Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-12-03
M TIONAL POLITICS.
CONCERNING THE NEXT PRESIDENCY.

The Pittsburgh Dispatch of the 20tl
ult. contains report Gf interviews
had by its reporter with some mem
bers and ex-members of Congress OH
the present view of National politics
Below are the opinions of three, which
will give our readers an idea of about
how matters appear to stand at pres
ent on the points referred to:
HON. THOMAS NJ BAYNE
Col. Bayne was out Of his office
yesterday, and his honse was closed
in anticipation of his departure soon
for Washington, but reporter found
him subsequently at the residence OF
his father-in-law, Mr.. Smith, on Ridge
avenue, Allegheny. "Yes," said he
in response to a question with refer
ence to his early departure for the
Capitol, eyes, l expect to start very
soon, probably about the 25th, as /
have some business to transact on my
way"
The conversation passed to some not
specially interesting matters concern
ing the coming Congressional session
and then to the next Presidential can
vass. Col. Bayne expressed himself,
as he had frequently done before, as
being devoted to the candidacy of Gen.
Grant. "He is the only man." said
the Colonel, that can be safely relied
upon as certain under any and all cir
cumstances to carry enough States to
secure his election. Grant will get
100000 Democratic votes. l have OBJ
served recently published interviews
with number of representative men
of the South and of the Democratic
party, in which the truth of this esti-
mate is clearly indicated The South
ern leaders say they prefer him to any
other Republican"
In the course of lengthy converse
ton with regard to Gen. Grants pros
poets, Col Bayne said he did not re-
gard it as necessary that the General
should be candidate to carry Penn
sylvania He had no doubt of the
Keystone State being Republican by a
very large majority. He also stated
that in Gen. Grants favor it was to be
said that he was not drinking now,
and would not surround himself with
men of the class of many of those
whom he formerly had about him.
Referring to the recent election, the
reporter said:
"Well, Pennsylvania gave a round
Republican majority"
Eyes, Pennsylvania is a reliable
Republican State"
"Who is her choice for President ?"
"Grant, if he will accept If not,
Blaine. | ought to say, perhaps, that
these candidates would represent the
preferences of the masses of the Re-
publican party. By process of ma
nipulation we'll known to the junta of
| politicians that manages the affairs of
the party, anybody it selects may be
thrust upon the party, and Pennsylva-
MIA Republicans are so thoroughly Re-
publican that they will do their duty
There are very few Republicans in our
State who are identified with those
that thank God they are not as other
men are"
New York will be the battle
ground ?"
| "It may and it may not The COM
ing Presidential election is susceptible
of a management, which would be
perfectly constitutional and lawful, but
which would involve possible, if not
probable, contingencies that might give
rise to an alarming condition of affairs :"
Glow is that?"
"Well, you know that Section 2, of
Article 2, of the Constitution, provides
that each State shall appoint, in such
manner as the Legislature thereof may
direct, number of Electors equal to
the whole number of Senators and
Representatives to which the State
may be entitled in Congress- Now,
it is conceded by the Democrats that
if New York goes Republican, our
candidate will be elected. The Legis-
lature of New York is largely Repub-
lican and is likely to continue So
Suppose the Legislature, initiating the
declared purpose of Louisiana, Florida
and South Carolina, should repeal the
existing law on that subject, and enact
a law empowering itself to appoint the
Electors, and should appoint them,
that would give New York to the Re-
publicans beyond a peradventure. 1t
would be legal and constitutional. But
the Democrats have both houses of
Congress. They are making life and
death struggle for power, for they
know that after the next apportion-
ment their chances will be hopelessly
gone. They might hold popular
election, and the Republicans, standing
on the action of the Legislature, would
not vote. They would say tie time
honored custom of New York had
been departed from, and they would
refuse, fo- this and other reasons, to
count the vote of New York, and thus
/ throw the election into the House."
"But how could they do that in the
face of the fact that Florida, Louisiana
and South Carolina bad been manipu-
lated in the same way in their be-
half?"
"The Democrats will do anything
for power. They care no more for
consistency than they do for any other
principle. If they should refuse to
count the vote of New York as cast
her Electors, the Republicans would
not stand it. 1t is easy to imagine
what might come of this"
"Wouldn't such course impinge
| directly on their doctrine of State
rights 2"
"It would But you have a very
common complaint among Republicans.
You judge the Democrats by your
own standard. That won't do. The
act of Congress to prevent the intro
duction of yellow fever clashed di-
rectly with their State rights theory,