The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Hintoc Roman Helper-Conkling-Th Dor
sey-Garfield Letters-rhe soldiers-Hugh
McCuIloch.


McCulioch.
Especial Sentinel L.tter.l
WASHINGTON. Dec. "a Il met the other
day, for the first time, Hinton Roman
Helper, once famous as the author of the
Impending Crisis" which created so re.
markable a commotion nearly thirty years
ago, and involved John Sherman in a little
bit of lying when he was q candidate for
Speaker in the days of Observation-Disclosures
and bleeding Kansas" Helper Is quite
gray, bat only fifty-six years old He is
gathering up facts to be used in a life of Eli
Whitney. the originator OF the project of q
railroad to the Pacific, nearly forty years
ago, the honors of which Colonel Benton
afterward succeeded in appropriating
was here, in 1S49, when John L. Robinson,
then representative from Indiana, was tn e
champion OF Whitney's scheme and made
an elaborate report in its favor. asked Mr..
Helper as to his political status now, and he
toli me that for several years past, as a
choice of evils, he bad been voting with the
Democrats. and that ne saw no line of travel
leading back into the Republican fold.
| was in the Supreme Court the other day
when ConkliDg made zone of the greatest
efforts of his life" in the case in which q
railroad corporation in California claims TO
be person" in the meaning of the four
tenth amendment TO the Constitution.
Justice Field decided the case below in favor
of the railroad, as might have been expected,
and il came here on appeal from his decision.
The Legislature OF California provided that
in assessing the property of railroad corpora
tons no deduction should be made of their
mortgage membranes or in the case of
individuals, and the railroads claim that
this deprlves them of the equal protection"
which the said amendment guarantees
to 'all persons" Mr.. Conkling admitted
that the fourteenth amendment originated
in the purpose to guard the equal rights OF
the Southern negro, as Its cOntem p0rary
history made evident, bat he insisted that
its meaning is now TO be interpreted by its
language and that IL covers artificial as we'll
as natural persons Absurd as this position
seems, il is extremely probable that the
SUPP enc Court will sustain il in the final
decision, for the Court now seems TO be the
bond servant OF the railways On this point
think there IS no difference of opinion
among lawyers who keep any watch over its
decisions.
The chief topic of conversation during the
past week has been the published CORE
spOndence OF Dorsey, Garfield Il 30. The
revelation is s melancholy one. There is
no evidence that Garfield had knowledge OF
Dorsey's connection with the Star Route
business when this correspondence took
place; but Garfield could not have been
ignorant of DOrsey's career as a carpet bag
rogue under the anointed Administration OF
General Grant. Garfield's efforts to
secure the complete vote of Indiana,
as shown by his letters. are not morally re
freshing, and there is no denying the fact
that in the canvass of 1850 he stood on the
same level with Dorsey, Brady. Hubbell and
the rest, and seems 10 have had nc scruple
whatever as to their political methods. The
simple truth is that the attempt TO exalt the
half breeds above the "StslwartS" as the
champions and apostles of political puri
cation and reform is proving a deplorable
| failure, while the animosity of these factions
toward each other, which is constantly
waxing stronger. makes the future OF "the
grand old party" exceedingly dubious. The
only hope left is the reconciliation of this
strife through a combination on some new
| negative man in 1884 and the help which
the Democrats are 10 render by their blum
ders and mistakes. There is some talk of
General Sherman as the coming man." but
the military business has been overdone In
every way, while the memory OF Grants two
Administrations is By no means assuring as
to any such project.
The soldier in Congress seems to be as for
midable as ever. 1t might have been sup
posed that our experience under the arrear-
ages of pension act would have proved
quietus upon any further raids
upon the Treasury in this direction;
but another project is before Congress pro-
yiding pensions for the widows and orphans
of the Mexican War, and the Blackhswk
and other Indian wars, which would prop
ably take a hundred million dollars out of
the Treasury.
Our gratitude to the soldier is boundless
We not only give him all he asks, or ever
did ask, but we lavish upon him millions
that be never thought of asking for. Our
politicians make special study of his well
fare, and volunteer their services as ex-
perts in finding out ways and means of pro-
viding for him and his posterity. There
seems to be no end to this business. Time
is sweeping away the country's defenders
and they will soon all be gone; but every
year the doors of the Treasury are opened TO
some new and unlocked for demand. Where
and when this work will stop it is impoSsi-
be TO tell.
/, yesterday, met Hugh McCulloch, whom
had not seen for thirteen years. He Is
now over seventy, but looks as young and
vigorous as he did twenty years ago. His
Scotch constitution and temperate habits
have kept him young. He resides here
and has q farm in Maryland, some
seven or eight miles out. He says: II am
a Republican. but Was very glad TO see my
old party we'll whipped in the late elections.
We need a chsnge."
The refusal of Congress to take a recess is
one of the most remarkable novelties of the
time. The House wanted one but the Sem
ate refused. Who ever heard OF such Sena-
torisl virtues and economy before? If the
defeat of the Republicans in the late cleo
lions can wake up so much hitherto unused
patriotism it seems a pity that IL could not
have come years ago, before they had done
so much irreparable mischief The House,
however, can accomplish its purpose by
three days adjournment, and a majority Of
the members have already left the city
Thus far this has been the Iuost enjoyable
winter have ever known In Washington.
The weather has been nearly perfect, and
the city is charmingly clean and attractive.
INDIANA.
Buying Girl.
IToroufo Cloha Fort Cnlgarv Iattar1