The Portland daily press., 1880-04-10
SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 10.
Letter From the Northwest.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, April 6, 1880.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, April g. 1880.
Resting for short time in this city on my
return home from the Northwest, 1 have
thought that few words concerning that part
of the country through which I have travelled
might be of interest to your readers. My home
for the Winter since leaving New England has
been at Madison, Wisconsin, one of the most
beautiful places have ever visited. The new
State House in the centre of the business por-
ton of the city and within magnificent park,
is exceedingly attractive, while the State Uni
versity with all its accessory buildings, togeth-
er with the extensive and excellently arranged
grounds around them, forms picture of itself
grandly beautiful. The city has about 1900
inhabitants, but has probably reached about
its largest size, though can see no reason why
made and kept so by the Capitol, the Univer-
sity and the courts, together with its beautiful
scenery and the wealth of its people and sur
rounded as it is by chain of lakes which fur
nishes such delightful sailing in Summer and
skating in Winter, not forgetting the fishing
and duck shooting which in this season furnish
so much pleasure to those who enjoy such pas
time; and here let me add, for the bepefit per-
haps, of some good live Yankee landlord,
that know of no better opportunity for such
character to lay up treasures on earth than in
the new "Park HOTEL one OF the largest and
best furnished houses in the Northwest re-
Gently erected here, the proprietor of which
has recently deceased and which is to be leased
if the right man can be found. From Madison
from time to time, as L have felt able, and
thought it whould benefit me, 1 have visited
Minnesota and Iowa and should have gone to
Dakota, but when got beyond Clear Lake in
Iowa where we leave the timber and strike the
broad, open prairie, with no trees in sight,
save here and there a few which the farmer,
probably reared in the bush, has planted
around his dwelling ..and not hill in view, 1
grew homesick.
There has been considerable fear all through
the West that the winter wheat would be de-
stroyed by the unusual weather which has pre-
vailed, but while this may be true in few To-
calities, this loss will not be general and fair
crop is expected, while all through the North
west greater preparations are being made than
ever before for putting in spring crop, the
work of which is already begun. Many Of the
farmers, who make this speciality have put in
from 25 to so per cent. more than in former
years, some of them having hundreds of acres,
all in one farm, under the pillow, and while the
East, especially New England, excels in man
ufacture and other industries, there is no
place like the great Northwest for farming.
1t is the garden of the world in this important
industry, which our Eastern farmers are fast
finding out and fastening to partake of its
privileges and profits. This spring the emil
grafton from East to West and mostly of farm
ers, has already begun, and in larger numbers
than ever before, train after train from this
city, which is the grand gathering place from
which they start to all points beyond, bearing
its living freight of men, women and children
who go to their new homes beyond the Mississ-
ippi
I have found that the great political
question, which now agitates all sections of
our country, in view of the Presidential cam
palgn is OF great interest wherever have been
and few words upon this may not be uninter-
esting. need not say that I have everywhere
found that the strongest and best elements Of
the people in all the States of the Northwest,
and especially in Wisconsin, Iowa and Mime
sofa are in favor of James G. Blaine as the
Republican candidate, for the news now daily
coming from every delegate proclaims this
fact, and while Gen. Grant has host of friends
who look upon him as brave soldier and
true patriot, they deplore the position in which
some scheming politicians seek to place him,
which can only do him harm, for third term
could add nothing to his greatness, and might
take away even all he has. In this
view, and because of the opposition
to the third term principle, I have found hun
dreds of Republicans, who, were he nominated,
would hesitate to vote for him, and the claim of
Democratic votes is SO absurd that in the close
States there would be danger of Republican
defeat The Democrats know this and urge
on the third term movement as their only hope
of success. General Grants best friends, those
who seek his own good rather than their own
hope of reward, do not believe he will allow
himself 70 be made sacrifice, and assert that
he will not allow his name to be used in the
convention believe such will be his course,
nse the good judgment which has ever
characterized him, and save all the trouble
about third term by refusing to enter the
tield. The ticket mostly mentioned among the
Republicans wherever have been, and the
Same is true in this city, is Blaine and WASH
burne. This would unite the German vote,
which is very strong in the West, give unity to
the Republicans everywhere, and make sue
cess beyond all doubt, and believe that when
the convention shall have assembled it will
make short work, and present to the people
ticket in which they can put full confidence,
and whoever may be the candidate for the Sec
ond place, believe that James G. Blaine of
Maine will be the choice of large majority
for the first write this not as my own feel
ings alone dictate, but from the feelings have
everywhere encountered in my three months
of travel through the country. Great prepara-
lions are being made here for the convention
in June, the Exposition building being put
in order for the immense number which it is
expected will be present, and everything will
be done by the people of this city to make it a
grand success. Ex-Gov. Palmer of this city
wants to be the Democratic candidate, and
has good sized barrel to back him, but the
boom is not yet a very loud one. Sammy
wants it and will get it (the nomination I
mean) for should he fail, like poor Horace
Greeley, who was killed by too many Office
seekers, he too will refuse to be comforted and
pass in his chips.