Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-03-13
MARCH IS, 1886
WASHINGTON LETTER.
" WASHINGTON. March l. 1856.

WASHINGTON, March |, 1886.
The debate on the Presidents
prerogatives is to begin in the Sen
ate to-day. 1t vas delayed by Mr..
Cleveland's unprecedented, special
message explaining to that body the
rights aud privileges of his office
The Senate has had a whole week
to digest the contents Of that re-
markable document and to decide
what is to be done about 1t. Now
for the discussion that has long
been awaited with so much interest.
Senator Edmunds, as Chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, is natur-
ally the leader so long as this issue
in pending. He thinks it can be
disposed of in a few days, but many
of the Republican Senators think it
will consume the greater part of
the week.
When Senator Edmunds retired
from the presiding officers chair
last March he was in poor health.
His complexion was sallow, and he
looked like man who was having
trouble with his heart or his diges-
ton. At the beginning of the pres
ent session it was noticed that he
has aged considerably. His beard
and hair, what little there is of it
left, were much whittier, his figure
was much more bent, and the Dem
Gratis were congratulating them
selves that the Senator from Yer
mont would not be.so formidable in
the Senate battles.
But Mr.. Edmunds has improved
physically of late, and there never
was time in his career when he
has been more master of himself
and more alert than now. The cold
sarcasm with which he freezes those
who oppose him is as frigid as it
was in former days, and as for the
Democrats, why, they simply accept
Mr.. Edmunds as disagreeable fact
that cannot be lodged. They feel
compelled to suffer almost anything
from him, not daring to resent.
A Republican Representative who
was making speech on the silver
question remarked that the Presi-
dent was right in his recommended
tion in this regard. 1t has been
charged that the present Admins
.ration was engaged in a conspiracy
with the bond holders for setting
aside the law. But he thought the
sins of this Administration were
sufficiently heavy without adding
this to its burdens.
The Democrats OF the House OF
Representatives are much demoraliz.
ed on account of disagreement with
the Executive and Internal disputes
upon the Tariff and Silver ques
lions. Consequently they are du.
blous about the result of the fall
elections which will decide the com
plexion of the next House. One OF
them said: Why did the President
force his silver theory upon us? He
knew we were pledged to silver and
had made our campaign Oh that
line." Some of them say they try
to counterfeit Mr.. CIeveland's silver
declarations by making speeches
and otherwise declaring loyalty tc
the silver dollar, but they are al
cnce met by gold speech from
some member of their own party, oil
by a reiteration on the part OF the
Secretary of the Treasury of the
Administrators championship oil
gold. They are actually hoping
that the Senate's fight upon the
President and the partisan fight
that has opened in the House ovel
the issues OF the past will save them
from themselves. They can only
keep from fighting each other by
fighting the enemy.
From the number of partisan
speeches made in the House ovel
the Pension bill just passed, thai
innocent measure may be said tt
have aroused as much patriotism a.
call for troops did twenty .foul
years ago. When these old issues
arise the Republicans assert that VIC
have one country and one Govern
ment, and the Democrats make a
similar assertion. But as in the
case of married people, who are one
the irrepressible question arises
Which one %
The gay world Of the Capital is
finishing its social programme fol
the penitential season. Miss CIeye
land has held her last afternoon re.
ception, and tomorrow evening the
President will have the Senators
and Representatives in Congress,
with the ladies of their families, as
his guests of honor. The Diploma
tic corps, Army and Navy officers,
and Judiciary, have each been hon.
Ored in turn. Congress- will have NO