Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-13
PROSPECTS FOR 's4.
A Western Republican Expresses
Himself on the Outlook.
WILL NOT PRESCRIBE THE PANAcEi
For Political wOss-Passing Beyond the
Lines Of Hope and Penetrating
the Zone Of Fear-other ,
Washington News


passing the salutation Of meeting. VI have
been in Washington for week and have
not met single individual who does not
exhibit,the feeling Of either despair or-utter
demoralization, so far as future Republican
success is concerned. Everyone asks my
opinion of 1SS4-whethef the Democrats
will not commit another series OF gorgeous
blunders; how the people OF the West feel
about free trade and high protective tariff;
will the Republican factions be able to
unite upon and give undivided support TO
our Presidential candidate, and who is the
strongest man with our people for
The Nomination.
''In fact, questions pour in upon me so
thick and fast andtake so wide range
have found it impossible to express we'll
digested opinion on any kindred topic.
Some of my friends betray disposition TO
argue, others to hold lodges OF sorrow,
while not few become angry because 90
not venture to prescribe the .panacea Tor
political woes. What is the matter with
the Washington people? l thought the
Administration was looking out for things
at this end of the line and carefully ma
turing our plans and future Strategies.
Although have visited all the depart
ments everybody who ought tospeak is
Mute as the Sphynx.
Nobody knows anything and it is the very
incarnation of political chaos"
"You will moi be able to draw anything
tangible out of department officials, re.
piled the correspondent. They are afraid
not only to speak above whisper, but to
commune even with their own thoughts,
lest they become alarmists."
~ had a lengthy chat few days since
bo- nE 81 har Col
the Western man. THE first question he
asked was whether | thought any hope ex.
listed for the Republican party in 1854. l
replied with some asperity that, judging
from what ! learned aud did not learn in
Washington, the Republican party had
passed beyond the isothermal lines-o hope
and penetrated the
Zone OF Fear.
Everybody agreed that something must be
done and that right speedily, but nobody
suggested what. The secretary said l was
right-that numbers of Republican leaders
came to him for the purpose of discussing
the situation, but that nearly all Of them
were mourners ready to shed their tears.
He had neither taste for nor time to waste
in lamentations or jeremads, but would
be glad to listen to and further all practical
suggestions coming from any source and at
any time
"Did you venture to suggest" queried
the correspondent.
Not a bit OF it. | was too wary fish to
be caught in any such net" replied the
Western politician. II did not regard it
as within tho rule to offer advice upon
feeler of this kind. But did say that, in
my judgment, the difficulty attending
such transactions lay in the approaching
administration,
Nohodx n,scusses NattonaI TNoIitics
with the President beyond his Cabinet and
a small circle of intimate personal friends,
such as Col. George Bliss and the lesser
lights, which revolve in New York local
politics. Cabinet Ministers were too busy
to give ear or heed to outside politicians,
and there was no one authorized to act as
mediator or go between. The Republican
party disbanded its army and closed up its
headquarters after the election of Garfield
and Arthur. They undertook TO recruit up
a cadavre at the last November election,
but we were so badly routed we have not
since been able, like General John Pope, to
maintain head quarters even in the saddle.
A Point Well Taken.
"How did the secretary stand this sally?'
asked the correspondent.
"he WINGED just little and then to my
surprise wheeled around in front of me
and frankly said my point was well taken
that various useful political suggestions
had been made-that he carefully conSid-
cred the premises, but when action became
necessary, there were neither couriers nor
agents to dispatch. These matters needed
discreet action and presupposed outlay for
| expenses, but nobody was booted and spur
red for the ride, and funds were needed. 1t
was impossible for him to pay money from
his own pocket without hope of reimburse
Ap,t 20 ,,,al.a ,,nl,
vicarious outlay IL the project miscarried,
be would be out of pocket, laughed at for
his pains, and held responsible for
Results ofFaiIure.
81 observed to the Secretary that the
| Cabinet did not seem to be working in har.
| meny and that it lacked the mosaic neces
sary to define its own outlines. While no
| Cabinet attrition was visible, the people OF
| the West were not satisfied with its en-
| tirety. 1t was strong in certain quarters
! ald far below mediocrity in others, and
| from the view Of distance we were COM
PEELED to believe that the strong men in
! the Cabinet did not predominant as they
| should. The Secretary replied that he
could not discuss his associates OF the Cab.
met, but he would give President Arthur
the credit of protecting, to degree greater
than any President he had known, the
| rights and prerogatives OF each Cabinet Of
| fetal within his own department There.
fore, he never permitted himself to obtrude
| in the slightest upon his fellows of the
| Cabinet, or yet permit himself to be in
| fringed npon."
Did you not press your points as to the
| crime of disbandirg the Republican army"
queried the correspondent.
Vacant Republican Headquarters.
"Oh, yes replied the gentleman, saw
| my advantage and diiated upon the fact
that nobody was in charge Of either Ma.
tional or Congressional headquar ters-not
even an intelligent clerk to receive, refer
| or answer correspondence. ! urged that
when We visited Washington or New York
there was nobody in authority to commu-
| niCate with, while heretofore, in Wash
ington at least the rooms of the Congress-
ional Committee had always been kept
open and afforded an outlet to men and
things. Judge of my surprise when the
Secretary said with considerable asperity,
the significance of which could not be un-
derstood: Well, we cannot expect Mr.
Hubbell to remain in Washington and
give his time, labor and attention to party
matters after the
Shabby Manner
in which he has been treated, and the
mountain OF abuse so undeservedly heap.
ed upon him. Nor can We expect Congress
man Henderson to further sacrifice him.
self in the same direction. Governor Jew.
ell is dead, and Dorsey is being railroaded
toward the penitentiary. Nobody is left
but General Jehn A. Martin. who is acting
pro tenn. as secretary of the National Com.
mittee, and he is located far away at Atch-
ison, Kansas, beyond all immediate reach,
and with little or no authority. / am
WEIGHED down with the cares of Office and
hsve no time to give attention to matters
# political detail; and those OF my ass oci-
ates capsule OF aiding in the same dirsc-
tion are similarly situated"
THAT TRIAL.
Judge wyIie Begfns His Charge TO the