Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-11
The Recent Elections.

Win MS Intimate friends as to the eau
ses which have produced such a revul
sion in the popular verdict. He is of
the opinion that the Democrats were as
much surprised by their overwhelming
success as were the Republicans, and
he admits that, although he fully ex-
pected Republican losses, he was not
prepared for this crushing defeat. He
does not sanction the idea that bis pol
icy or his personal acts have contribu-
teo IN any degree to the defeat.
So far as Louisiana is concerned, he
says, he took the course which he be-
lieved it to be his duty to take, but
that he twice specifically called the at
tention of Congress TO the affairs of
that State, and requested that body to
Indicate its opinion as to the proper
course to pursue. Congress failed to
express any opinion. and there was no
alternative but to adhere to the line OF
action that he had initiated.
The President thinks that at the
door of the Republican Congress, alone,
may be laid the defeat of the Republi
can party. He does not lay much
stress upon the neglect of Congress to
present financial measures which would
restore confidence and revive declining
trade, for in the nature of things this
was next to an impossibilty. A prop
er adjustment of the finances was not a
matter susceptible of party control, az
different sections Of the country had
diverse interests and views superior to
party considerations.
The President thinks that the great
element Of discord in the Republican
party was the unwise attempt to force
upon the American people the
theories of Senator Sumner, embodied
in the Civil Rights bill. Last spring
it was authoritatively stated that the
President did not favor the Civil Rights
bill. Il can now be said that his views
in opposition to it have been much
strengthened by the recent election.
He IS firmly convinced that the Civil
Rights bill bad more to do with the
defeat of the party than all other cau-
ses combined.
The President gives his friends to
understand that he is nor cast Town by
the recent reverses. He believes that
the Republican party has before it a
glorious future, and that it may re-
trleve its past errors. lie believes the
| Republican Congress can, in the three
months of life left, so act as to heal the
dissensions within the party, and win
back the confidence of the people.
1t is not improbable that in his mes
sage to Congress the President will set
forth some Of the views here given.
He has not SO far, in any conversations
on the elections. indicated that he con-
,sidered that the " third term" had
anything to do with the results.
At the cabinet meeting, yesterday,
the President expressed himself more
atlength on the third term" than ev-
er before. He said that careful e1-
animation of the returns in the differ
ent States showed aconclusively that the
people were not Influenced by the wild
cries on this subject. He pointed to
what he considered two notable instan-
ces in proof of his assertion. The
South Carolina Republican Convention
had emphatically pronounced for him
third term, and it's candidate for Gov
ernor had been triumphantly elected in
the face of enormous odds against him.
On the other hand, in the Utica dis
trict, in New York, where the 'Repub-
licans had always an overwbe elmirg
preponderence, Ellis H. Roberts insist
ed upon the Congressional convention
which nominated him pronouncing
against third term, and Roberts was
defeated. o. oa
A LIVELY railroad war in England
is in prospect. The Midland Railway,
running through the heart Of England
and coming into competition with sew
eral other leading lines, has changed
its classification of passengers, making
but two classes instead of three, and re-
ducing rates to 3 cents and cents,
per. mile instead Of 6, 4 and cents,
as formerly. The other lines are
alarmed and say such rates will be ru-
inous.
It IS officially announced that the
work of restoring the Vendome Column
will be concluded by the middle of No
vernber. The statue of Napoleon l.,
which is to be placed upon the column,
is not yet ready. The old statue could
not be repaired, and the new one will
be made after the model which exists
in the studio of NJ. Dumont, .
It is reported from Florence that
Mr. Joaquin Miller, the poet of the
Sierras, has eloped with an Italian
| married woman, the mother of several
children. The affair is said to have
| produced great commotion in the So
ciety of that free living city. Though
the report comes we'll authenticated,