The Progress., 1892-11-19
FROM WASHINGTON, D. c.
Notes of Interest Gathered From Around
About the National Capital

WAsHlHGrox, D. c., November IL. 1892
Special Correspondence to The Progress
So i: is Cleveland after ALL and his
election was accomplished without the
aid of the DemOcrtic house; and the
readers Of the "signs of the times" who
thought that because the people were
quiet it indicated that they were opposed
to a change Of administration were off,
away of, from the real facts. In Wash
ington, the people were dazed by the re-
suit, for as rule, without regard to their
political opinions or wishes, they had
settled down to the be lief that Harri-
sons chances were the best. No better
proof Of the existence of this feeling
could be given than the difficulty ex-
perieDced by betting men, up TO the late
afternoon of election day, who wished TO
put their money on HarrisOn i'm getting
takers, unless they gave odds. As soon
as the returns began TO come in there
was change aud long before midnight
Of election day not a cent of Harrison
money could have been found with the
most powerful telescope in existence. It
was a steady slump from the beginning,
aud III the language Of the street gamin
"Harrison was never in it," Now, when
it is all settled one is surprised at the
number of people who never had a
doubt"
The Congressional election was equally
surprising. Inslead OF holding the
balance of power in the next house the
Peoples Purity failed to increase their
membership therein, and several Of its
best known members were defeated for
reelection. The Republicans faIied
most ignominiOusly to wipe out the DEM
ocratic majority ia the House, and the
reduction they have made i'm it is really
advantageous to the Democrats, as their
present majority is SO large aud uu-
wleidy, that 1t is constantly getting the
party lenders into hot water. Although
1t 10 not absolutely certain. il IL well nigh
so, that the balance of poser i'm the
Senate after the 4th of next March. will
be held by the Peoples Party senators,
and that upon them will fall The respon,
sibllity of deciding whether any tariff
Legislation will be passed by the Fifty
third Congress. The Republicans, speak
Ing generally. would have much preferr-
cd rs long as they had To lose the Pres
ideucy aud the House that the S-Date
should also have gone to the Democrats,
rs that would have made them respon-
sible for everything.
II 10 q matter for congratulatiOn that
the election has been 90 decisive as 10
leave no room for disputes; also that it
Is 10 be decided bv the electoral college,
While the election Of President by the
house aud vice-president by the senate
would have been perfectly legal in the
event Ut failure OF either candidate to r.
ceive major ~ OF the electoral college,
conservative men regard IL ~ dangerous,
aud long ago the prediction was made
that il this governments ever fails its fall
will be brought about by that very pro-
ceeding.
What Of the civil service law? Is very
important question IN connection with
the new administration. At the time uf
Mr.. Clevelauds first election, and during
the q eater portion of his rirst term he
was an ardent and sincere friend of this
law, and not few democrats have ex-
presst the belief that his adbe, .nce 10
the law was one of the principal causes
for his failure to be reelected in 1885,
be that MS it may L. IL certain that all
during the campaign just ended, it has
been open.y said that Mr.. Clevelaud's
mud had undergone great chapge re-
gardiug the efficlencv of that law, and it
Il known that his running mate, Vice.
President Stevenson elect, IL, AS he has
JacksOnIHn lnottO-"to the victors belong
the spoilr," aud these things are causing
much unehsiiless among the classified
government employees. Republicans
employed iu the Bureau of Engraving
und printing IN the government printing
Vfilce. neither Vf which comes under the
civil service law, expect 10 mercy and
will be prepared to 20 as SOON as The new
Democratic heads Of those ufficess shall
be selected. The civil sci vice law, which
Is REGARDED by the unprecedented public as
"A humUug with some good features, If
properly administt red, is always strongly
advocateu by the party that is cat of
power; It wis enacted 10 prevent the
dismissal OF Republicans under the frst
Cleveland administration, ana although
" was tb"rn in the side of the average
Democrat during the entire admiuist, IA
tson they stoutiy advocated Its strict OBJ
ser vance as soon as Harrison was elected.
remarkable feature Of the election is
that no meu,ber Of the administration
has uace public any explanatory opiIl-
ION CONCERNING it. Perhaps these opin-
iolis Will come later on.