Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-06-10
BRABsTER VESTS LETTER.
A Foreigners View of Washington So
cIety-Silver Democrats Jubi-
lant-GOldbugs must buy
Them-JOhn Sher-
mans Break.
Special Correspondence.

impression that or the other Reform
ers in Washington waltz through life
to the accompaniment of French cook
ing, society smiles and champagne
frappe! Not bit of it; when the Re-
former is not watching the Old parties
gang aud collecting proofs of their cor
ruption, he is watching the mail, for
remittance and collecting free lunches.
However. my hostess had read my book
Grover on Tramp, and had expressed
desire to see the man who had dared
to ridlcule the fat man who is the
nominal leader of Washington society,
so l was DINING at her house.
Myneighbor the at table who informed
me that all Reformers weye foolish had
prefaced the remark with the whisper
ed information that Mrs. Senator B.,
my hostess, had invited her especially
to meet me, and had promised her the
pleasure of studying two legged crank.
AS had rejoined that feared that she
would turn my head, and thus make
part OF me crank, she became very
friendly, and gave me her opinion of
the political and social world of Wash
lngton.
lyon RefOrmers are all foolish, ''said
she, because you hope to persuade the
people to be sensible. You publish
newspapers, you make speeches, the
complaining people cheer you and ac-
knowledge your honesty of purpose and
correctness of view, but the man with
the money renders all your efforts
nugatOry as soon as he "opens his bar
rel, as you Americans say. Still, mon
brave, admire Reformers, and l do
despise most of the leading men of this
government"
They strike me as being inSincere,
chacum faire lhomme dlmportance
each assumes ar air of Importance
which in most of them is ridiculous;
they have no idea of craftsmanship;
their motto is expedience, and l much
fear that few are proof against bride,
whether of money or position; their
disregard of the wishes of the people
upon the financial question, if shown
bv the French chamber, would cause a
revolution in my dear France. Your
society, poof! You have many gentle
men and ladies, but the leaders of your
Washington society make me what
you call tired; they have much money,
but little manners, and think that
lavish expenditure can hide their ignor.
ance mediocr1ty. N'importe, like to
read of YOU refOrmers, you are honest.
Mr.. PETER, they make fun of him, but
he keeps Oh saving wood, as you say,
and he will investigate these parvenus,
who sell bonds and grow rich. Mr.
Tillman, he reminds me of Gambetta,
and Mr.. Stewart, he is like that grand
old Mr.. Gladstone"
l am afraid that 1 must confess my
self no prophet insofar as the demo
cratic party is concerned. At present
it appears certain that the silver forces
will have handsome majority IN the
i Chicago convention, and the silver
democrats here boldly declare that
they will drive Cleveland, Carlisle and
their invertebrate pie-eaters into the
republican ranks. Will they do so?
Private John Allen, representative
from Mississippi. said this week:
We've got the goldbugs whipped if
they don't buy us up" There's the
rub. Cleveland is Tuning with rage,
and officials are day and night on the
go between the White House and Wall
street. It remains to be seen if the
democratic masses can be sold out
again; if not, they must nominate a
man acceptable to the Popullsts, and
that they are hardly likely to do.
Some Senators have lately developed
much unconscious humor.
The Senate was discussing an amend
ment to the Notification bill relating
to new torpedo. According to the
description of the weapon, it was to be
guided by man until within a short
distance of the threatened warship,
and then it was to be directed by him
upon its deadly mission.
but who is to protect the man?"
asked some inquisitive senator.
Humanity would protect a man
from being shot while he is in the wat
e." replied Senator Perkins, in all Sc
robustness.
The eminently peaceful view of mod
ern warfare was greeted with laughter
and the torpedo amendment was not
placed in the bill.
The Butler bill taking from the pres
ident the right to issue bonds has pas.
sed the Senate. In a speech opposing
it, Senator Elkins solemnly stated that
the fat man should be allowed to issue
bonds to raise revenue. His mind
must resemble that of gallant colonel
in Washington who lives by borrowing
money, and who, ween he has been sue
ceSsful in his incursions into the pock-
cts of his acquaintance informs his
| friends that he has earned good sala-
ry.
| Representative Howard, of Alabama,
is trying TO have Grover impeached.
As the House is controlled by Reed
and his republican goldbugs. he might
as well ask gang of robbers to be
good and give their chief up to Justice.
John Sherman has put his foot in his
mouth. to use a homely but expressive