Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-12-19
A Very Curious and Interesting inside
View of Piece of Politics.
fcorrespondenee Cd the n. o. Pleayune.l
New Yonk, Nov. 20, Is

NEW YORk, NoV.2O, 1901.
| The New York papers have been engaged re-
Gently ia discussing the chances of Senator Sill
delrs going to France next spring to succeed
Minister Mason. The Herald and Times both
stated that he would be appointed to and ac-
| cent the Mace. Subsequently the Herald, with
| its usual inconsistency, contradicted its own
story and its editor supports the denial by stat
/ ing that August Belmont is seeking the French
mission, and by endeaYoring to excite hostility
to his appointment.
A curious chapter of history lies back of this
new attitude Of the Herald, in which am sure
your readers will find much interest; SO pro-
pose to serve it up to them. To begin: Ben
nett knows full well that the President long ago
determined on appointing Mr.. Slidell to the
French Mission and Mr.. Belmont to the Mission
at Madrid for there is no man connected with
the press anywhere whose relations are SO conf
dental with Mr.. Buchanan as are those of the
editor of the Herald at this time. The recon-
Citation was effected between them some time
ago, through tho agency of the notorious CheV-
alier WykOff
But it is necessary to go further back in order
| to have the case fairly understood. Mr.. Blu
chanan made the first advances toward recOncil-
iation, sometime before his return from London,
bv calling on Mrs. Bennett at her hotel in Paris,
while on his way to visit Belmont at the Hague.
The Ostensiblc object of the call was to make
intercession, through her, in behalf of Col. For
| ney, 10 procure u CCSSuliUu vi lllS SOuSlAuI
abuse to which the latter was subjected in
Benefits journal. The application was sue
cessful; and this accounts for the sudden 81
Ience of the Herald in regard to Forney, which
so puzzled many of his friends months ago.
After Buchanan's election he found means to
| further indicate disposition to have fair I'M
Outstanding with Bennett The latter, fore
seeing that he might make reconciliation
profitable to himself, and stepping stone to
| the qualification of hitherto disappointed ambi-
| ton, accepted the olive branch, and, through
| Wykoff, an alliance, offensive and defensive,
was concluded between the whilome foes 1t
will not be forgotten that four years ago the
editor of the Herald. Sought recognition and en-
dorsement by President Pierce, who had too
much sense to brave the storm of popular indig-
nation which any public recognition of Bennett
was certain to arouse. He first asked the APP
Ipointnent of one Gabriel G. Fleurot-a Paris
acquaintance of Mrs. B'S-to be United States
Consul at Lyons Secretary Marcy, satisfied
that the man was unfit for the position, absolute
" refused, much to the disgust of the editor
Still Bennett Smothered his wrath and struck
out boldly for the French mission on his own ac-
count. He was fed with delayed hope for some
time, but finding at last that the President Ind
no idea of giving him the place, broke ont in
the violent crusade against him which has made
the maine of "Poor Pierce" as famous as that of
"Jack the Giant Iillern
The terms of capitulation by Mr.. Buchanan
to the Herald editor were sealed Mt once by the
appointment of his man Fleurot to the consul
late at Bordeaux, position ten times as deSira-
hle rs was that ut Lyons at the time when Mr.
Marcy refused it to him. The Herald then
came ont at once in support of the Administra-
ton. Among the other terms of the treaty
between these iluStrious parties were some
which yet remains to be fulfilled, such for in
stance Us an appointment at West Point TO be
conferred directly by the President on BEN
netts son, next spring. A few weeks ago BEN
nett went to Washington by indirect invitation,
was taken into the confidence of the President,
posted throughout in relation to his policy, and
promised every facility of information which
could tend to make the Herald Buchanan'S or
gan in New York. The patronizing air with
which that Journal daily supports the Admins
tratlon aud foreshadOws its purposes presents
| abundant evidence that its conductor is fully
aware of the strength of the tolls he is winding
around the Presidents feet
Bennett has, for years, sought social recogni-
| ton at Washington. lie has succeeded at lastl
When at the capital few days ago, he dined
ruth Mr.. Buchanan, at the White House, bY
special inritGtiOni Mr.. Cobb was the only
member of the Cabinet present You wonder,
perhaps, that the Herald never announced the
fact. There is no occasion for marvel; Bennett
| is shrewd Bennett has mn object to attain, and,
knowing that the publication of the fact an
nounccd above would excite an indignation in
the South well calculated to alarm the Presi-
dent, he took care it should not get into print.
For wonder, the fact did not come to the
knowledge of the usually astute lettcr-writers at
Washington. Benefits correspondents, of
course, must have known it; but they had re-
ceived the order of "silencA" Frequent identi-
ty Of fact and sentiment shows that the cores
pondence of the Richmond Enquirer, St Louis
Republican, and Charleston Standard, is from
the same pen as the Herald's; but neither of
these journals has had a word about this recon-
citation dinner. 1t is clear that Bennett, dread
| ing the reaction of such an announce :,ent, in
structed his correspondents to keep num-"
The fact itselfis beyond dispute have heard
it rumoIed several times; but day or 10 since
Bennett himself Dragged of it in an hour Of over
weening confidence.
The entente cordiale, however, cannot last
Mr.. Buchanan does not see the web in which
Bennett is involving him, and probably will not
until extrication is difficult Bennett is again
in hot pursuit Of foreign mission, and when ne
gets the President quito within has power, and
has secured his sons cadetship, he will ''mmask
batteries" and fire ahead. Whether he can get
a mission for himself remains to be seen. He
will strike for the mission at Paris, take bold
ground for it, and finally consent to compromise
on the Austrian mission. Be assured | speak
by the card. Mark rue, this is the programme
which hp has chalkuti ont and will nurSup with