The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-11-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

The recent elections have caused great sur
prise in political circles In Washington. 1t will
be necessary to go back to the year 1874 to find
anything comparable 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 following the almost I'M
broken line of precedent in our political history
losses sufficient to have given the Republicans
the majority, have yet made gains In such I'M
looked for places, as to retain control of the
House.
The orderly and peaceful manner, too, in which
the elections were conducted in the southern
States, with here and there Republican gains in
Congressman in that section, ought to bury for
ever the last tattered remnant of the bloody
shirt; Not single complaint Of intimidation or
Blaine's and Shermans occupation is conse-
quently gone.
suit of the elections, and it is interesting to hear
their various comments. They all agree that
politics are uncertain. Some attribute Demo-
cratic losses to the fact that Democrats have not
enough offices 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 i'm
possible to dispense patronage to the satisfac-
ton 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
disappointed.
Another common explanation of the apathy
among Democratic voters Is that they thought
they had so sure thing of it that they abstained
from voting The latter is Speaker Carlisle S
opinion with regard to his own case. He says he
has frequently warned his constituents that
they would waken up some fine morning and
find some one else elected to Congress in his
polls. "They seem to think" he added, THAT [
am sure to be elected whether anybody votes for
me or not" 1t must be gratifying to the Speaker
to know of the sentiments expressed by Repub-
licans as well as Democrats when 1t was believed
tInN I,al hoA InfAa taI ExFnn t,lt Do,
cans here acknow lodged that his loss to Congress
would be a national calamity He is such broad,
hgh-minded statesman that his political enemies
cannot fail to respect and revere him as an ex-
empar. While he is a straight out, consistent
party man, he deals honestly and fairly with his
opponents, and all they have even dared to
charge against him was the crime of being a
Democrat.
Although Speaker for the fiftieth Congress
will not be chosen for more Than year, the
canvass for 1t will actively begin at the APP
preaching session and consequently 1t is a sub
ject of immediate interest. As the Democrats
gress 1t is certain Tom Reed, the Republican
leader from Mane will not name its committees
as was predicted before the official count 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 rea-
son to feel proud 1t Is to be regretted that such
man as Abram s. Hewitt should be lost to the
House of Representatives. He was especially dis
tinguished for his clear and practical views and
for his readiness to accept reasonable conces-
sons from opponents.
Mr.. Hewitt will not resign his seat in Congress
until some time in January and he hopes even
before that time to accomplish something to-
wards much needed legislation. The result of
the election in New York, he says, imposes upon
the Democratic party to talk up the subject OF
labor grievances and inaugurate such reforms as
will relieve the working people of the unjust
burdens that result from reduction in their earn
ings. He proposes to do all he can to bring about
nm oil inr NJ fhaan hpfnrn resigns
1t is a large contract for him to undertake In q
little less than a month, but IL Mr.. Hewitt car
SOW some healthy seed where 1t will take root
and induce Congress to deal with the labor ques
ton without allowing the methods of the dema
gogue to prevail in what it does, he will have
done excellent work. Q. A. 5.