The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-18
WASHINGTON LETTER

modern politicians and to contrast the |
eloquencs and ability of the men who
served in congress with Webster and Cal |
houn and Clay with the commonplace |
stupidity of the public men of today II
have no doubt, however, that the house |
of representatives of the forty eighth |
congress will compare fav0rably in point |
of intelligence, and in point of ability to
show that intelligence, 10 the best advan |
tagc wlh any house which has preceded
it. 1t may be this very fact which tends |
To make the lower house cunbrous and
unwieldy in the transaction of public |
business, because man who can talk well |
is apt to talk often and long regardless
of the fact that time flies" One great
difference between the congress of today
and that of fifty or more years ago is that
the general average of ability is greater
and that brilliant men shine out less con
spicu0uslr. In the present congress the
proportion Of members serving first term
is unusually large, and the number Of
them who have proved themselves able to
cope with their more experienced col
leagues surprisingly so. Among The new
members who have shown marked ability
are Adams, OF New York, who came into
prominence by a fiue speech on the Chal
mers Manning election case and his
connection with the committee invcstiga-
ting Kiefer: and Broadhead. of Missouri,
who, though new in legislative halls, has
long been known rs Il man of recognized
ability.
The California delegation, composed
with one exception entirely of new and
young men, is the strongest the state has
ever sent And it is not a Pedagogical
delegation, which is something to say for
California. Mr.. Finerly is the only man
whom Illinois has sent for the first time
who has made himself prominent, and
though his objection to the alert" rcSo-
luton was piece of petty spite. his
earnest appeal for a new navy shows that
his spite has something behind it stronger
than mcle demagoguism Thomas A.
y,
10 be of that indolent disposition which
always characteriZes one or two men in
that delegation, but, judging from some
brief remarks he mede to the house, he
might prove bad customer to trife with
in discussion, One of the best speeches
made against the Fitz John Porter bill,
was by Cutcheon. of Michigan, and one
OF the most rafting replies thereto by
Laird, of Nebraska, both being new mem
bers. Pennsylvania sends many new
members. who will, no doubt, make q
stir before they retire. Mr. Elliott, the
member at large, is one OF the youngest
members Of the house, but he has already
taken a leading position, and is recog-
nized, not only as an able lawyer, but
strong and brilliant orator. Ray, of New
York, made very good speech on the
Fitz John Porter bill. and succeeded in
gaining the attention of his colleagues on
the floor after they had once started to
run for the cloak rooms, as is usual when
nsw member begins to talk.
The bill pensioning Mexican veterans
finally passed the House, although it was
stated that only 1000 of those who fought
in Mexico were from the Northern states,
and that of the 10000 from the South
10000 served afterwards in the Confed-
crate army, so this was in one sense a bill
to pension rebel soldiers. The bill was
passed by large majority, and the South
ern Congressman are highly gratified.
They saw that, while their section was
suffering from the effects of the war,
ID
and when broken fortunes and blasted
lives were more common than prosperity
and happiness, the Southern people,
through their agents in Congress, have
quietly voted to tax all they possess, or
might procure, in order to surround the
Union soldiers with the comforts Of life
This is true. The Southern brigadiers"
have always voted in Congress for pen
sions and arrearages for the Union
veterans.
The isbored articles sent out by friends
Of Mr.. Arthur, to the effect that he is
virtuously living back for the people to
re elect him without making any effort on
his own part, causes broad smile TO
illume the features of those who know
just what is going on As matter of
fact, no President ever used his position
for the purpose of securing renomina-
ton to greater extent than Arthur is
now doing. Mr.. Blaine seems to be a
disturber of the peace among the Rcpub-
lican candidates. "He is not, seeking
the nomination" say his friends andAp-
parently the Plumed Knight Is undisturbed
by the dreams that haunt others who
have the White house in their line of
vision. The veteran politicians, how.
ever, do not credit the statements of
Blaine's friends, and his unquestonable
popularity, with the masses of his party
in certain states causes well grounded
apprehension. Blaine may not be seek
ing the nomination, but he is not indiffer-
ent TO the progress of the canvass being
made by those who are seeking it, and
that he will exert potent influence at the
Chicago convention is morally certain.
No man named in connection with the
nomination is so full of resource as Blaine,
and 1t would not be surprising to see him
enter last on the lis. and steadily rise TO
the top. He is likely to have his state
delegation solid behind him. Peunsyl-
vania and Ohio promise to send fair
sprinkling of Blaine delegates, and is
certain Of the Northwestern states his pop
ularity will surely result in accrediting
delegates who will prefer the Maine
statesmen as first or second choice. Blaine
is not seeking the Presidency because he
is one of those sagaciousEmen who learn
from experience. Having failed twice
while seeking the nomination, Mr. Blaine
has undoubtedly concluded to hunt the
game without the noisy Accomplishments
hitherto employed. PnoNo.
The class of Rheumatic and NeuralgiC