The Press., 1883-11-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington D. C.. Nov. lTth, lSeS.
 About half of the senators are now IT Washington enjoying the fresh fall weath, CT, and getting comfortably settled in then domiciles before the active work of the session begins. As rule senators are as willy as foxes in eluding interviewers, but just at this time their enforced leisure IS partially passed in gossip over the political situation. At the rooms of one of the west ern senators last night there was gathered 8 little party of personal and political friends. and the conversation drifted along until the senator himself gave the follow ing opinions. and views respecting the probable political effect of recent events. s.The elections he said have made quite a material change in the aspect of politics. The results show republican gain in all the eastern states, a heavy loss in the amaloamation scheme of MahOne :; and some other peculiar effects which will be seen hereafter. As there is to be no lm- portant election until after the nomina- tions for the presidency are made the tlg- ures shown in these returns Will have 10 be relied upon as a basis of calculations It must therefore be admitted that the southern vote seems entirely lost to the re- publican party, but the north shows wonderful gain, and almost entire dlsap- pearance of the discords which divided the votes of the republicans If the tendency thus indicated continues, the contest for the administration will show solid north pitted against solid south, and the north will undoubtedly win. But will the re- publicans be able to hold the ground they have gained? Will their voting power in- crease between now and 1884? What steps can the democrats take to prevent their continuous gain, and what can the re- publicans do to augment 1t? These are the vital and important questions arising out of the recent elections. l notice as the first effect of this change in the polit- ical situation that the democrats are forced to change their tactics. After the Ohio election MT. Randall announce inaction as the policy of the party They were SUD- posed to be gaining votes, and it would be best to let we'll enough alone. There are divisions in the ranks of the democracy over important questions, why not, there fore, let them remain i'll st0tu quo until after the presidential election. Randall openly announced himself i'll favor of this policy But the outrages upon the color ed voters and the fact that the south has by hook or crook nullifed the southern re- publican vote makes it evident that, if the
 
 discussion they will raise the race issue. To avoid it the democrats now confess that it must be outshadowed by discussion of the tariff If the democrats can agree up on reform in this direction they may re- cover their losses and this it is said will be their first effort The elections have forced them to an aggressive policy.
 Concerning the chances for the speaker ship the senator remarked that the ad- vantage of MT. Carlsle's position, favoring tariff legislation. is improved by the facts referred to, but no doubt the other aspi- rants for this office will be quick in setting themselves right before their supporters Politics cannot change position faster than politicians can. The "non-interference- with-the-tariff'' man of fortnight ago are the most active tariff reform men of the day.
 Still further commenting on the features of the shifting scenes of politics the sen ator continued "One other effect IS to be observed in the plans of Senator Ma hone He proposes to take all the advan- tage possible of the Danville outrages. It is his purpose to call for an early invest1- gation by the senate, into the causes which deprive the colored people of Virginia of their voting priveleges, and this will no uOuDI pFecipiIaGe loug uiSCuooion v on0 color question. He claims that 2OO0 col ored voters registered in Danville and near by, op Noy. Sd, but that there were only thirty five of th.se votes cast on Nov. 9th. This show that 1865 votes were suppress ed by the terrorizing methods of Ku Klux politicians.
 'Bnt, Mir. Senator, will the. senate give authority to investigate state election P
 'SNo," he replied, .'not with view to any interference in the results of that election, but it is entirely within it's prov ince to inquire as to whether violence and were used at any time against very bitter debate will be made over this question. in thesouth.