The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-05-06
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, April 80, 1885.


IF the direct purpose of the Pan
Electric investigation had been to
clear the conduct of Attorney General
Garland, who appeared on the wit
ness stand last week, from the remotest
shade of suspicion of corrupt intent
relative to the telephone scheme, it
could not more completely have at
tanned that end. No unprejudiced
person has followed the line of evil
dence presented before the House COM
mittee without being convinced that
where anything like tangible culpabil-
ity was charged, the imputation was
wholly groundless, and that even in
tangible blame was utterly discounte-
nanced.
1t was evident from the first that the
attacks upon Mr.. Garland had their
origin in political influences and in
sinister motives of another kind. Just
a desire to embarrass the Administra-
ton at q point where mere suspicious
might prove an injury, accounts for
the eagerness with which certain
pseudo Democratic and Metropolitan
Republican journals joined in these
denunciatiOns'
Secretary Manning has so far pro-
gressed toward recovery that he has
taken a long drive about the city
without fatigue. He 10 visited daily
now by his friends and through their
conversation is catching the threads
of events which have transpired dur
ing his illness. Among his callers on
Wednesday wereRepresentatives Ran.
| dali and Scott, of Penn, and ex-Sena-
tor Mcdonald, of Indiana. The Pres
ident also calls occasionally to see the
Secretary.
There was a mass meeting in this
city few evenings since for the pur-
pose of expressing sympathy with
Ireland in her struggle for homo rule
and with Gladstone and Parnell, the
leaders of the movement in the Eng
lish Parliament. About a thousand
people crowded into the Masonic Tenn
pie, and three dozen members of Con
gress, including several Senators, sal
on the platform, while others wht
could not find room there, were scat
tered over the floor. Samuel J. Ran
dali presided and there were som'
short, eloquent speeches, among other
that were not SO eloquent. The senti
ment of Senator Riddleberger, of Va.
was, "strike viceroyalty from Glad
stones bill. Don't rest satisfied witt
any half measures. Accept it only al
YOU would breastwork in war, ant
behind it keep your muskets loaded
Gladstone" said he. "spent the mos
of his life as a coercionist, and was thu
meanest coercionist of the century
until he was cowhided by Irish valo
into a confession of English wrong.
VIM. Walter Phelps said: a." Irelant
; must be free. 1t may not be immed1
ate, but it is sure. Gladstone has de
clared, and the Almighty has decreet
it." Representative Mckinley, o
Ohio, in evident rebuke of Senate
RiddIeberger's criticism of Gladston'
and his bill, declared that he did no
come to find fault with the great En-
glishman who was fighting with Par
nell for an Independent Ireland. lie
us get for Ireland today all she can get
tomorrow let us get for her all she de
serves" Hon. Mcmillan, of Tenn.
thought the Irish people of the worl'
were able to free Ireland. 1--WE stant
today, said he. like Moses in sight o
the promised land, and so sure as tn
night follows the day, there are peepl'
in this hall tonight who will see ac
complished all that Ireland hopes for
AS to what is going on in Congress
1 may say the House is still working
away at the River and Harbor bill
which, among many worthy sppre
priations, contains others for project
upon which the govern msnt ought no
to spend any money.
Representative O'Neill, of Mo-, ant
Foran of Ohio, had very hot alterca
ton on the floor of the House, ant
neither of them were seen about tn
Capitol next day, although they wer
good deal sought after. Several o
the members who thought the strif
could not end in words, offered to &C
as seconds, and were rather disap
pointed to learn that there was no US
for their services.
The Senate has been authorizing tn
construction of bridges across stream
throughout the country, from tn
Mississippi down through a list o
smaller rivers. 1t has also voted t.
expend $500, 600 on the White House
The plan is to duplicate the old man
sion by erecting another just like tn
present structure on the south side o
it, connected with it by corridor. l
is doubtful, however, if this plan will
ever become law, since the House o
Representatives has yet to conside
the matter. 1t is held by some tina
the old house is not worth patching t.
this extent, and by others that tn
sacredness of its historical association
: should preserve it as it stands.I