The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-01-11
The Conspiracy, lis Strength and Its
Weakness.
Washington Correspondence New York sunl

brass, brain, and backbone of the new
confederacy to destroy the Union: Nor
ton and Sherman in the Senate, and
Chandler and Don Cameron in the Cab
met. If these four men were suddenly
to die, all danger to the public peace, all
danger to the Republic would be re-
moved. Hayes and Grant, though i'm
pertant factors, occupy the same rela-
tions to these four confederates that
effect has to cause. Grant is but their
implement; Hayes their fgurehead in
the present, their instrument in the fu-
ture. But the main motor of these four
men is self-self-preservation, self-inter-
est. Principles and policy, the public
and even the party are but means to this
sole end of self. And no one can truly
understand the present political situa-
tion who does not know the exact char
acter, relations, and objects of these four
men.
Take Morton, for instance. His love of
power and prominence is inordinate, his
energy and persistency fpurpose extra
ordinary, his ambition high, his methods
low, his ability unquestioned, his con-
tempt for consistency or sincerity undis-
guised, his regard for anything like pub
lie interest or public conscience utterly
unknown. He has but one aim, and that
is power, positition. His State elected
Gov. Hendricks four years ago, gave a
Democratic majority of II 900 two years
ago, and gave majority of 1000 for Til
den last November. His term expires in
two years. The very next Legislature
will have the choice of his successor. If
Mr.. Tilden's Inauguration can be pre-
vented, Mr.. Morton thinks he can either
be reelected, or, failing in this, can get
Cabinet Office from Mr.. Hayes. But the
power of Mr.. Tilden's administration
would make Mr.. Morton's reelection an
absolute impossibility. When Mr.. Nor
ton, therefore, insists upon putting Hayes
into the Presidency, he simply fights for
himself, fights for selfpreservation.
Take Sherman next. He, too, loves
power and position. His term, too, ex-
pires at the very next election. Mr..
Hayes carried Ohio by the skin of his
teeth, by majority less than the num-
Der of Federal oficeholders in Ohio.
The power of a Democratic Administra-
tion, the popular changes absolutely
sure to follow the reform measures of
Mr.. Tilden. would secure Ohio to the
Democrats at the next election beyond
any question. Mr.. Thurman has been
twice elected by Democratic Legislatures
and Mr.. Sherman's last election was of
most doubtful legality, so closely divided
was the Legislature, SO outrageously
partisan some of the practices resorted
to. The Inauguration of Mr.. Hayes gives
Mr.. Sherman chance of reelection.
Failing in this, he could go into the
Cabinet. But the Inauguration of Mr..
Tilden deprives him not only of all
hope of this, but also of all prospect of
future public life. In fighting, there
fore, for Mr.. Hayes, Mr.. Sherman
simply fights for himself-for self
preservation.
Take Don Cameron. He is ambitious
and ayaritious, rich and unscrupulous.
He it was who nominated Mr.. Hayes at
Cincinnati, by his action as Chairman of
the Pennsylvania delegation. He is
Secretary of War, and has the absolute
pledge of Mr.. Hayes that he shall be re-
He never was elected by
the people to any Office, and probably
never will be. His State is Democratic
beyond question the first day when
frauds in the city of Philadelphia can
be prevented. A change of Administra-
tion in Washington would very probably
produce this change, while it would drive
him from the Cabinet, Danish him from
public life, perhaps, for ever. The inau-
guration of Mr.. Hayes would confirm his
present power, and open vista of new
worlds to conquer in the future. In
fighting for Hayes. therefore, Mr.. Don
Cameron simply fights for himself-for
self-preservation.
Take Chandler. A millionaire, yet re-
pudiated by his own State; a coarse,
vulgar, illiterate, ill-informed, unscrupu-
lous, and ungentlemanly demagogue,
yet member of the Cabinet. He, too,
has great fondness for power and public
life. His services as Chairman of the
National Committee make it more than
probable that Mr.. Hayes will retain him
IN his Cabinet. The Inauguration of
Tilden would, of course, prevent this,
and would practically Danish Zach from
public life, for even if he could again
secure an election to the Senate, Mr..
Christiancy's term does not expire for
four years yet, and Mr.. Ferry's re-
election is now assured. So that, in fight
ing for Hayes's Inauguration, Zach sim
ply fights for himself-for self-preserva-
tion.
On the other hand, take Conkling, or
Blaine, or Dawes, or Edmunds. Their
circumstances, their objects, motives,
character, interests, are all different.
1t is beyond question that Blaine
would have been nominated at Cincin-
natl in spite of everything, but for the
taint attached to him by the investiga-
tions of his railroad transactions. This
he knows. He looks to-day to the Presi-
dency in 1880. His seat in the Senate,
his power in Maine, his prestige in the
country, his hold upon the masses of his
party, his great ability and versatility,
his independence in point of wealth, are
all beyond question. What Henry Clay
was to the Wings, Blaine is to the Re-
publicans. Still, that taint remains, and
Blaine knows it. But Blaine has also
intellect enough to know that he can not
be elected in 1880 if he now identifies
himself with still greater fraud-with
tainted Presidency, prostituted party,
a subyerted Government. He wishes to
redeem himself, wishes to wipe out his
taint, and not add a greater one to it.
He knows the forgetfulness and gen.
erosity of the American people. He
knows that the past would be quickly
forgiven for the present. He has, rightly,
too, the utmost confidence in his own
ability to create a powerful impression
in favor of any policy he advocates. He
knows, too, that Hayes's administration
would be controlled by men who are all
his enemies-the Cameron, Grant, Sher-
man, and Morton. Why should he not
ally himself with the right and just
cause? Why not by an honorable, con-
servatiye, and constitutional course re-
gain prestige and popularity? He knows
that Grant and the Camerons hate him,
knows that Sherman, Morton and their
confederates all hate him. Why should
he help them to put their tool into the
Presidency? Why miss great oppor-