Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-06-18
WASHIN LETTER
va shinQtOn. JuNe LII.


The past week was called an un
usually dull one on Capitol Hill be
cause so many senators and repre-
sentatives were absent. attending the
ST. Louis National Convention. The
it, struggled along manfully with the
tariff bill most of the time, and the
senate managed to pass about three
hundred measures. This last sounds
marvellous, but l will have to confess
that most of these bills were private
pensions.
1t required considerable powers Of
application to hold the congressman
quietly at their desks when bulletins
from St. Louis were being posted
every few minutes in the corridors
And finally when the names of Gray
Black and Thurman had all been
placed before that body, and it was
thought a contest would ensue.
the interest became uncontrollabiy
intensified. AS the nomination OF
the cred bandanna" was seconded by
state after state, it becoming apparent
that the work of the convention was
rapidly coming to an end, then the
reading of a telegram announcing the
choice of the convention, congress
broke into a scene of the greatest
confusion.
Old democrats and young, tariff re-
formers and Randaliltes were all on
their feet in an instant cheering lust
lily for the 'sOld Roman and Cleve-
land nor would the scene have been
complete without the waving of the
red bandanna which had been a con-
spicuous article of dress in the House
for several days.
With but very few exceptions, dem
ocratic congressman express them
selves well satisfied with the nomina-
tions and platform.
Since the nomination of Mr.. Thur
man red bandannas flame out all over
the city. To the enthusiastic democ-
racy, it is the orifamme of war, and
the insignia of party principle. A
prominent local dealer told your cor
respondent last night that he had tel
egraphed an order for 500 dozen of
them as soon as it became certain
that Thurman would be nominated,
and had received information from
his jobbing firm that similar orders
were pouring in from all over the
country, and that 100000 red ban
dannas would be on the market be-
fore the middle of July. Looms are
already running night and day to
meet the demand.
As a United States Senator Mr..
Thurman was friend to the people
of the District of Columbia. IRE
spective of their political leanings,
they are glad to see him honored.
Their comment upon the nomination
is that it proposes his candidacy for
a position far lower than his desert.
A Washington editor says the dem
ocratic party deserves a kind word
for the excellent precedent it has
made in cutting down the length of
it's platform. The platform of 1888
is only little more than one-third as
long as that of 1884, and consequent
ly three times as readable. Instead
of wasting columns of space with
high sounding phrases, the St. Louis
convention addressed itself to bust
ness, reviewed briefly what it consid
cred the strong points in the admins
tration of President Cleveland, drew
the line between the parties on the
tariff question, and stopped before
saving much more than was necesSa-
ry. Said he: eff the republican
party will follow suit, and the candi-
dates on both sides will write cores
pondingly short letters of acceptance,
the newspapers and the public will be
grateful" and, your CORRESPONDENT
adds, the people will read what they
have to say.
Another Washington editor who is
not so well pleased says: ''The most
noticeable feature of the ST. Louis
straddle yclept a platform is it's
conspicuous lack of any allusion to
Civil Service Reform, the Prohibition
question, the Administration Fish
Treaty, or relief from the Internal
Revenue war tax"
At the present writing General
Sheridan's condition is the same, no
better, no worse, and his physician
say it is impossible to predict the flu
ture course of his case.
Rumors are current that Secretary
Whitney is going to resign soon, both
on account of his health and his pri-
vate business. 1t is not probable
however that he will leave the cabinet
at the beginning of presidential
campaign. He will most likely re-
tire next March. 1t has been under
stood for some time that it would be
agreeable to him to be relieved of his
present duties.
The president has signed the bill
providing that pensions heretofore or
hereafter granted to widows of SOL
diers of the war of the Rebellion shall
commence at the date of the death
of their husbands.
FOURTH OF JULY.-What would a Fourth of July
be without fireworks? As inspirer of patriotism
in the rising generation, nothing can be more sug-
gestve of the 'rockets red glare and bombs burst
ing in air. as by the defenders of our liberties
For many years the firm of Masten s. Wells, of
49,.