The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-05-22
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, May II, 1884.
Special to the Democratic Press:
Is 1T DEFEAT?

Mr.. Randall's following. Three Re
publicans who voted with Mr.. Morri
son, were Messrs. Wakefield, Nelson :
and Strait, all of Minnesota.
In reviewing the course of events s
which so eliminated, it is not difficult
to determine where the blame lies or
who must bear the consequences of
this act. Not in twenty five years had
the Democrats gained control of the
House under conditions more favorable
to their continuing in power. They
had been lifted into a majority by the
scandals and corruption of their Repub-
lican opponents they were met with
arrears of important legislation which
the recent Congresses had passed over
in their greedy seeking of plunder;
they had abundant opportunity to
prove their fitness and capacity by |
manfully undertaking to perform what
had been neglected to the manifest in
jury of the people. They have missed
the opportunity. From the beginning
they have been divided in sentiment, !
and although this division was very
unequal in point of numbers, a small
faction has succeeded in blocking what
by far the larger portion of the party
considered themselves pledged to per-
form. Almost from the first the con-
test has been between Mr.. Carlisle and
Mr.. Morrison on the one hand and Mr..
| oil 6a nd NTr all
has been acting in the interests of the
Republicans. and counting upon their
; support This duel has been fought
over the Tariff bill, and Mr.. Randall,
wins. Is it victory?
The Democrats in the House appear
disposed to forget their past differences
and are going to work at the untinish-
ed business of the session. There is a
general disposition in favor of an early
adjournment. The appropriation bills
will now promptly be reported, and if
it were not for few special orders,
, Congress could be easily adjourned by
June Is. The anti-railroad legislation
is the only special work which will be
: sharply pressed.
e A NEW CONCEPTION OF CIVIL SERVICE
REFORM.
First Assistant Postmaster General
D Hatton is still absent from his post in
i Washington. 1t has been many weeks
u since he was last seen here. He left
t on n tOur of duty, and has since been
frequently heard of at State aud other
u Conventions of his party in the West.
e II should not he too hastily inferred
:. however, that Mr., HattOn is engaged
t in what is not deserving of praise.
:, He is simply enforcing the civil ser
g as they have been expOunded by Mr.
t. Eaton, the august head of the Civil
Service Commission. That officia
i holds that under the law officials may
le act as delegates in Convention. Hat
II ton, reasoning therefrOnl, holds tina
T. what a man may do he should do, ant
Al that what he cannot do himself ht
lt should assist others to do. In this way
+ he works it out that it is not only Tia,
- right, but duty, of officials to engag,
in the delegate business, and to thi
ye end for nearly six weeks he has beel
a Oh tour of duty. His return is no
he expected in considerable time. Fl,
re may take Chicago in his homewart
IN way early in June. ...-.
of That Mr.. Eaton has so able an assist
ir ant as Hatton in enforcing the civi
lg service rules, all reformers have reason
le to rejoice. A number Of government
b. officials are similarly employed. Som
of them, availing themselves of Patri
arch Eaton's license. have got them
selves elected delegates to Chicago. II
this Hatton failed, the Republicans o
Iowa not having worked themselve
: up to the more advanced ideas of re
-. form in the civil service of which h
. and Eaton are the apostles.
or DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
NJ There is beginning to be some NOR
talk about the Democratic situation
Mr.. Sterling Morton, a member of tn
We National Committee, and probabl
d. delegate to the Chicago Conventio
st from Nebraska, who is now in Wash
ne ington, in a general conversation toda
lie upon the subject of Democratic poss
IT. bilities, was asked:
on "Who do you think will be the non
AL inee of the Democratic Convention {
On Chicago?"
st. Bayard, Pendleton, Mcdonald {
Morrison"
THAT is wide shot. What al
H. your reasons for such selectiOnq?"
~ Bayard is Il man of high charact,
Elf with clean record. lie will not @
as down into the gutter to work the boy
'as PendletOn is certain to be considcre
hu because he was defeated by Republics
'"a methods working in harmony with Il
7a' Protection Democrats of Ohio. PendI
toms defeat un account of his favoriI
civil service reform was blow to q
np Democrats in the minority States fro
,fh which it will be hard to recover. M
in Donald is "a sound man upon all &c
ch nOmic questions, and Morrison at lea
ef- h"7 'i0 ''"i"Sc vi MS coHFlclloH
rrv Perhaps some other man than the
er- may be selected, some man who ia I'll
q n very incarnation of the idea of tar
%. reduction"
ar What will he the issue this year
vas "The only issue upon which Il
ar Democrats can win is a square decla
f alton against the protective systeI
The fight in the House will come
at Chicago, and the revenue reforme
will he stronger there than if the b
us had passed the House."
'iie AS II Democrat, which one of L
'i'' leading Republican candidates won
)is- 80,