The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTEB.
Party Organ atiOn-Sever Dfstin-
Eujshed Characters, Including Boss
Shepherd and Grant.
Editors OF the Register.

Shepherd and Grant.
Editors Of the Register.
! WASHINGTON, February 8, 1875.
Hon. Augustus Schell, Chairman of the
National Executive Committee, was here
last week; and that Committee held
meeting on Friday night and determined
to make immediate preparations tor the
approaching Presidential campaign.
Hon. John G. Thompson of Ohio was
elected Vice Chairman, and be was or
dered to open head quarters tor the party
here and get actively at work. This
was wise selection on the part OF the
Committee as Mr. Thompson's fame as
an organizer is great. l understand the
next Presidential campaign will be man
aged from this city instead of New York
as heretofore.
| SPEAKER KERR.
Is tall man, should say fully six feet
in his stockings, slender in person, with
| q slim face, and his rather sunken cheeks
show signs of that terrible enemy to un-
remitting labor and active usefulness, con-
sumption. His voice Is naturally full,
clear and agreeable one, but by the time
the morning hour has expired, it sounds
forced and much exhausted. He is re-
garded by the old members of the House
rs good Speaker, clear in his rulings,
prompt in his decisions, and impartial in
the discharge of his every duty. He is
an able man. end his integrity is II the
sternest. The lobby that has for years
overrun the House and shaped its legis.
lation, has been driven from the Capitol
by Mr.. Kerr. His selection for this high
position is conceded to have been fit
beginning for great party about to enter
upon the rule of the Nation,
and the inauguration of q grand
system of Reform in the Government in
all Its branches. 1t is an earnest of
better and purer epoch, about to dawn.
Mr.. Kerr has frequently of late, been
mentioned as a suitable man Tor the
Presidency, but he declines the honor
and announces himself for Gov. Hem
| bricks
SAMUEL lcox.
The talented, versatile Cox-humor-
ist, statesman, orator, philosophers the
music box and gall bag of the House.
He is equally ready to administer fun to
his friends and praise to his enemies. In
statue he is small man; in intellect q
tull grown, double fsted, six footer. His
rare fund of good humor keeps him
young. Although it is now twenty
years since he first entered Congress
having been distinguished editor and
writer for some years prior to that-but
few gray hairs yet besprinkie his head
and beard. Mr.. Cox is one of the most
useful members who has ever held seat
in Congress-able, experienced, quick as
the lightning's fash, untiring in energy,
ceaseless in industry-his place can never
be filed by another.
When | asked him who would be the
Democratic candidate for President, st-
ter naming the gentleman who seemed
to him to be looking up most prominent
ly. He said: "But our first duty in this
House is. to show the country, by our
works, that we deserve to be intrusted
with the control of the Government.
Until then, it is not worth
while to talk about men,
JAMES @. BLAINE,
the ex-Speaker and crusading candidate
for the Presidency, has immense vitality
and physical power, intellect and energy.
He labors hard, and is getting both gray
and bald. In private conversation he is
genial and magnetic; in political debate
bitter, vindictive, exasperating, british.
He is the thorn in the Democratic Con.
gressional side, the obstructor OF leglsla
ton; the stirrer. up of evil passions and
the foul stenchcs of the dead past.
| Hyena? No name was ever more fit
tingly bestowed than that given Blaine
by Cox. 1t will stick to him rs closely
as the Beast" does to his only rival in
the same line.
Intellectually, Blaine, like Butler, is a
great man. But his power is for mis-
chief for destruction. He can pull down,
but cannot build. be rules the Repub-
lican minority here by virtue of his rare
parliamentary skill, and the use OF keen
party lash. But it is conceded that he has
| done his party irreparabe harm by com
mitting it to the "bloody shirt" vindic.
tive policy, for this Centennial year
this year of reconciliation and good
will Mr.. Blaine Is now keeping per-
fectly quiet. Seeing the injury he has
done, he is trying, by golden silence"
to cause his blunders to be forgotten. But
man who coarsely attacks the religion
of his own mother, and who would stig-
Matte two Aunts who are devoting their
lives to the works of mercy of the Sister
hood. has essentially a bad heart, and it
is betting in him to play the part of
the ghoul and the hyena among graves |
grass grown and flower bedecked.
At this time the opinion here is not
that Blaine is likely to be the nominee
of the Radical party, but that the chances
are more in favor of
OLIVER P. MOTION.
Mr.. Morton is not the greatest man in
the Senate, nor even on the Republican
side of that body; but be is, intellectual.
", great man; and his lsbors as the
| GWar Governor" Of the Hoosier State
prove him to be an organizer of rare
parts. 1t i. thought the Republicans
will regard it to their advant tage If they
can make Indiana and Ohio :he great
battle ground of the Presidential contest
since these State elections will pr ,cede
the election for President by nearly one
month. To carry both these States at
that time, will GO far toward settling the
national contest. Morton, they think
and argue, will carry Indiana over any
msn the Democrats can nominate either
inside or out of that State. And by the
addition of Gov. Hayes, as Vice Presl-
dent they expect to carry Ohio. con-
cede that Morton is powerful in debate,
Napoleon in organization, and that be
can draw from the Golfers of the bond
holders and whisky ringsters an
unlimited qusntity of money for
corruption purposes; yet. his record on
the leading question OF the recent past
and present is too crooked for any Presi-
/ Dental candidate to succeed with.
Among strangers Mortons face would
ruin MIN. The Creator has stamped
Bully snd "Blackgusrd' as plainly on
| his countenance rs il written in letters Of
J L., h,,ynhipfr nv tho