the National Capital which is begin.
sng to throb with the preliminary drum
taps of the great contest in 1884. The
earnest last hope of the Republicans is
in the prayed for blunders of the COM
ang Democratic Congress. "Oh if you
dear Democrats will but blunder-blun-
der early and late and often, how we
uill love and esteem you. We despair
of beating you, but will you not have
the kindness to commit suicide 2"
The speakership fight that has not
vet passed beyond the sllirmish line
will open IN earnest this week. All the
candidates are here, and their respec-
siye folloWings are gathered about their
headquarters at different hotels.
The indications are that the Demo-
.srats will make a clean sweep of the
Republicans holding office under the
House, and the Republicans of the Sem
ate will return the compliment by GUST
aug all the Democrats at that end of the
Capitol. With regard to the Senate Of
fees very little is as yet known as to
who will get them. Senatorial dignity
forbids such a thing as open electioneer-
jug by aspirants for place under that
body and the man who does violence
TO that dignity cannot hope for any
Tlonors at the hands of the Senate. lis
generally understood that Col. Hooker,
now Sergeant-at- Arms of the House, is
a candidate for the same position under
the Senate, and Mr.. Geo. C.. Gorham is
still supposed to be a candidate for the
secretaryship but when the time comes
TO fill the Offices it will be found that
the staid old Senators have selected
men for the various places, according
sg their own views, rather than those Of
the aspirants.
The President has been and is still
rusticating at the Soldiers Home a
lovely park about three miles from the
White House. The presidential man
sion is now in perfect readiness for his
seception and he will occupy it about
the last Of this month. Much attention
mas been given to the decoration of his
private chamber about which he has
the feminine weakness of Sara Bern
hardt or Miss Nancy. It is predicted
that this will be brilliant season at
the White House and the extravagant
decoration of the rooms indicate as
much.
The little unassuming house owned,
aud formerly occupied, by Senator
Thurman will this winter be the home
OF Congressman John Follet Of Cincin-
natl.
Many senators and members have se-
eured winter quarters here, and in two
weeks the Capital will have its legisla
tive complement.
We have reliable information from a