New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-28
UOruAN For PRESIDENT

OF course there is not the slightest intention
on the part of any one of nominating MIR. Hol
man for President The continued suggestion
of his name is probably merely bit of nonl-
cal politics, or, if it has any serious purpose at
all, 1t is to set him up against Mr.. Mcdonald,
who Is the largest obstacle, so far as Indiana
is concerned, of the "Old ticket" But 1t IS
interesting and an using TO imagine what would
happen if Mr.. Holman should be nominated,
and alb we all, what would happen to the
Democratic party if he should be elected.
The fact is that the member from Indiana
is the last man the Democrats ought to choose
for their Presidential nominee, unless they
make I'D their minds beforehand that the Re
publican ticket is to be successful. Probably
there never will be Democratic President,
but if there should be one he ought for the
comfort of the party, to be a large, stout
man. with q double chin and an easy going
disposition - Mr.. Mcdonald looks somewhat
like that type of man-who will allow the
boys" to run the Government wmle
he takes official maps in his easy chair.
The party at large would be bitterly disdp-
pointed if the Inauguration OF Democratic
President were not Immediately followed by
the tumbling of heads and the popping OF
champagne corks in every Government
office. The Civil Service law would
not need to be repealed. 1t would be
swept away in the grand political debauch
into which that hungry and thirsty parry
would plunge at once. MIR. Holman would
make q grim master of ceremonies at such
feast as this. lie is a Democrat, to be sure,
and would do what he could for his party.
But he has not the conviyial temperament
which would be useful on that interesting oc-
casion, which, fortunately, is not likely ever
to come. Whatever he may be IN private life,
IN his public capacity Mr.. Holman is irritable,
obstructive, pertlnaci0us and narrow-minded
He Is often called "the Watchdog OF the
Treasury and his voice has became harsh,
and his features have grown sharp, with much
yelping at it's doors. He has no douOt done
the people service in this, but he would have
done them more if he had not yeped so in
discriminatory at almost every proposition to
spend money, good or bad. The Treasury
Watchdog unfortunately, grows proud OF
his bark, and it is often heard ut time
when IT might much better he silent. Per-
haps it is true that the jobbers in Congress
are especially afraid of Mr.. Holman, as 1T Ia
said they are, although there are men on The Re-
nublican side who are quite as watchiul as he;
but il is also true that the friends OF
any proposition requiring breadth OF
view and liberality of sentiment are Likewise
afyaid of him. His familiar 81 object" stops
the wheel OF many desirable act OF legislation,
as well as some that are not desirable. His at
tempt TO defeat the entire appropriation for
observing the Transit of Venus ten years ago,
on the ground that it was "a waste of the Deo-
Plies money! is good illustration of rabies in
Treasury Watchdog.
If Holman should become President, he
would try to stop the building of ships for the
Navy. disband the Army, close the lighthouses.
suspend all surveys and scientific investi
CATION, cut off the pension list. aud reduce
every bureau of the Government to two men
and boy, and would probably crown his
career by moving into boarding house hall
bedroom and letting the White House out as a
hotel. He would have little time to put Demo
Gratis in Office, and would probably object to
every suggestion that was made to him on that
point or any other By the end of four years
the Government would be in such snarl that
the Republican party would have to take charge
OF it again, and nothing would be left for the
Democratic party to do but to die of exas-
peratlon and famine.