The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-12-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular correspondent.

AEAOm oaA tothSoROhNNAtJ
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 16, 1882.
There has within the last few days
been a revival Of the rumors relative
to important cabinet changes, the VI
terror object Of which is the presi-
Dental election in 1884. How much
truth there may be in the rumo,s the
denouen.ent alone will show, but
they are believed by many who are
well informed in political matters
That the Republicans here in Con-
gress, in the Cabinet, and in Office,
feel the necessity Of DUNG some great
and telling thing In the way Of atone
ment and for political effect has been
shown by the Presidents message,
by the alacrity with which Congress
has addressed itself to work, and by
the openly expressed opinion of all
Republicans with whom one CONVEX
ses upon the subject. Every Repub-
licsn, from Mr.. Arthur down to a
small.salaried Clerk, is working like
q little man to undo their undoing
on the 7th of November last. But it
is realized, that no eleventh hour re-
formation merely will win back the
estranged and deeply wronged con-
stituencies. Something startling and
strategic must be done. Something
that will appeal TO the sentiment Of
those early, ardent Republicans who
are DOW so largely found in the ranks
Of the independents or democrats
fighting the machine or bossism.
The startling and theatric thing
proposed is the Candidacy Of the son
Of his father, Robert Lincoln, at pres
ent Secretary Of War, but in the near
future, it is said, to be Minister to
England in place Of Mr.. Howell
For some reason, absence from the
country has been deemed advantage.
GUS for presidential candidate. Van
Buren, and Buchanan each returned
from the Court Of st. James to the
White House, General Grants train.
ers kept him out Of the country as
long as possible previous to the Chi
cago nomination. And now it is
proposed to send young Mr.. Lincoln
over the waters in an official capaci-
ty in order that be may return with
eclat TO be nominated for the place
which the republican party is striv-
ing so desperately to win, and which
it realizes must be won fairly, with.
out returning boards, Joe Bradley, or
Dorsey, or Jay Hubbell-if won at
all.
That Mr.. Lincoln haa any special
fitness for the Office is not claimed
He is not especially popular. He is
simply a commonplace young man,
whose sole eligibility subsists in his
lineage and in the survival in the
popular mind Of the legend Of primo
geniture, which we have repudiated
in law, but which still lives in senti.
mental politics, as is proved by Gar.
fields selection Of Lincoln, by Ar.
.hur's retention Of him alone Of Gar
fields cabinet, and by the way in
which the drowning party now
catches at him. 1t must not be sup.
posed, however, that Republicans are
turning 10 Mr.. Lincoln with unbrok-
en- unanimity. So long as Mr.. Blaine
and Mr.. Conklins both live, there
can be no unanimity in the Repub-
lican party. Not, it is thought, that
Mr.. Blaine hopes to be the nominee
of the Republican Convention in
1884. His ambition will have scored
a point if he can defeat the choice OF
Conkling, of Arthur, and Of Gamer
on. II is believed that Mr.. Blaine's
choice just at present is General
Sherman. The Maine politician
does not love the old General, but he
regards him, ae the other wing of the
party regards Lincoln, an effective
name or "Reminiscences with rallying
power. Bob Ingersoll has recently
brought out General Sherman, and
lngersoll is the mouth. piece Of Blaine.
This casting about for candidate,
and grasping at names that have an
echo Of the war in them is, of course,
q confession Of weakness. II is the
craft and cunning of politicians who
no longer rely on the splendid moral
that once assured the triumph of the
Republican party. The superb en-.
4 hn usdot,, tkot Il Al