The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-11-24
Washington Letter.
Regular Correspondence

WASHINGTON Nov. 90, 1888.
There is no lack Of political gossip, COM
ment, and prophesy, just now IN Washing,
ton. The talk is TO certain extent ora
cular and authoritative, for the takers are
political priests and leaders; very few lay.
men are among them. The subjects of
conversation are the late elections; the
coming presidential election; the speaker.
ship; the organization OF the next House !;
and political issues yet IN somewhat
amorphous shape. The republicans, how
ever, haye evolved one political issue out of
the chaos of the late elections. 1t is their
old familiar friend-the bloody shirt. After
much longing and stralnlDg some wild.
eyed fanatics have succeeded IN making
believe the phantom garment has been
seen IN Virginia and millions of hackneyed
lies, and other musty campaign literature
have been reproduced. The country
showed itself SICK of this stuff eight years
ago when Tilden was elected after the
bloodlest of bloOdy.shirt campaigns, when,
according to the lurd literature of the re-
publican press, the rivers Of the South
were literally crimsoned with the gore of
slaughtered negros. When the republican
party is seen returning to this vomlt, who
can doubt that 1t Is hungry for an issue :?
There is this difference, however, between
the bloody shirt phantom now and then.
Now 1t is SAID to wave in Virginia under
the shadow of the Capitol OF the United
States, and not as then in the swamps of
Louisiana, and the everglades Of / lorida.
Now it has appeared, according torepubli.
can fiction, after years OF reimbursement
and education of the colOred voter 1t is
the miserable whine OF the party who has
been fairly beaten at the polls, beaten in
spite OF their bribery, and IN spite of the
fact that they had every vantage Of office
and control of the places of election, and
were known to be favored aud encouraged
by the President OF the United States
1t is true there was street fight in Dan
Vile between the blacks and whites, pro-
voked by the former. The blacks were
worsted, and ran as they always have done,
and always will do, and as every race has
done and will do when faced by Caucasian
blood. But have learned by inquiry
from large number OF Vlrginians repre-
senting different parts Of the state that
there was no intimidation, and that the
election was rs fair as the beautiful day
upon which 1t was held. Nevertheless
Malone will move u senate investigation
INTO the manner of the election, and Sen
ate Committee Of three republicans, and
two democrats Will go through the old rou-
tine OF alleged Investigation, and furnish a.
majority aud minority report.
There Is no doubt that President Arthur
is having the best Of Republican presiden.
tial booming just now. Who could have
believed, four years ago, that Blaine and
Grant, and sherman would be overshad.
owed by the obscure collector of customs
whom Sherman removed as unfit for the
trust. Verify the stone which the build
ers rejected hath become the head of the
corner Arthur is working for himself
IN very noiseless, but very effective way
but alas Where Is Dorsey the soap.man
One blast from his siIvery horn would be