Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-08-25
ABOUT THAT SLATE

ing Republlcan convention by or in
the interests Of the so-called Mad
lson Regency. The friends of this
latter institution diligently deny all
knowledge of any such arrangement,
but the evidence in favor of its
existence is too strong to be overcome
As We have referred to it occasionally
ourselves we prefer to speak plainly
what we know of it rather than to al
lude to it merely in vague or myster-
iou8 manner. In the first place this
estate" is only part of the plan to
elevate Ben. Hopkins to the Senate at
the close Of Senator Howe's term, and
is skillfully made up with reference to
that ultimate object. VIM. E. Smith
was the candidate for Governor whom
they chose to honor with their prefer
erence at first, but, as his stock went
down under the attacks of the Oshkosh
Northeastern, they dropped him and
took up another man-Gen. Atwood
it is said. Those who are at all posted
know that it has always been charac-
teristic of the Regency to hook on
to the tail of every rising kite and
to unlock when it begins to settle un-
| der the weight or another is seen to be
rising faster. The minor Offices on
the "Slate' are distributed in the man.
ner which lis authors consider will best
further the accomplishment Of the
! final plan, and it is needless to follow
the thing into detail I; it is 81 IMPLY a
mstter of justice however, to say that
doubtless some Of the chosen candidates
are the recipients of the dubious favor
of the Regency's preference without
their own connivance, and that, it is
their misfortune rather than their fault
that they are thus befriended.
It is amusing TO consider the minute
ness of detail to which the plan ft1
elevating Hopkins to the Senate has beer
carried. Even his successor in Con
gress has been a subject of consideration
and one poor fellow was so elated Will
the prospect that he indiscreetly inform
ed friend. that "Ben" had promised hir
the place; how many more are cherish
ing similar encouragement Of cours
does not yet transpire. Another littl
scheme, which it was intended should b
kept very quiet but was also accidentl
divulged, was something as follows
Senator Howe to be disposed of by put
ting him upon the y. s. Circuit or ST.
preme Court within the next two wears
Gov. Atwood to appoint Hon. P Sawye
; to FIJI Howe's place in the U. S. Senat
which would satisfy the claims of tina
section and also Sawyer's ambition
and then all hands to go in for Hopkin
as Sawyer's uccessor. Whether How
would prefer sure thing on the benc
to contest with the irrepressibl
Benjamin remains to be seer, but
will be noticed that all these little ma
neuvers-like the arithmetical square
which produces the same sum no mat
ter which way the columns are add &c
have one object, viz: Ben. Hopkin
for Senator in 1878.
AS for our redoubtable CONGRESSMAN
we consider that he stands about as goo
chance of going to the U. S Senate
as craven image would of swimmin.
the Atlantic ocean; the day has gone +,
when cheek, money and bad RECORD
are sufficient to send man to the Sen
ate. And, even if Hopkins possessed
the ability and moral character prop er
ly required ofaspirants to that position
the fact that he undertakes to fore
stall public opinion and to accomplish
his objects by secret political maneu
vering, should be sufficient to put tn
veto of popular disfayor upon bis as
pirations for all time. When clique
or single individuals can, by secret, un
: demanded means thwart or contrc
the public will, democratic institution
fall under ridicule, and the objection
which their enemies bring against theu
are in a measure justified.