The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-03-30
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
THE CANVASS VIEWED
THROUGH TRIBUNE SPECT4CLES.
Retfcence of Congressmen-"hat they
Think OF Afairs-Fears for the Sue
cess Of the Reform Movemont-A Free
Discussion.

Retfcence Of ConSressmen-"hat they
Think OF Afairs-Fears for the Sue.
cess OF the Reform Movemont-A Free
Discussion.
Correspondence Of the New York Trlbunel
WASHINGTON, March %.
No class of politicians is scanning the politi
cal horizon with so much care and anxiety a:
the Republican members of the House O
Representatives. They read the newspapers
with unusual attention, and the letters they
receive from their constituents are no longer
glanced at only to see what troublesome re-
Quests must be complied with, but are careful
" perused for expressions OF opinion which
may show the direction OF the political WIND
at home They show these letters to each
Dossbs D1s H y fS9'rs sepss nsss ana asfa
in the party, and suggest schemes
for allayfng them which are often
absurd, and compromises which are ridi-
culous or impossible, although well meant
TRey are tmid, even to cowardice, In express
ing their views when they fear that what they
say get into print. There is scarcely man
among them who would not dread to have his
honest sentiments upon the political situation
known to the people he represents. One does
not have to 60 far to find the reason for this
reticence in men who are fond OF thinking
themselves popular leaders. Their elections
are to come off next fall, the nominating. con-
veptions that are to decide their fate ale close
at hand, and they are afraid Of taking step IN
any direction lest their attitude should not
meet with the favor of their constituents.
They are, therefore, standing still and watch
ipg the signs In the political heaveHs. They
see every thing from their standpoint of self
interest, and their observations are, therefore,
not worth very much as trustworthy indica-
tlons of future events, but the vigilance of the
watch they maintain gives TO these obserya-
tions some positive value.
These fearful Congressman are badly fright
ened at the Cincinnati movement. They think
1t traught with nothing but disaster for them.
They dare not say word in Its support, and
they are afraid to condemn 1t IN positive Ian
guage. If 1t should result In great uprising
Tor reform, that should triumph at the Presi-
dental election, they predict nothing but
calamity to themselves, for they know that
new men would become Its leaders, and secure
control of 1t long before they would venture to
take the risk of declaring in Its favor. There
would be no room for such tardy recruits
among the captains Of the hosts of reform,
and they would have to fall In as prlvotes In
the ranks. They therefore hope for the failure
OF them at heart sympathlze with the princi-
pies that animate 1t, and would joyfuly vel
come its success IL they could be sure no
harm would come thereby to Them
selves. But this is where the doubt
comes. The chances in such an event
are against them, and their eager study
Of indications and weighing OF prooa-
bilisaes has led nearly all of them to the con-
clusion that the safest course is, In the lan-
guage of Mr. Dawes, to ''lo0k alone to the
Philadelphia Convention for authoritative ac-
tion of the Republican party" They do this,
however, with the same expression Of regret
for. or condemnation OF, the evils that have
given occasion for the Cincinnati Convention
that Mr.. Dawes made use OF In his letter dis
ment which Senator Upton had attributed to
him. In fact, since he assumed the nominal
Leadership of the House, Mr.. Dawes has never
so well expressed the views Of The majority
upon any subject as in that letter.. He struck
the keynote, and his fellow-members are fast
taking up the tune.
The attitude of Mr. Dawes has rather reas-
sured the doubling Congressman. Mr.. Gar
field, TOO, whose opinions, courage and antes
cedents appeared 10 Indicate him, more Than
any man in the House, as probable champion
of the new movement, has refused to take
ground In Its favor, and has spoken of 1t as
likely to result in bringing the old l. emocratic
party into power. These declarations, and
other events of the past week, have unques-
tionably set the faces OF vaclllating members
more than ever In the direction Of Pniladel-
phia For the last few days there has been
more decided and cheerful tone on the Repuo.
lican side of the House, than at any time for q
month past: There seems TO be more hope
that the threatening storm will blow over.
~ don't believe 1t will be much of sho vel" !"
said a Pennsylvania member, yesterday,
speaking of the Cincinnati Convention; sit
looks rather black, confess, but 1t won't
amount to much The old Republican party
will weather it safely" "Four years from
this time" said an Ohio member, "a move.
ment for reform like that at Cincinnati
will sweep the board; bnt 1t Is too soon
now-the people are not ripe for it. It may be
thai the Republican party has done Its work,
but there Is force in the body of a great po-
liIical organization that makes 1t power long
afer Its ,Ife has departed. In other words, q
party is like O machine, which will continue to
run some time after the motive power ls re-
moved. think we can all see unmstakable
signs of dissolution In our party, but It will
hold together long enough to run through the
next campaign with scarcely diminished mo-
msntum. That being the case. suppose we
Republican politicians might better stick 10
the machine until we feel breaking down
under u.s." ~ am salisheo from all I can
learn" remarked New England representa-
tive, 'sthat the hostility to Grants reelection
mas not WOrkeQ QOWu dulouS luc peOplt yet W
any considerable extent 1t may be-, when
we get into the campaign. and all his
acts come to be subjected to the as
saults of the opposition. l admit that
few Presidents have ever done as many un-
popular things as Grant, but he got 80 strong
q hold upon the confidence of the people dur
ing the war that the masses OF the party do
moi believe things which we here In Washing
ton known to be true. II this House had the
making of the next President, Grant would
not get twenty votes; but the people have not
had the near view Of his administration that
we have; they still see In him the great sue
cessful soldier, and, looking only to the gene
raj results of his three years IN the White
House, they find the country has been tolera-
bly, pr. sperous, the debt has been reduced,
and no great harm has been done In any
direction. They, therefore. see no reason
why he should not be gratif1ed with another
term. His renominalion Is of course certain,
and / believe he will be reelected unless
there shall be change in public feeling,
which admit is impossible, but of which
there are now no Indications"
: These are fair specimens of the views ex-
pressed In conversation with their friends by
leading Republican members of the House.
: Outside Of Congress. and, of course, outside
of the departments, the prevalent opinion ls
that the Cincinnati movement Is steadily gain
ing strength, and will be Joined within the
next month by many public men who have
not felt called upon as yet to openly express
their support. II is generally believed that