St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-02-11
Gen. Garfield's Friends"

The remark by Harper's Weekly,
which seemed to its editor quite obvi
Gus and commonplace, that the Presi-
dent-elect, in the conduct of his admin
istTation, would naturally "adviSe with
his Republican friends rather than his
Republican opponents" has raised the
question, Who are Gen. Garfield's
friends The answers are as plenty as
blackberries-or,p perhaps, it would be
a more seasonable comparison to say,
as plenty as icicles. Senator Blaine,
we are informed, is Gen. Garfield's old
personal and political friend. But for
his action in telegraphing his support
ers at Chicago to vote for Garfield rath-
er than Sherman, it is assumed that the
former would not have been nominated.
There is an impression, among those
who are well advised on the subject,
that affairs at Chicago had slipped be-
yond the plumed knights control before
the date of his dispatch, and that his
action was only another illustration of
his admirable facility in taking off his
hat to the inevitable. But let that
pass. For some reason or other, the
President-elect is undoubtedly very
well disposed toward Mr.. Blaine. In
dependent of any obligation incurred
in the convention or the canvass, Gen.
Garfield, if moved by motives that Or
dinarily operate in controlling political
affairs, would naturally recognize, as
among the first to claim his c0nsidera-
ton. a marty leader who has had for
eiGbt wears the largest and most entbu
siastic following of any man in the
countrv. and who has twice almost com
passed the nomination for tbe nresi-
deucv. We are not considering tbe
Maine senator's lacks when measured
bv a standard of ideal statesmapsbip.
but presenting a fact which evidently
has weight with Gen. Garfeld-ope of
those stubborn facts of dominance and
power within the party, against which
Mr.. Haves has been amiabIv and inef-
fectualiy buttinp his head for four wears.
Senator Blaine is a power. lust as, in
different wavs, Senators Conkling and
Edmunds are powers. With either of
these senators actively hostile TO him.
the incoming President would be ham
pered. if not helpless. in the Senate.
With the first two antagepizipG him.
he would be. like the present incumb-
emf. n President without a marty.
ten. Garfield. if his mast career af-
fords auv kew TO his future conduct is
ambitious to succeed. With no Thought
of sacrificing anv principIe. he is doubt
less anxious to secure such co0neration
within his partv as will enabIe his ad-
ministrotion tn ,yorI barmonionslv with
Congress in fprtbering n wisa and no.
nefieent policv. Who then shall he
his friends is il wise TO cast his lot
with one of the rival leaders. or to ig-
more them all ? Shall he buck AGAINST
the established machine with n nice
new machine of his ovnP Can be do
moralize tbe folIovers of tbe Jominont
chiefs bv THROWING faw small homes of
natronaGa omon~ tLen, wbiIa reSarvina,
Tho hest nIacas for nnrsonoI fovoritaS
under tba name of s.refoIn, D., If IN
rovt prasidan+ i, NOT ohoro Iaar,,i,,r,
frnn, rho evnnrianca of otIars no Iii
aroid some IF tLe uoistoIYes of Loth he
immediate nraJecassnrs Con CT
conducted his administration foo mncb
az tLongb tho nrasidencv were y nor
SonoI neronisita He saIactad n cohinat
as he tvonId a dinner nartv Uo o,are
mon bigh ofices for M hettar reoson
tLon ,I,,t no lsIilad +bop, ;, prasida,t
He's wbiIe he has on tho wboIo
airon tbo conptry a cioan hnsirossIii,e %
and rosnoctaiIe o6niniStrotinn hos