Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-11-26
Naucaster flltellige,lrfr.
SATURDAY EVENING. NOV. 20. 1873
The Winter in Washington.


CO... McClure's dispatch to his paper
from Washington pictures the political
situation there as the revel of Stalwart-
ism. A less acute observer can easily
discern this from the reports which
reach the country at large. The full
exposure of the situation of course
awaits the assembling of Congress and
more especially the orga9 tion of the
House, and the changes q the cabinet
which are expected to follow. Mr.. Mac
Veagh's retirement relieves the present
administration of the element which was
and would have continued to be the
backbone of the Independent strength
under Garield's administration. He
was equally antagonistic to Conkling
and TO Blaine, and more disposed to con-
ciliate the former. 1t was he who nego-
tiated the treaty with Conkling, Platt,
Arthur and James, by which all factions
were to be recOnciled in New York with
the retention of Merritt, whose nomina-
ton Cnnkling had opposed but whose re-
the appointment of an adherent of Blaine.
1t has been cited as proof of Blaine's
greater influence with the late president
that he secured violation of that treaty
and the appointment, as collector, of his
henchman to pay him for services rem
dered at Chicago. But it must be re.
membered that in the Blaine-Mac Veagll
struggle over Bill Cilandler's cOnfirma-
ton the president allowed his attorney
general-if he did not help him-to make
a senatorial alliance, with even Don
Cameron's s help, to defeat Garfield's ap'
pointee and Blaine'S best friend. Ii
is certain that the feeling between
Blaine and MacVeagh would soon have
disrupted the GarGeld cabinet. With
which Garfield would have sided need
not EoY be discussed most likely with
MacV eagh, seeing that by such decision
he would have attracted rather than
a!ienateh all Blaine's enemies and de-
stroyed his only rival for the success
sion.
But Mac Ncash has gone and Blaine
is going. Both will lie succeeded by
Grant men, and the rest of the cabine
most likely will be filled 10y the same
kind, unless few light weights lik'
Hunt and Lincoln, easily moulded into
full accord with the administration, b'
retained as il show of keeping the cabi
net in part rs the late president made
it. Tie distinctive Garfield or Blaine
features of the national administration
are rapidly fading away. They will sool
be utterly lost.
X is very doubtful whether the new
administration can see its way clear t.
exercise any def trimming influence in tn
selection pf speaker. The New IOrl
politicians, with president and two cab
met officers from that state, are no
likel; TO overlu the business by a diSpla
of su.h greedineSs rs characterized
the OHIO men," Apart from thi
policy of caution the New York candl
date Tor speaker is not the man whom
Mr.. Crrkling would naturally select fO
speaker. Hlscack is somewhat Of
"kickcr," lie has been Il Liberal, an
not in complete sympathy witlrth ma
chine. Mr.. Kasson, of Iowa, is more ap
to he the preference Of those who nov
"revel in Washington. Besides, ther
is ner;l t. bald up an admnistratio
party in the Northwest, where Blaine ha
always HAL :. hold. We incline to bt
lieVe that Mr.. k;Isson will he the speaker
with his tariff for .evenue principle
and ali. IL will :, very interesting viii
ter in Washington, and its results wi
largely determine the future of the RI
publican party. and whether it is to hav
fu! ure--cXce!.t one Of punishment fe
its Sins.