Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-02-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
Prom our Regular COrrespOndent.l
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. IS, 1884.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., Feb. Is, 1884.
1t is understood that Senator Logan
will make a speech against the FitZ
John Porter bill in the Senate, but that
he will not pursue the matter as saw
agely as heretofore. A count of noses
from the best information attainable
concerning the position of Senators rem
ders it certain that Porter will be re-
stored to the regular army with the
rank of colonel, which he held when
cashiered, and be placed on the retired
list with twO-thirds pay, but without
arrears of pay. This will meet the
hearty approval of majority of the
people of the United States, and the
tacit acquiescence of nearly all the re-
mainder. The truth is, it is not the ac
ton of Fitz John Porter that has been
at stake, but that of Edwin NJ. Stanton,
Secretary of War. Stanton, enraged
because his favorite Pope could not de-
feat the COnfederates, made Porter a
scapegoat, and organized court mar
tial for his conviction, and, if possible,
his execution. Garfield, who was q
member of the court, Grant, and other
Union officers, became convinced, when
no longer under Stanton's influence,
that great wrong had been inflicted
on Porter, and they determined to vim
dicate his public record and private rep
utation. This is the beginning of a Sc
ries of reversals of the acts of Stanton.
Most of the opposition to Mr.. Morri-
sons tariff bill thus far is evidently of
the kind that would find any possible
bill for the reduction of the tariff "gro-
tesque," "claptrap," "inharmonious," !"
"a bungle," "fool0meter," etc., as the
divorced Mr.. Potter calls it in an intem-
perate letter to the Philadelphia Press.
But it must not be forgotten that back
of the few highly protected manufac-
turers whom Mr.. Porter represents is
the great mass of the American people,
demanding reduction of taxation, and
that in the Treasury great surplus is
banking itself up at the rate of almost q
hundred millions a year. Congress
should calmly proceed with the reduc-
tion of taxes according to its best wis
dom, without much regard to the vio-
lent Outcry of a small class of interested
crickets in field.
Ex-senator Dorsey has been in Wash
ington and while here resumes his old
haunts and habits. never saw him
with Tom Keogh, Senator Bowen, OF
Colorado, and a few other congenial
spirits around table in Chamberlin's
restaurant, and it is said they play
poker pretty regularly and for high
stakes. Dorsey has been talking again
about not only the Star-route trial, but
other family secrets of the party. No
body doubts that he tells good deal of
truth as far as the corrupt methods en-
ployed for the success of the G. o. p. is
concerned, but the worst of it is Dorsey
takes good deal too much credit te
himself. That the election of Garfield
was actually bought in Indiana and
New York City, is now generally adj
mitted, but Dorsey assumes too much
when he claims to have made Garfield
President. He was merely the tool Of
his party associates to do certain dirty
work; and very fit tool he proves to
have been.
Senator Lapham greatly Mortified his
grave and dignitied colleagues the Other
day by whistling for page. Some fifty
pairs of reproving eyes turned toward
the juvenile Senator admonished him
that there was no precedent for his
course. In palliation of his awful of
fense against the solemn dignity of the
Senate it may be stated that the Sena
tor was absent mindedly thinking O.
the gray old days when the boys O.
Tioga county called him "Fightins
Tige." PHoNo. q