Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-25
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
The IDdePeBdentMOv M Ovement In GeOr-
gia-Desd In Hts GsIDfancy-The PEN
sion SwIndle-A Talk with senator
Brown.

WASHINGTON. February 2S.-It is the duty of
your correspondent to record political death.
I have foreshadowed the demise during the
past few days The death is that Of the So
called Liberal movement in Georgia, so fer as
the administration is concerned. 1t will be re-
membered by those of the NEWS readers who
peruse its Washington information that in the
outstart President Arthur was in the hopes
that new party similar to that of Malone in
Virginia-not similar in principles but like it
in results-could be. by judicious nursing, bred
in Georgia. The well known idea was that
the Rep ublicaDs in the State should be given
back seat, and such people as DR.. FELTON,,
Emory Speer, and other disaffected Democrats.
or Independents" ;" take the lead The Repub-
licans we're to rally around these people and
take only second places. Thew were to boost
quondam Democrats to political success with
out reference TO their own wishes Such
was the Independent movement which
President Arthur intrusted to the immediate
hands of the Longstreet Atkins syndicate with
Dr. FELTON, and Emory SDeer leadiDg partners
though stna ed in the near background AS
soon as this programme for "liberalizing''
the State of Georgia became known
through the columns of the News there was
general howl along the Republican line in the
State. War was Immediately declared by the
Old standby Republicans. They united in
howl of protest that the Republicans of the
State wanted no such leadership as that pro-
posed for them, and would brook nothing of
the kind. 1t is but justice to President Arthur
to say that he was not half so enamored of this
scheme as his Secretary of the Treasury 1t
was principally owing to Secretary FoIger's
recommendations that the President commit
ted himself to the scheme of liberaIizing Geor-
gia. AS soon as he learned that instead of
showing any chances of success the pro.
gramme mapped out only set the Republican
party of the State by the ears the President
abandoned it practically. He had been led to
believe that large liberal" results were to be
obtained in Georgia. He has, in the light of
facts. changed his mind. He does not think
now that Georgia is State where Mahoneziug
would pan out even small per cent. on the
original investment. Hence my opening state
ment that | record a funeral / only record
that part OF the procession which would come
from Washington. If there is any liberal
movement in Georgia reayl you will
have to look after it down there As far
however, az WASHINGTON is concerned ana
glad to say that there is no longer anv necessi-
ty for my keeping YOU posted on that point.
Although from Washington standpoint the
movement apparently started out with fair
prospects, aided as it was by the support of the
administrs ton, those prospects have diap-
neared entirely. Let the procession move on
Htc jGcet, etc.
A LITTLE COURAGE.
The Senate has shown a little courage in
dealing with that great national fraud and sys-
tenn of pubic robbery embraced in the pension
arrears bill. Senator Beck started it all
In speech on the tariff some time
ago he characterized the pension arrears bill
as a monument of cowardice to the Congress
Of the United States. He described it very
aptly The pension arrears bill was only
passed in the supposed interest of the soldier
vote y" 1t was really in the interest of the
claim agents and similar sharks Immediately
after Senator Beck properly characterized the
bill, Senator Ingalls, introduced a resolution
that il was the sense of Congress that
the pepSion arrears act should never be
repealed. Ingalls, pressed this resolution to a
vote. After a two weeks debate the Senate
has formally tabled Ingalls, resolution. That
it did so is very healthy sign. It shows that
the bu --a-boo of the soldiers" vote no longer
contains any fears for members of Congress-
That it does not Is a blessing in the interest of
harmony and national good will.
SENATOR BROWN.
In conversation to-day with your cor
respondent Senator Brown said that he never
in Georgia as amounting to anything
The sentiment of the State was, IN
his opinion, so Overwhelmingly Demo-
cratic and right that he had never paid any
attention to the talk of a Libera-Independent
Republican movement He said also that al
on a ticket in 1884 with Blaine such talk was
chid's play. He stood by the letter which he
recently wrote to Colonel Estl of the NEWS
in regard to his position. He was Democrat
he said. Of the most thoroughly organized
school He would vote for the next Demo
cratic nominee for Governor of the State and
for the next Democratic Presidential ticket,
He saw no reason why the Democratic party
should think OF going outside its ranks for any
candidate. 1t was strong enough, in his opin-
ion, to stand ON its own bottom, and should
stand there. PoToMAC