Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-02-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

time was almost a jam, aud 10 was
the largest ever at the White
House. The line OF carriages filled
the White House grounds, and ex
tended down the Avenpe from
Seventeenth to Fourteenth streets
and even in the adjacent Streets
The sight was brilliant, for the
army and navy were out in full
dress, and the costumes of the
ladies wcro magnificent. Miss
Cleveland aud the ladies receiving
with here handsomely dressed
There was a full attendance Of the
Supreme Court and the Senate, and
q large number OF congressman
aud ladies.
OF the two Congressional bodies,
the Senate observed the death of
Gen. Hancock in the better taste.
IL took steps towards erecting a
suitable monument to his memory
and then proceeded with the public
business. The House celebrated
his Heath by voting itself holiday
and gladly scattered out to enjoy
il.
The only new development in the
pending controversy respecting
Presidential appointments were
Senator Sherman's able explana-
ton of the Senate's rights with re-
gard to removals, and opposition,
in executive session, to the con6r-
nation Of some Vermont officials
by the Senators from that state.
During the week the Senate has
continued the Silver debate, dis.
cussed the great Blair educational
bill, and voted millions for the
erection Of public buildings in
various states. The House of
Representatives as usual, has done
nothing.
There is much hostility in the
House towards the President and
his advisers. This was proved by
the recent revolt of the silver men
when they passed, by a majority,
Of eighty, a resolution condemning
the Administrations financial
policy.
Quite a body of the members on
the Democratic side-silver men aud
anti-ciyIl service reformers feel in
no way bound to defend the Ad-
ministration or to be influenced by
the fact that their party is sup.
posed to be at the helm. The silver
men look upon Mr.. Cleveland as a
representative of the Eastern
moneyed men, and declare openly
that he shall not occupy the White
House again. The declaration has
been made in debate by some of
them that the next President will
represent the wishes of the body
of the people, instead of being
governed by the stock brokers and
bond holders of the East. Long
before Cleveland was inaugurated,
a prominent Democrat of this city
remarked that, zone side of him
was owned by Wall Street and the
other by the Mugwumps.'
The silver malcontents Of the
House say they are determined to
throw of the yoke of Eastern in
nucnce. AS a first step toward
that end, a movement is on foot to
secure the adoption Of an amend
ment to the Constitution requiring
the President and Vice President
to be elected by the people direct
~ instead of through the electoral
college. A bill to this effect will
be pressed forward vigorously for
the purpose of having the law
changed, if possible, before the
next Presidential election comes
around. They complain that it is
impossible, under the present plan
Of election, to get President who
would represent the views of the
masses of the people.
The Democratic war on the Presi-
dents policy, which has been 60
ing ON in the Senate, the House,
and the press, commenced when,
as President.elect, he published
his silver views in Feb. 1885. That
raised the first Democratic howl OF
rage in the House of Represen-
tatives. Later came the promulga-
ton Of his civil service pretensions
and there was an Outburst of in
dignation all over the country
The war grows hotter and hotter
every month.
The Democratic House treats
the President as stranger and
does not care what may happen to
weaken his administration. Nine
tenths of his party believe devout-
" that "To the victims belong the
spoils.p Ills tuning ont of office
Republicans to make room for
Democratic spOilSmen has not
placatcd this class Of malcontents,
For, while making removals for
political reasons only, Mr.. Cleve-
land continues to condemn the
spoils system. From a Republican
party standpoint, he is a model
Democratic President. lie will
retire from the White House in
1888 leaving his party disorgaD-
lied, inharmonious and cOnse-
ducntly weaker than he found it.