News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-12-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
CFrom our Regular Correspondent

H6 L IeSiu6uU duHudl U16SSdS6 W
Congress is beyond question one Of
the ablest and best written messages
ever submitted to Congress; it con-
tains not a single sentence of par
tisan politics, and yet it's statement
of facts, showing the condition OF
every department of the Government
and of the country at large, presents
the strongest of argument for retain
ing the republican party in power, for
the simple reason that the country
owes it's present and general unprec-
edented prosperity to the wise legls-
lation of the last republican Con-
gress and the farseeing statesmen
ship displayed by the present admin
istration in carrying out that legis-
lation. The portion of the message
relating to foreign affairs is calm and
dignified, and yet bristling with true
Americanism, the kind that every
patriotic American, whatever his
politics, must endorse. 1t recon-
mends the adoption of a Constitu-
tional amendment providing for a
uniform method of electing Congress
men and Presidential electors that
would put an end to such disgrace
full gerrymandering schemes as that
which has been adopted by the dem
ocratic legislature of Michigan, and
it proposes an non-partisan Com
mission appointed by the Supreme
Court to consider the evils connec-
ted with our present election system,
which shall proceed with candor,
calmness and patience upon the lines
of justice and humanity, not of preju-
dice and cruelty
The democratic house House is evil
IDENTIFY in no hurry to get down to
work, as it adjourned from Wednes-
day to Saturday with the2ander-
standing that it would on that. day
adjourn until next Wednesday, and
by that time the members will begin
to think about the Christmas recess.
The idol has been shattered; CIeve-
land no longer occupies the pedestal of
the Joss of the democratic party.
The deposition of Cleveland was pre-
coded by one of the bitterest and
most vicious fights that ever took
place in the House of Representa- ves,
not excepting the great fights in
which the opponents were of different
parties, and was participated in, Ell
ther personally or by confidential
proxy, by Cleveland, who was repre-
sented by host of followers inclu-
ding two of his old Cabinet-Vilas
and Dickinson; by Hill who was spe-
cially represented by Tammany crowd
which shouted early and late for
Crisp, and by Gormon, who person
ally pulled the Crisp wires from the
first. Now the attempt is made by
certain democrats to deny that the
Speakership contest had any Presi-
Dental aspects, but while the dead
lock was on the prominent demo-
Gratis who thronged the corridors of
the Capitol gave the whole thing
away by their frantic appeals for
votes; the issue was squarely made
that the election of Mills would mean
nomination of Cleveland and of
Crisp an anti-Cleveland man, and
upon that issue, and no other, did
the democratic Representatives di-
vide. 1t is significant it required a
combination of the field to beat
and it means that there is
a probability of another contest, in
which the anti-Clevelanders will fight
for the place from which Cleveland
has been driven, the opposing forces
being led by Gormon and Hill re-
spectively,- two men who are past
masters in political chicanery.
From mutterings already heard
the election of Crisp to be Speaker of
the House will be a costly one to the
democratic party. This will first
begin to show when the announce
ments of the committee chairman
ships, which with the exceptions of
the committee on Rules and that on
Mileage, will probably not be made
until after the Christmas recess.
Neither Mr.. Crisp nor any other man
could satisfy the adverse elements,
which by combining made him speak
or. Just think of a man trying to
please Charles A. Dana, Tammany
Hall, Governor-Senator Hill, Senator
German, Jay Gould and the moss
back democracy of the South at one
and the same time, and you have a
amt idea of the task undertaken by |
Crisp. Long-headed republicans re-
gard the election of Crisp a very for
5unate thing for the republican
party, for while Mr.. Crisp is person
ally a clever and popular man, he
all the elements that cleo
ed him, and the demands of those
clements which he will be compelled |
TO a certain extent to accede to will |
Zach add to republican chances for
victory next year.
Tammany Hall has already made !
4 formal demand for the lions share
Of the 157 places under House Door
keeper Turner, the ex-Representative
and ex-ice-man, and there is little !
doubt about it's getting them. 1t is
the first time this notorious organ
cation has attempted to take part
N tie national politics in Washington
and its interference is bitterly resented
Oy those democrats who are not in
with it, or under its
Daneful domination, but they are
TIE impression seems to be general
lere that Mr.. Blaine will shortly
make public a letter saying that he
will under no circumstances be a
Presidential candidate next year. X