The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-02-05
Counting Their Chickens,
Washington Correspondence of the New 70
Nation.


1t is generally understood here that Mr..
Conkling is candidate for the President
ial succession in full training. He belongs
to that class Of politicians who rely for
success more upon party discipline than
upon the favor Of public opinion He
wants, therefore, to have the party machin-
cry, which is almost entirely in the hands
OF the otfce-holders, at his command, and
to this end he needs the friendship of the
President. In order to secure that he finds
1t necessary to champion every measure
the President has at heart, however unpop-
ular it may be. Thus he was understood
to press the confirmation of Mr.. Williams
as well Us Mi Gushing for the Chief JUS
ticeship 1t is indeed stated, on what
seems to be good authority, that Gen
Grant is again thinking seriously of secur-
ING 4 third nomination tor himself. But
Mr.. Conkling expects that the President
will soon enough become convinced of the
impossibility of such thing, and will then
throw his whole influence at the next Re
publican National Convention in favor OF
his most faithful friend and servant. In this
way Mr.. Conllling's singular movements
are explained by those who pretend to be
familiar with what is going on behind the
curtain. Mr. Morton, whose eye is fixed
with equal determination upon the Pres
idency, IS following policy essentially
different He tries TO make himself the
advocate Of the popular side of every
question. He would have preferred to re-
tam his intimate relations with the Pres
ident at the same time, but he does not
hesitate to risk the latter when the two
things come in conflict. He was under
stood to oppose the confirmation of Mr..
Williams rs we'll rs Nh Cushing with his
whole influence, and in this case undoubt-
cdly gained q point on Mr.. Conl1ling
He also thinks that the cry for ''more
money is u popular cry, and thus he
| makes himself the champion of imitation.
On the transportation question, also, he
understood to take advanced ground, in
order to ingratiate himself with the
''tarmers' movement lie has, however,
found one very serious Stumbling block in
his way, and that is the Louisiana ques-
ton. In this matter, at least, Mr.. Morton
was believed to be in the heartiest accord
with the Administration. His recent speech
for the admission OF Mr. Pinchback to a
seat in the Senate dwclt upon the recogni-
ton Of the Kellogg Government by the
President rs tle conclusive point. But now
it suddenly appears that the President is
growing tired Of the tribulation the Louis
| lana business has brought upon him; that
he has withdrawn his countenance not
only from PmChback but from the Kellogg
Government also and is in favor of hay
ing a new election in louisiana ordered
by Congress. Such change Of front on
the part OF the Administration does not
embarrass 4 man like Butler, to whom
such little ecccntiicitics are rather musing.
But Mr.. Morton had treated this matter as
serious business. and devoted his best
efforts 10 the task Of proving that the Adj
ministration was right and must be sus-
tanned He counted upon the support of
the President to carry this point in the
Senate, and that support failing he finds
himself in somewhat ridiculous position.
He is said to be vigorously at work to con-
vince the President of the error Of his
ways, but in order to provide for the con-
tingency OF failure in this respect, he has
already attempted 4 flank march to dis
guise his own retreat. Such is said to be
the meaning of his motion to refer the
Pinchback case to the Committee on Priyi-
lemcS and Elections on personal grounds.
Mr. Carpenter in the Senate. and Mr.
Butler in the House, are going to intro
duee bills to order a new election in
Louisiana, and then we may look for fierce
conflicts in the Republican camp in both
Houses. Behind Messrs Conkling and
Morton there stands a third candidate for
the Presidency, Mr. Speaker Blaine, who
plays his part with greater deXteIity than
either and, being by his position enabled
to remain more or less neutral in the con-
tests going on around him, looks on with
competency to see how his rivals are
busily at work destroying one another
without touching him. These may appear
small matters at first sight but they have
great influence upon the movements of
factions. and serve to intensity that be
wilderment and confusion which will, in
a great measure, make Legislation the
football of accident, and must finally re-
suit in the after breaking up Of party dis
ciplinc and organization.