Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-12-10
fron oar Regular correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 80, lssj.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 80, lssj.
Congress will convene next Monday at
precisely twelve O'Clock. The contest for
the election Of President pro tcn, Of the
senate hA, fallen to the Republicans. Nat
urali, there has been much discussion a. TO
Who Il should b. Thus the death Of the
Vice President Of the United States has
awakened an interest in Republican circles
wher. Indifference prevailed few weeks
ago.
Senators Logan. Edmunds and Sherman
are the most prominent candidates for the
place or course none of these gentlemen
are making canvass. nor has any Of them
expressed any inclination for the position,
bat the friends Of each are working for
them. 4 sharp fight for the nomination is
expected in the caucus Of Republican Sen
ator. to be held this week.
Some deluded Democrats have expressed
The hope that the Republican Senators
would elect a Democratic Senator to preside
over the Senate They thought il would be
more 10 accord with the eternal fitness Of
things.
1t would indeed be superhuman generos-
lty for the Republican Senators to make up
to their political opponents the loss they
sustained in the event which occurred at
Indianapolis last week But such magnanim
ty will not occur for the reason that IL
should not. Sentimental gush will have
nothing to do with the choice Of President
OF the Senate. Those who will make that
| choice understand that It is as much their
duty to vote for Republican as 1t
would be if they were making the original
selection.
The fashionable world Of Washington has
been greatly interested to know to what
extent the death of the Nl:e-President will
affect social festivities here. OF course the
| Administration is in mourning. The White
| House will remain quiet, and there will be no
entertaining done in the Cabinet for period
/ Of thirty days. Then the black draperies
/ which now cover the columns of the White
1 House, and are conspicuous on the Cabinet
/ homes. the Capitol. and all Government
! buildings will be removed. The flags, all over
| the city now floating at halfmast, will
be hoisted, the old order Of things resumed,
and New Years day will, as usual, inaugur-
| ate the social season. President Arthur's
| first public reception at the White House
was held on the New Year. day succeeding
! the death Of President Garfield. 1t was on
| that day that one of the foreign ministers
| dropped dead at the White House, and the
reception was brought to a close in con-
sequence.
The death Of Mr.. Hendricks also changes
the social situation here His wife would
have been next to Miss Cleveland as leading
/ lady, and she had made extensive prepara-
tons for social activity during the season.
Mrs Hendricks is a very ambitious woman,
fond Of society and political power. She is
understood to be as much Of politician as
her husband, and far more energetic.
her retirement gives het Piaee " tie WIG
of the Republican Senator who
will be elected when the Senate
meets.
The President did not make known his de.
termination not to attend the funeral of the
dead Vice-President until Sunday afternoon
In his public statement for declining to 20
he said that in the first moment Of the shocl
of Mr.. Hendricks death he yielded TO hi'
inclination and declared HIS intention to b.
present at the burial. Afterwards he va.
satisfied that be was at fault, that be die
not take as comprehensive view Of the du
ty he owed the public as he should. HI
! was convinced that his strong personal de