Year: 1878

WASHINGTON, u. u, JunelO, 1878.


Editor Democrat.


The long session of Congress is wind
ing to close, to the great JOY and relief
Of the nation. Perhaps there has never
been a Congress assembled that has ae-
complished so little for the people.
When our Senators and Represents
tives came together last fall they foand
the business of the country parsllyzed
aud were met with petitions from all
sections of the country asking speedy
legislation that the nation might be
saved from bankruptcy, but up to the
present writing the relief SO much
needed has not been offered. It is due,
however, to our C5ngressmen to say
that they are working with commend
able energy to put through certain i'm
portant measures touching the army and
navy appropriations and for the cunning
expenseso of theseveral departments efthe
Government. 1t is feared that the
Senate and House viii fail to agree on
the army bill, the House having cut
down the army to twenty thousand
men and the Senate insisting on
keeping it up to twenty-five thousand.
1t there is not an agreement or conpro-
mise it may cripple the army appropri-
alton bill and thus make it necessary for
the President TO issue q proclamation
for a called session. There have been
several bills introduced this session
which if they should become laws would
very seriously affect the interests Of the
Union soldiers in the way of cutting of
the possibility Of getting .bounties or
further increase Of pension TO worthy
disabled men. Senators and Represent
atiye.s have been heard to say that this
claim and bounty business must be
stopled. 1t might be well for the men
who fought the battles Of the country
to keep an eye on lawmakers. The
Potter investigating committee have got
to work and are developing some curl
GUS things in the workings of political
machinery.


Louisiana politicians seem to care
nothing for an oath, SO that the end for
which they work is attained. The dis
reputable course pursued By the politi-
cal leaders in that state since the war
has given the nation more trouble than
than all the others combined. But the
last crime committed in that state for
infamy, excels all others. The unem-
ployed men, Government clerks, and
the several workingmen's associations
held a monster mass meeting June 9th,
at the City Hall, where speeches were
mede, and resolutions were adopted
calling on Congress to grant relief to
tha working classes in the District
They had long procession at the head
of which waved the old stars and stripes
under which Americans seek to redress
their grievances, and the laberinq
classes throughout the country would
do well to follow the example set by
their brothers at the National Capital,
AMI detnand their rights under the old
hag. Your correspondents never saw
so large a body. of men where such
splendid order prevailed. There lead
ing motto read: "Clear the way, the
people are out tonight" There was
not communistic speech nor threat
male by any one, either in public or
private, but plain statement of facts,
and an earnest appeal to Congress for
relief, characterized the entire proceed
ings of the convention.


Since our last letter, Decoration day
came and with it the floral offerings to
the notions dead. The National Gene
terias around Washington were visited
by thousands of people with their an
maui tributes to the slain. The Presi-
dent, with several cabinet officers, went
to Gsttysburg,the Waterloo of America,
to witness and take part in the cere-
monies Of the day at that battle field.
In our next letter the final action Of
Congress on important measures during
viewed. J. Z. S.