The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-03-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.. c.,
March 10 1SS3-1

Mafcn IL: looo.]
For two week past / have noticed
about our streets the familiar form
of one who a nee a prominent
figure in Washington and in nation
al politics, but who disappeared from
the scene eight years ago to reappear
now as a member-e elect of the Forty
eighth Congress. Luke P. Poland,
of Vermont, is the man. His brown,
mahogany colored face, set in lines
of the most rigid austerity, is set off
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 him would say, "What a
grandly good old IN he must be-"
and the pious would DE inclined to
like the rim of white about his face
unto q halo. Then his locality, the
land of iron-clad virtue, helps MIR.
Poland's appearance. 1t is all in the
appearance, however. Tie old g n
tleman has a pair of very wicked
black, brown eyes, with bright star
of ardent feeling in the bottom of
their velvety depths which beLray
him. In every of the word
Grandpa Poland, as he is sometimes
afectiona.ely called, is what is known
in this sad world as one of the boys.
He can sit up later and drink more
champagne without showing its eff
fects tie next day than almost any
man that ever came TO Washington.
Then, too, he has a fondness for the
ladies unsurpassed by any youth in
the land. The grace and dexterity
with which this old gentleman can
chuck apretty dimped girl under the
chin and Coo to her in the language
of flowers prove that his heart is ever
green, and for him old age is but q
mere name.
1t will be remembered that MI.
Poland was the chairman of that ia
nous Credit Mobilier committee -
that terrible committee in the Forty
third Congress before whom Cakes
Ames appeared with his little mem
orandum book which brought down
80 many statesmen. What q pro-
cession of greatness reduced to Gu-
mility and repentance passed in re-
view before this old man, sitting as
their judge; for upon the report OF
that committee depended, to SON e
extent, their political future. 1t was
bel, re him that Gen. Garfield sat
and wept bitter tears as he explain
I'd and shambled over that paltry
1929 paid him by Cakes Ames as a
dividend on stock carried in his
name. 1t was the work of this old
gentleman that retired Schuyler Col.
fax to a dingy and deserved obscur-
ity. l wonder if old Father Kelly,
who also shed salt tears before the
committee, is pleased to have the
sanity looking Poland back in the
house to remind him of that unhap.
py time. And, by the way, there is
another member of tie old Credit
Mobilier committee who has been in
town lately. This is Gen. N. p
Banks, who came to look after his
reappointment as United States mar
shall. Mr.. Banks goes about Will
the gloomy air of a comfortably well
fed OK. In public he always carrie:
a light overCoat over the left arm
This is the trade, mark of every pic
ture of Banks taken for the last TWEEN
W years. He owes his entire sue
cess in life to his imposing presence
and to a rich, sonorous voice, 70
though g. man of undoubted respect
ability and genial nature he is no
possessed of more than ordinar,
brains, and in all practical bushes
l matters is as helpless as a child
l Like many pretty nice fellows VIII
get into public life without the ali
:. of an office or the help of kim
friends, he would have starved Ion!
ago. 1t is related Of him that wheI
5 elected Governor of Massachusett
f he was SO hopelessly in debt that
: took the subscriptions of a larg
; number of friends to get him out c
pawn on Inauguration day.
, There is much discussion concern
ing the revised" tariff and it's pre-
e bable results. In other words, nj
body seems to know just how niue
of a revision has been made or jus
t what effect it may have, not only VI
on the inter ests involved but upo
e future legislation. Some we'll inform
ed persons hold that no further etfol
e in this direction will be made ft
several years, while on the othe
hand the majority of tariff reformel
, are of the opinion that the subjet
will be taken up by the next Coz
a gress. The claim of n section
the republican press that the que
tion has been settled as tetwee
members of that party is decided
unwarranted by the facts. The R
- publican party is hopeless sly demo
=, allied on this subject. Between sue
L. senators us Morrill, and Plumb the:
er is no possible chance of agreemen
and each of these may Ge taken
81 the representative of a numerous ell
=, ment. During the late session I'll
h republican senator's. both in caucl
+ and in the senate, found it imposs
BILE TO agree either on general pri
G ciples or in details. In the hou
=; the difference was even more marke
There was almost Infinite space b
tween the Kelly wing and the ives
ern men, of whom Mr.. Kasson ms
+ I've accepted as a fair type. The /
Ell publican house caucus on the tar
y bill was one of the most inharmor
~ Gus gatherings ever held in the ca
. itol; not that the brethren fought
lg wrangled, but because they we
leagues apart in their views al
i could not get any nearer togetht
a The simple truth is that about min
tenths of the democratic voters
the United States are about one-hl
of the white republican voters q