St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-12-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
DECEMBER Sd, 1888.
From our Regular Correspondent.

lCCo.
The representatives of fifty millions
sasf people are all here. | am looking
down from the gallery of the House OF
Representatives upon the Wrlthlng
s,sass-the Statesmen, the denagogues,
the men OF ideas, and the men of
schemes. The hour has not yet struck,
GIlat little tyrant, the gavel, has not yet
called the Heuse to order, and such
confusion of men and voices on the
floor has seldom been seen and heard
since Babel. 1t is d study in cotempo-
rary history to see and know these men,
they are representatives aud represen-
fatiyes of every diversified interest OF a
Eeople and a country, now known
among statesman aud philosopers at
Nome aud abroad, to be the greatest aud
most interesting experiment in the an
mails of nations. They are also repre-
sentative of the political success or
failure, hope or despair of ten thousand
individual or corporate interests. Nev-
ef before in the history OF this planet
have SD many people, so much wealth,
so great a hetrosenety OF energy,
thought and enterprise assayed to live
aud move and have their being in har-
saiony under one government, and that
too not of the sword, or sceptre. 1t is
remarkable and edifying to those who
are capable of thinking of it. Now the
sharp rat tat of the gavel breaks up
.ssn the confusion of voices below and u
miracle of silence pervades the cham
Der, broken only by the voice of the
chaplain in prayer The roll call fol-
lows, then the installation of the new
speaker and now the House is ready for
Business.
The first thing that impresses an old
alabitue of the House gallery is the re-
4nsarkable changes in the frontier line
shat divides the Democratic from the
Republican members. The Democratic
line has been extended far over toward
she right, and the Republicans have the
appearance OF being crowded into a
. searner. It is time indeed for the Republic
.e.an party to be crowded out entirely. II
mas had its day; has worked its ruin,
aad ruined its work. 1t has stolen ev-
esaything from tue Presidency to postage
stamps. It has tramped on the consti-
fation, packed tile Supreme Court, de-
ssauched the civil service, demoralized
the army, and wrecked the navy in q
gulf OF jobbery. The youth and mirac-
uious elasticity of the country has alone
preserved it from the deathly grasp OF
the destroyer. Great heavens to think
af the decline of a party whose history
snust be that it commenced with Greely
aud ended with Malone. But to return
so Congress. The remnant of the Re
gublicans there will have to do some
ehing more than wave a shirt with
counterfeit crimson spots. The house
rs overwhelmingly democratic. Under
the new appostionment it's total mem.
Ssershp is 1876 Sf whom 1914 are democrats
sn good and regular standing. The or
ehodox republican strength is only 11S
leaving remnant Of Is without fixed
saarty ties. Thus twill be seen that OIL
everything outside OF unanimous con.
sent or two thirds legislation, the Dem.
erats have a good working majority
aud therefore they will not labor under
I the disadvantages which hampered
them when last in power, of trying t.
rHle by majority which was generally
aess than quorum.
The larger part of the Democratic
znembers represent the West and South
and party measures will be apt to reflect
the prevailing views Of those sections
This will be particularly SO with Mr.
Carlisle in the chair to make up The
standing committees, and direct the
proceedings. Many Of these measures
will excite lively opposition on the re.
publican side, and hence we may lool
for an interesting session, in the course
ssf which the issues in the now ap
preaching presidential campaign vii
be clearly worked out.
La making conjectnres as to the chair
snaaship of important committees in tht
new Honse an element of uncertainty
enters into all calculations. In converse
:4ion last night Speaker Carlisle sale
that the committees would be organized
xith view solely to the fitness of the
,nembers for the various subjects o.
aegisIation that would command the at
aeation of Congress, and without undue
xegard to the relations to him in thu
recent contest.