The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-07-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON. D. C.. July rs, 1880.
The Southern Senators deprecate boycotting,
but decline to talk about it; some of them. for
instance German. of Maryland, and Vance, OF
North Carolina, see nothing in it but the silly
yaporings of superheated, highly excited imag-
igations.
Senator Vance said 81 am Christian, and
therefore do not swear; but if were pro-
fame man, should call it the d-st nonsense.
We ought to oppose the Force bill by every
constitutional and legal means within our
power If lit be passed in spite of US. then we
should do as the town clerk of Ephesus did, and
counsel our people to do nothing rash.'
Senator German was equally free in express
sion The Maryland Senator is very blunt and
although that manner is liable to offend. 1t
usually carries with it the sincerity of the
speaker. He said: "Such utterances are sense
less in the extreme. No pnblic man in WASH
ington is in sympathy with such plan, or
would encourage it for moment. The effect OF
the passage of such measure as the Lodge Dill
would be bad in both sections. 1t is having its
effect already. as result of the mere agitation
of the question"
He said that several Baltimore gentlemen
had called upon him. who have projected large
enterprises in the South. "They told me-" he
continued, that they would go no further in
the matter until the Force bill had been finally
disposed Of If the measure passes. they will
drop the affair altogether, and similar action
will no doubt follow in scores of cases. All talk
of a boycott, however. is foolish"
Attention is directed to the Forty Third Con-
gress and the attempt to pass the Force bill
when Blaine was Speaker of the House. and Il.
F. Butler was Chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee, which reported the bill to the House.
Gen. Wheeler, of Alabama. recently made
great argument against the present bill. and
Gen. Butler wrote to him for copy, as worth
preserving, and received an answer as follows: Z:
"Upon the qestion of the constitutional right of
Congress, involving its right to take charge OF
federal elections. in cases of emergency. can, by
the IT. 8 Statutes and constitution. be only this:
Sec Chapter1: When the State shall refuse
or neglect to provide for the election of U. s.
Senators and Representatives, the national leg
stature may appoint the representatives OF the
State But the times. places and manner OF
holding elections for senators and representa-
tives shall be prescribed in each State by the
legislature thereof"
IL ia a notorious fact that a number of Repub-
lican Senators are disgusted with the Lodge
BILL and would say but for the trouble such
frankness brings. No sooner does Senator
say that he deprecates such legislation than ne
is bounded by lot of partisans into denying or
come as much as Republican Senator's life is
worth to think aloud contrary TO the republican
journals in this matter.
Every Senator who is reported as being luke
warm is Immediately seen; and if he does not
authorize a contradiction of any little express
sion that escaped him. it is contradicted any
how. 1t is not strange that under the circum-
stances senators should, for the sake of peace.
keen their views to themselves. They will not,
however, be regulated or subjugated il ever the
time comes, to jump upon the neck OF the Looge
bill and choke the life out of it.
Mr.. Harrison must have learned something
reeently which caused him to think that his
chances of being re-nominated are improving;
he has authorized statement to be made to
the effect that his wife did not accept the cot
tage at Cape May Point. because he refused to
allow her.to do it; and that he paid for it with
$4,000 of his own money. The effect OF this