Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-16
POSTMASTER GENERAL CRESS'
WELL.

do with the power conhded to them.
POSTMASTER GENERAL CRESS.
WELL.
"a Thirty Minutes Talk with me
Admfnfst I'm Ten
nessee.
Special to the Louisville Courier-Journal.l
THE INTERVIEW WITH REsswELL.
WASHINGTON, November IA. : The
Evening Star of this city publishes a
two-column account this afternoon OF an
interview with Postmaster General Cress-
well. with the caption of "A Thirty Min
utes' Talk with the Administration.
Regarding the elections, Cresswell
says:
though of course / am disappointed IN
MARYLAND. ! ascribe the loss OF that
State to the energetic canvass made by
the Democrats. who brought out their
entire strength, including voters who
had not been at the polls before for thirty
years, and to the Jealousy or prejudice
of a large number of persons who have
previously voted against the Democracy,
but who last Tuesday voted against the
negroes. Some of them will learn before
next year that it will not hurt them to
vote their own sentiments evenflf these
sentiments iare also voted for by the
black man. What told you about the
detection Of white voters to the party
know to be true from personal observa-
tons.
He was asked-How do you view the
result at large as directly affecting the
Administration? :
He replied" Well, as said before, |
am not surprised. The history of all
previous administrations will show you
that they have suffered similar treat
ment; in other words, the election IN
teryening between the Presidential con-
tests has always been and always will be
more or less unfavorable to the Admins
tration in power. 1t is natural that 1t
should be so, for it is a season OF apathy,
or what politicians call the " off year,
when the policy of the Administration is
only partially developed, has been but
briefly discussed, and it is not well UNI
derstood. / was in the 38th Congress,
which was the second of Lincoln's first
term. We came very near losing the
house then. The border States alone saved
us. In fact, we had but fair working
majority, and many of our most import
ant war measures were carried by from
fourteen to twenty votes. The Freed
mems Bureau bill, for instance, was
adopted by only one majority. SO you
see there is nothing new in the present
condition of affairs. In fact, think we
might have expected it, and am certain
that the President didn't anticipate the
reelection of all his friends. After all,
the most serious result which follows our
losses is the disappointment OF the Office
seekers in our party. They are not
small class, you know. They will not
have their representatives here to help
them along, and they will be compelled
to wait and work for better times
in the future. think, on the whole,
that we will be better off with the
fair working majority which we have in
the House than we would with our for
mer power. We were too strong The
members were not compelled to consult
with each other. There were too many
aspirants for the leadership, and there
was too much opportunity for the display
of personal jealousy. We will be free
from this now. There will be no risk of
imperium in imperio, rings within rings,
and there will be greater and more con-
fidential concert of action. In short,
am very well satisfied with the result.
"There are especial losses which you,
no doubt, have occasion to regret.
ayes. sir" he answered, we have oc-
casion to regret the loss of Mr.. Schenck.
His loss was undoubtedly the greatest Of
the canvass. The Administration will
certainly miss his power in the House.
Looking to the future, he added,
I'VE have no reason for uneasiness. |
We have only to continue the develop |
ment of our policy &c win in the next
elections. In other words,we must keep |
our finances firmly in hand, continue to
reduce our public debt, which is the
most effective way to maintain the ma
tional credit, and at the same time re-
lieve our people as much as possible |
from taxation. To do all this, we are |
required to maintain a sufficient tariff
for revenue, but we must take from the |
tariff list such articles as sugar, coffee,
and tea, and rely on Injuries alone for
our income. We must also relieve our /
people from internal taxation, because /
Il is the most odious form Of collecting /
revenue. The law which says to a man
we assess you so much and if you do
not pay il we will seize and sell your
property, is simply oppressive. For
that reason, if not for the protection Of
our home industries, we must keep up at
least revenue tariff. When the people
see and understand these facts they will
appreciate the mission Of the Admins
tration.
"You think then that the present
party divisions or organizations will con-
tinue till the next Presidential contestf
Il certainly do, he answered. There
will be, as a matter Of course, numerous
side issues like those developed in New
York, Pennsylvania and Missouri, but
they will be comparatively local, and the
national organization will continue the /
same. The movement in Massachu-
sets, with Wendell Phillips at its head,
is one Of these, but the workingmen
know that they are as well of under
the present condition Of affairs as they
would be with such men as be in con
troll.
g Ii will not be necessary tier" said
he, TO iniuse some new element into
fhe policy Of the Administration. as Gen.
Butler suggests in his recent manifesto"
DO you mean a war with England3"
Il presume that's what General Butler
means, OF rather he intends to pat a lit
lie more backbone into our Alabama
claims negotiation for the purpose Of
annexing Canada"
On General Buffers district" said
be, where the people are excited over
the fishery inbroglio. the annexation
scheme is talked Of a great deal. Such
a policy would be exceedingly popular
with us, because we are naturally a con
testing people, but It is the duty Of rulers
TO avoid war.
" What DO yoH think Of the Schurz
movement 10 Missouri
N is one Of the natural incidents OF
that officer. he replied. and Il Is very
natural that General Schurz should lead
il" i