News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-07-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., |
On 1904

WASHINGTON, d. c.,
June so, 1884.
Never in the history of parties in
this country has one presented itself
asking the popular support with so
little to commend it to the favor of
the people as does the Democratic
party of to-day. 1t is recognized
fact thar there is not distinctive
principle of public policy which it
tremendously advocates, and the last
few weeks has demonstrated fully the
view we have heretofore taken, that
no good reasons could be given for
its existence, and that it was an in
congruous mass living in the past and
only sustained by the dim, shadowy
hope that the ghost of Grammarcy
Park might be galvanized into life,
and following this nightmare of delu-
sion it would finally reach the rich
pastures of Uncle Samuel and feast
On the good things it had once tried
to destroy. With the positive knowl-
edge of the inability of the ghost to
keep up shadow, much less reali-
ty, like a flock of sheep without
bell-weather, the democracy has been
broken up into little squads that have
been recklessly cavortiDg in contrary
directions, losing numbers in the
bitches and ravines, until now they
are so scattered and scared that their
bleatings are most piteous. How
they will ever be brought together is
impossible to divine. All the little
clusters are, however, gradually get
ting their heads turned towards Chi
cago, and it may be the whole flock
will be brought together, but it will
be with many thousand lost, scattered
and dead. If there is one thing that
clearly proves the imbecility Of the
Democratic party is its blind follow
ing of one man, and its sheer impu-
dence in coming before the people
without principle or policy and asking
that it be placed in power and the
control Of great government be-
cause, perhaps, in the past a wrong
was done an individual member of the
party. A party that is incapable of
providing for its own existence and
permits its life to be merely Deepen
dent on the will of single Individual
member in body of millions, is GER
tainly incapable of managing the af-
fairs of the greatest nation on earth
Aside from this party that comes
before the people saying continuously
and persistently that 'one-half of oul
members and the controlling element
cannot be trusted" is certainly no,
entitled to be listened to or their ad.
vice needed. 1t is q conceded fact
that the brains, the intelligence, the
honesty of the Democratic party re
: sides in the Southern States, and tc
succeed these States must furnish al
but 49 electoral votes, and yet these
millions of southern Democrats art
notified every four years that they
cannot be trusted. The war has beer
over, twenty years the Republican
party with open arms receives thu
men in gray and gives them from
seats in the temple Of liberty. Ever
Mosby, Longstreet, Malone, Riddle
berger, and others, are taken int
full fellowship, and yet in the Demo
cratic party the northern allies come
up smiling every four years and say
to their southern brethren-you d.
well for voting cattle, but you are no
, to be trusted to take control.
Within the past month no question
has been more frequently asked an,
answered, than ''what will Roscoe
Conkling do, what will his position b
,, in the present campaign" Your cor
respondent knows whereof he speak
when he SAYS that months before tn,
: campaign commenced Roscoe Conk
: ling determined to DO nothing, an
. say nothing in regard to candidates
; politics or policies, and to this deter
mination he has and will adhere, pre-
ferring in the practice of his profes
sion to earn for himself competenc
which he could not. with his exalted
/, views of right, do, while in public life
All the stories that he will stamp 70
Mr.. Blaine, will advocate the nomina
ton and election of Justice Field, o
: take any part whatever in politics o
the present campaign, are who'll.
j without foundation.
Senator Blair from the committe
, on education and labor has reported
: favorably the House bill to prohibi
: the importation and immigration Z
= foreigners and aliens under contrac
or agreement to perform labor in tn
; United States. Although the com
mittee are of the opinion that the bill
) could be strengthened and bettered il
some respects, the fear that for wan
of time the concurrence of tue Hous
in such amendments as in their opin
ion ought to be made to put it in pei
feet shape, could not be secured a
this session, if Congress should cor
clude to adjourn this week, the bill
reported without change in order tina
it may speedily become a law.
) The Siamese Embassy have take
5 official final leave of the Presider
and started out for little cavortin
: around previous to their departure fo
the Gland of the white elephant,
! their home. This lot of Monaghan
: were pretty we'll liked in Washington
] and when the people here said st
ta," they added, "hope to see 20
t again"
The Mexican pension bill, meas
l ure in which the general public are
. perhaps, quito as much intereste
t in as any that has come before tn
5 present Congress-, passed the Sen
, ate the first of the week. So man
. changes and amendments were mad
, in and to it that it is hardly recogniz
, able as the bill sent over by th
Dr., House. AS it now stands pension
are given to Mexican soldiers or thei
/. widows 81 years of age, and to Mex
3 lean soldiers subject to any disabilit.
S or dependency attributable to the sam
!. cause prescribed or recognized by ex
isting pension laws as sufficient rea
b son for the allowance of pension
i. and it is made requisite that such dis
D ability should not have been incurred
s in any manner in the late war. Tn
!. most important features of the bill
II however, are those which touch ant
| 4 h AL