Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-03-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
EFrOm our Requiar cornsbOHdent.l

WASHINGTON, d. c., March 18th, 1888.
For two weeks past l have noticed
about our streets the familiar form OF
one who was once a prominent figure in
Washington and in national politics, but
who disappeared from the scene eight
years ago to re-appear now as a member
elect of the Forty-eigth Congress. Luke
T. Poland, of Vermont. is the man. His
brown. mahogany-colored face, set in
lines Of the most rigid austerity. is set
of by an encircling ring of snowy.white
side whiskers. which nearly meet under
his chin. His hair is equally white,
though thinner. A stranger looking at
bim would saw, "What a grandly good
old man he must be-" and the pious
would be inclined to liken the rim of
white about his face unto halo. Then
his locality. the land of iron.clad virtue,
helps Mr.. Poland's appearance. 1t is all
m the appearance, however. The old
gentleman has pair of very wicked
ck-browr eyes, with a bright star Of
ardent feeling in the bottom OF their
velvety depths which betray him. In
every sense of the word Grandpa Poland,
O. he is sometimes affectionately called.
3 what is known in this sad world as one
OF the boys. He can sit up later and
drink more champagne without showing
It's effects the next day than almost any
man that ever came to Washington.
Then, too, he has fondness for the Ia
dies unsurpassed by any youth in the
land. The grace and dexterity with
which this old gentleman can chuck a
pretty dimpled girl under the chin and
coo to her in the language of flowers
prove that his heart is ever green, and
Tor him old age is but a mere name.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Poland
was the chairman of that famous Credit
MObilier committee-that terrible com.
mittee in the Forty-third Congress before
whom Oakes Ames appeared with his lit
tie memorandum book which brought
down so many statesmen. What pro.
cession of greatness reduced to humility
and repentance passed in review before
this old man, sitting as their judge; for
upon the report of that committee de-
pended, to some extent, their political
future. 1t was before him that Gen.
Garfield sat and wept bitter tears as he
explained and shambled over that paltry
$329 paid him by Cakes Ames as a divi-
dend on stock carried in his name. 1t
was the work of this old gentleman that
retired Schuyler Colfax to dingy and
deserved obScurity. | wonder if old
Father Kelly, who also shed salt tears
before the committee, is pleased to have
the salntly-looking Poland back in the
House to remind him of that unhappy
time. And, by the way. there is another
member of the old Credit Mobilier COM
mittee who has been in town lately. This
10 Gen. N. P. Banks, who came to look
after his re-appointmcnt as United States
marshal. Mr.. Banks goes about with the
gloomy air of comfortably well-fed OK.
In public he always carries light over
coat over the left arm. This is the trade
mark of every picture of Banks taken for
she last twenty years. He owes his en-
tire success in life to his imposing pres
ence and to a rich, sonorous voice, for
lhough man of undoubted respectable
ity and genial nature he is not possessed
of more than ordinary brains, and in all
practical business matters is as helpless
rs child. Like many pretty nice fell
sOws who get into public life without the
aid of an office or the help of kind friends
he would have starved long ago, 1t is
related of him that when elected Cover
nOr,of Massachusetts, he was so helpIessly
in debt that it took the subscriptions of a
large number of friends to get him out of
pawn on Inauguration day.
There is much discussion concerning
The "revised" tariff and its probable re
suits. In other words, nobody seems to
know Just how much of revision has
been made or just what effect it may
have, not only upon the interests involved
but upon future legislation. Some well
informed persons hold that no further
effort in this direction will be made for
several years. while on the other hand
the majority of tariff reformers are of the
opinion that the subject will be taken up
By the next Congress. The claim of one
section of the Republican press that the
of that party is decidedly un-
warranted by the facts. The Republican
party is hopeleesly demoraliZed on this
subject. Between such senators as Nor
rill and Plumb there is no possible chance
Of agreement, and each of these may be
Eaken as the representative of numer-
sus element. During the late session the
senators, both in caucus and |
in the senate, found it impossible to
agree either on general principles or in |
details. In the House the difference was
sven more marked. There was almost |
infinite space between the Kelley wing
and the western men, of whom Mr.. Kas
ION may be accepted as q fair type. The
Republican House caucus on the tariff |
bill was one of the most inharmonious
ever held in the capitol; not
hat the brethren fought or wrangled,
,ut because they were leagues apart to
heir views and could not get any nearer |
ogether. The simple truth is that about
of the Democratic voters in
he United States and about one half of |
he white Republican voters are uncom-
hostile to tariff for protec.
ion, knowing it to be unconstitutional |
md oppressive. With this state of facts
existing the tariff subject
,annot in its present state be considered |
settled. PHoNo.