The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-12-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON, Dec. l, 1890
Speaker Reed, as the hands on the
big eocK facing him indicated noon,
calltd the House to order and for
maly declared the second session of
thu Fifty.frot Congress opened and
ready for business. After prayer by
the chaplain the Presidents message
was received. When the Clerk be-
gan reading the message many of the
members were liStless or intent upon
reading newspapers or writing let
ters; but as the burning words of
patriotism and party loyalty, which
not even the sing-SOng tones of the
professional reader could make dull,
began to pour forth, every form was
erect and the closest attention was
paid to every word. Speaker Reeds
face was a study as the reading of
| the message proceeded. He smiled
most eXpressively. and from time
| to time nodded his head in man
ner which said as plain as anything
could "th0se are my sentiments" !;
and occasIO ally brought his chubby
hands together, as if to congratulate
himself for being a member of the
same party as the man who could
write such a ringing and timely
message just after his party had been
defeated.
The Democrats too paid close at.
tention to the reading of the mes
sage, but their faces did not BEEN
with satisfaction at the strong points
as did those of the Republicans. Re-
pubiicans are all cOngratulating the
President and the opinion is univer-
sal among them that the message is
one of the best ever sent to Congress {;
and it is no exaggeraton to say that
it has made Mr.. Harrison more pop
ular with Republicans in both
branches of Congress than he has
ever been before, and the party
leaders express the belief that it will
put an effective quietus upon the
small very small minority of the
party in Congress that lost their
heads over the result of the late cleo
tions to such an extent as to be will
ing to abandon one OF the cardinal
principles of the Republican party in
order to carry favor in certain guar
tiers.
1t is now an absolute certainty that
no backward steps will be taken by
the Republicans during this session
of Congress. The cry is forward,
forward" and the marching will be
done to the same old party music
that has led the party to its greatest
triumphs in the past, which will be
repeated in the future, just as GER
tain as intelligence always in the
course of time gets the best of ignor-
ance. The Republicans are still in
control of both branches of Congress,
and Republican ideas will dominate
all the legislation passed between this
and the fourth day of next March,
and in spite of Democratic threats,
bowls and piteous appeals the origi-
nal Republican programme. mapped
out long before the elections, is to be
carried out to the letter.
Mrs. Harrison has gone on the
long deferred visit TO her old Indian.
apolis home. She would have gone
several weeks ago but the President
wished her to stay and take part in
the reception rendered to the Brazil
ian naval officers who came here to
present this Government with a gold
medal for its timely action in recog-
nizing the young Brazilian republic.
The reception took place at the White
House Friday night, and was very
brilliant affair. Tonight Secretary
Tracy entertains the visitors, and to-
morrow they start for home, not be.
ing able to stand the cold of our eli
mate at this season.
had very interesting talk this
morning with Representative Dun
nell. chairman of the House commit
tee on the census. and author of the
apportionmenS bill, which was intro.
duced at the last session and referred
to that committee. He says there
will be no delay in reporting an APP
, portionment bill, and that it will be
along the line of his bill, the differ