The true northerner., 1880-02-13
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. Z, 1880

W AEhlNolON, ~. -, GU q, AoOy'
Correspondence Of The True Northernsr
1t seems 10 be pretty generally conceded By
! Presidential prophets in Washington that the
race for noEiinatop is now between Grant and
Blaine, Oh the Republican side; bat very few
predictions are hazarded as to Democratic pres
idential prospects. There have been so many
turns in the political kaleidoscope that the
views are somewhat bewildering. III is the
opinion OF many that Senator Esyard has a
more solid support than any other man named
for the position. He is the choice OF a majority
or Eastern democrats and of many influential
men OF the south-such men. for instance, as
Jones OF Florida. Gibson OF Louisiana Hamp-
ton, Lamar, Butler, Gordon, and many others.
Bayard's friends oaly hesitate TO organize and
push him sggressively for the nomination be-
cause of one thing,-his State has been casssd
among those OF the South, and some Of his
most ardent friends fear this might hurt him
in the North Northern democrats who favor
Mr.. Bayard insist that this fear is groundess,
and say that the independent conservative
voters Of the North have more confidence in
the Senator from Delaware than any other
public mar. Tilden is still prominently men
toned in connection with the nomination. but
IL the democratic members OF Congress reflect
is not strong. The agitation of Seymour's
name developed the fact that he was q fsvorite,
but his recent emphatic declaration that he
would not accept the nomination If rendered 10
him seems 10 remove hun from the race
Should the convention return to the majority
rule Ii is quite probable that Senator Bayard
will have strength enough to give him the nom
ination early in the action. Should the two
thirds rule be retained, however, there will,
very probably, be long and perhaps bitter
struggle over the nomination. The democrats
who favor Mr. Bayard are honest and earnest
in the belief that ne is the best and the strong
est man that can be chosen. In this belief
they will stick together. and that will give him
possibly, an, advantage over other candidates.
The present condition OF the Navy is iu O
general way appreciated by probably every
newspaper reader, but few persons VIII be pre-
pared for the particularly unpleasant exposure
Of il made by Mr.. Harris to the House, in pre-
ssntng bll to provide for permanent con-
struction fund The report sets forth that
small AZ the number CT our naval vessels is,
compared with the force OF European powers,
it is I" infinitely smaller" in real fighting power;
that the Ave =" first rate vessels we have are
now TO be classed as obsolete and as mon
combatants." That Of the twenty -seven " sec
ond d-rates three are unfinished on the stocks,
rotten and worthless" seven are probably not
worth repairing, and only nine are ia condition
for service; that OF twenty-nine third-rste
steamers six should be broken up, and only
ftteon are now fit for service that the Elk
fourth rate steamers are OF really no account
as vessels OF war; that OF the twenty -four
iron -clsds foar are "rotten and worthless" a
number OF them unfinished, and the fourteen
that are servicesble are Gil fourth-rates,' and
carry only two guns each-smooth bores Of
five inch calibre. There is not" says the re-
port, - single rifed gun on our IRON clad
feet aaoat." This state OF affairs is only less
ridiculous than it is melancholy. OF course and
can be defended only by those who see no ne
cessity for even the satiricsl semblsnce OF
navy that We possess. The bill looking to Q
moderate and gradual reform which has been
introduced by Mr.. Harris ought to receive con-
siderable attention.