The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-11-16
20 O.
N1lr9ANzAIE2zIg
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON DC. Nov. 9. II


The recent elections have caused
great necessary to go back to the
year 1874 to find anything compare
BILE in interest to the upheaval in
Congressional districts in many of
the States this year. The control
of the fiftieth Congress should have
been secured by the party opposed
to the administration, according to
the law of political forces, and fol
lowing the almost unbroken line of
precedent in our political history.
But the fact is that the Democrats
in spite of losses sufficient to have
given the Republicans the majority,
have yet made gains in such unlock
ed for places, as to retain control of
the House.
The orderly and peaceful manner
too in which the elections were con-
Quoted in the Southern States, with
here and there Republican gains in
Congressmen in that section, ought
to bury forever the last tattered rem
nant of the bloody shirt. Not sin
gle complaint of intimidation or vio-
lence has come from any district and
Messrs. Blaine's and Sherman's oc-
cupationsis consequently gone.
Politicians here are still talking
about the result Of the elections, and
it is Interesting to hear their var
ious comments. They all agree that
politics are uncertain. Some attrib-
ute Democratic losses to the fact
that Democrats have not enough of
fees under the Administration, while
others hold that if they had gotten
fewer offices they would have elected
more Congressman. This last idea
is upon the ground that it is impos-
sible to dispense patronage to the
satisfaction of everybody. The only
way to be without enemies is to be
without power. The man who has
no favors to give makes no enemies;
but he cannot bestow patronage on
the few without making enemies of
the many who expect and are disap-
pointed.
Another common explanation of
the apathy among Democratic voters
is that they thought they had SO
sure thing OF it that they abstain
ed from voting. The latter is Speak
er Carlisle's opinion with regard to
his own case. He says he has fre-
quently warned his constituents
that they would waken up some fine
morning and find some one else
elected to Congress in his place all
on account of their staying away
from the polls. ''They seem to
think" he added, that l am sure to
be elected whether anybody votes for
me or not" 1t must be gratifying
to the Speaker to know of the senti-
ments expressed by Republicans as
well as Democrats when it was be-
lieved that he had been defeated.
Even ultra Republicans here ac-
knowledged that his loss to Congress
would be national calamity. He
is such a broad, high-minded states
man that his political enemies can
not fail TO respect and revere him as
an exemplar. While he is straight
out, consistent party man, he deals
honestly and fairly with his oppo
nents and all they have even dared
to charge against him was the crime
of being q Democrat.
Although speaker for the fiftieth
Congress willnot be chosen for more
than year, the canvass for it will
actively begin at the approaching
session and consequently it is sub
ject of immediate interest. As the
Democrats will have safe working
majority in that Congress it is GER
tain Tom Reed, the Republican lea
der from Maine, will not name it's
committees as was predicted before
the official counts came in.
Amid their losses the friends of
"Free Trade take some consolation
from the fact that one of the most
eminent Of all the revenue reformers
has received an endorsement at the
hands Of the people of New York of
which any man has reason to feel
proud. 1t is to be regretted that
such a man as Abram S. Hewitt
should be lost to the House of Rep
resentatives. He was especially dis
tinguished for his clear and practi-
cal views and for his readiness to ac-
cept reasonable concessions from op-
ponents.
Mr.. Hewitt will not resign his
seat in Congress until some time in
January, and he hopes even before
that time to accomplish something
towards much needed legislation.
The result Of the election in New
York, he says, imposes upon the
Democratic party to talk up the sub
ject of labor grievances and inaug-
urate such reforms as will relieve
the working people Of the unjust
burdens that result from reduction
in their earnings. He proposes to
do all he can to bring about an
amelioration of these evils, before he
resigns. 1t is large contract for
him to undertake in a little less than
a month, but if Mr.. Hewitt can SOW
some healthy seed where it will take
root and induce Congress to deal
with the labor question without al
lowing the methods of the Dema
gogue to prevail in what he does, he
will have done excellent work.
LEBANON.