The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-09-14
washington AetSer.

probably have the same good luck in the
Senate. The speeches in the House on this
Measure rave been very amusing to a per-
son who WAS not prejudiced in favor of
either political party. A Republican would
get up and, taking the bill for a text,
would prove, to the satisfaction of himself
and party associates, that the Democratic
party was a party of towards and frauds,
and that Mr.. Cleveland was the greatest
coward and fraud of them all; then he
would announce his purpose of voting for
the bill. A Democrat would follow and
from the same text prove that there was
only one patriotic party in this country
the Democrats and that Mr.. Cleveland is
the purest, bravest, and most patriotic
President the country has ever had, and
that he is just dying TO lick England.
Multiply these two cases by the number of
speakers and you can imagine the fun they
furnished for the strictly neutral spectator.
After hearing all the speeches on both
sides, | feel quito satisfied that American
interests are pretty safe in the hands of
either party. In fact, | don't believe that
there would be but one party if American
interests were really threatened in any
serious way. After the final passage by
the Senate Of the Retaliation bill, we shall
probably hear no more about the matter
until tho new administration opens diplo-
matte negotiation for it's settlement.
The most disgraceful piece of legislation
that has been rallroaded through Congress
for many years was the Chinese restriction
bill. There is nothing wong about the
bill; it is a law that should have been on
our statute books long ago, but 1t is the
indecent manner in which it was rushed
through before the action of the Chinese
government on the treaty was known; that
constitutes the disgrace. 1t was unani-
mously passed By the House without re-
ference to a committee or debate, simply
because no member of the many in both
parties who are opposed to any such meth
DDS had the courage necessary to object
for fear that the objection would lose votes
for his party in the coming election. In
the Senate it was little better. There was
an effort made to postpone action until
something definite was heard from the
Chinese government, but immediate action
was demanded by some of the Senators,
and it was only tho lack Of a quorum that
prevented its immediate passage. There
was a quorum present Friday, and it was
passed in spite of the fact that a telegram
was received from our minister to China,
saying that the treaty had not been reject
ed, only postponed for further information,
with only three voters against it-Senators
Hoar, Wilson, of Iowa, and Brown.
Afterward Senator Blair moved a recon-
sideration of the vote for the purpose, as
he stated, of offering an amendment to the
the bill p%ostponing it's taking effect for
sixty days. Pending a settlement of this
motion the Senate adjourned until to-day.
The Democratic leaders of the House
have decided that the first move for adj
journment shall be made by the Senate.
| believe that if it were possible without
the consent OF the leaders on either side
to get a resolution providing for an adj
iournment in two weeks time before both
Houses that it would undoubtedly pass.
The rank and file on both sides, in both
Houses, want to get away.
The political situation here just at this
time is chiefly remarkable for doHbt. The
cool-headed men on both sides c~andidly
admit that everything is thus far in doubt
and it looks as though it would remain so
until the votes are counted III election
dav. Neither side will have a walkover.
1t is thought by many politicians here
that the election in Maine will determine
how much longer Congress will sit. If
the Republicans gain on the vote of 1884,
the Republicans in the Senate will regard
it as All Endorsement and proceed to push
their substitute for the Mills bill, which is
to be reported soon. II the vote shows a
falling off they will abandon their pro-
gramme and adjourn at once. give this
fairy story, for that's about what it is, just
as / got it,. | do not vouch for it.
Postmaster General Dickinson went to,
New York Saturday, and, it is said, car
ried with him a rev ised copy OF Mr.. Cleve-
lands letter of acceptance, to be submit
ted to the national committee and Mr..
Thurman.
| understand that both Mr.. Cleveland
and Secretary Bayard repudiate the action
of Mr.. Scott in so hastily preparing and
pushing through the House the Chinese re-
striction bill. They both say that they
did not know such a bill was in existence
until they learned of its unanimous pas
sage by the House.
Senator Stewart wants a committee APP
pointed to investigate the workings of the
General Land Office.
Both parties are arranging to receive
cash contributions to the campaign fund
from the residents of Washington-Gov-
m clerks especially,
The Presidents letter of acceptance was
at last made public this morning. Opin-
ions differ as to its merits accord ing to the
political utilization of the party expressing
it. But viewed without prejudice either
way, it is an ably written letter upon
which much care was bestowed. 1t is yet
too early to say how it will strike politi-