The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-11-16
MANKATo FREE PRESS.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our REGULAR Correspondent
WAouvy1wCu Noyomhar 2vtl IA

WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular orrespondent.)
WASHINGTON, November Ord, 1881.
The political problems casting their
shadows over the country suggesting
coming events big with Importance,
begin to focalize, SO to speak, at Wash
ington. The struggle for the control of
the administration in 1884, Is TO he
tremendous one. 1t is to begin at the
opening of the session Of Congress on
December second, next, and to continue
until new President takes his seat in
the White House, though, by the way,
it is not impossible that Mr.. Arthur
will himself resume the comfortable
place. Both parties have larger tasks
before them. The Republicans realize
that their recent defeats call for strong
er organization, and more ardent devo.
ton, and on the other hand the Demo.
Gratis are determined to act with snch
caution and to work so hard IN Or,icr
not to lose the ground they now hold,
but to secure more. OF the two, the
Democrats are pushing things most
vigorously, but the Republicans have
the advantage in position. The respon-
sibility for the acts of the next Con.
gress is a heavy burden for the Demo.
Gratis to carry. The Republicans hope
to see the Democrat donkey again
in the arena. They count on Demo-
cratic mistakes and blunders to'come to
their help.
Your correspondent is Informed that
the talk of nominating Blaine and
Grant for presidential ticket is by no
means barren ideality. Both gentle
men are conceded to be 80 devoted to
Republican principles rs to he willing
to yield their personal preferences for
the success of the ticket. Some, how
ever, say that it would he good ticket,
If reversed. l think it good ticket to
think about. There is no awful hurry
about deciding.
Civil rights is not new question, 10y
any means, but 1t seems that in this
tree and enlightened country, and in
this age of advanced ideas, we have not
yet settled all the problems which
grow out OF the first principles of the
republic. The proposition of the de
claration of independence that all men
are born free and equal and enjoy the
inalienable right to life, liberty. and
the pursuit of happiness ETC., which our
Fonrth of July orators keep fresh in our
memories, seems to be true with GER
tain notifications. The colOred people,
the Chinese, the Indians and the Nor
mons, take exceptions to our interpre-
tation of their rights. The recent de-
c,sion of the Supreme Court, which
amounts to this, that there is no re-
dress except under the common law for
distinctions excluding colOred people
from common privileges, Is accepted by
the colored race generally as inimical
to their interests, and they propose to
hold the Republican party responsible
for it. Another interesting question in
civil rights is revealed this week in the
report of the Utah Commission, which
has returned from It's campaign against
polygamy. The comission was author
lied by Congress, under Senator Ed
munds bill, to oversee the elections in
Utah, and to exclude persons having
two or more wives from the right to
hold Office or to vote. In this terri
tory, the women vote also, but are ex-
cluded where they are united to apOlyg-
amist, so that three or more votes are
lost for each male polygamist. 1t Is
hoped that the effect of this law will be
to restrain the young men and women,
the rising generation, from practicing
the vice. 1t excludes them from citi.
zenship and Office, and it is assumed
that this civil restriction will be enough
to gradually induce them to abandon
polygamy. The commission report
that $4,000 voters were excluded in the
last election. This would represent
abou: 5000 men, who were restrained
from voting privileges because Of prac
ticing polygamy. Not very large
number, 1t must be confessed. In fact,
some people laugh at the idea, and call
this mere rose water policy which the
Mormons chuckle over. But 1t is at
least step in the right direction. tits
a vexing problem. Surely its best solu.
ton lies in defeating the idea by peace i
able methods rather than by the loss of
human life, which must follow violent
means. Senator Edmunds is long
headed statesman. 1t is by no means
sure that he has not devised way to
overcome this shameless system. l
dropped in at the Capitol the other day
and found the work of preparation for
the coming congressional session pro-
ceeding rapidly. New furniture and
carpets aud additional seats are being
put in place. Once in while new
member drops IN and fits himself in one
of the chairs. He sits there and thinks
of the sensation his speeches will make
this winter. knew a congressman
once who tried for seven long months
to catch the speakers eye, and never
succeeded. Wait til the new member
tries it. He will find that his dream of
holding listening senates spell bound
has passed.
An Anowovs "onkod