Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-16
DULL TIMES In POLITICS.
NAUGHT SAVE IDLE PRATTLF,
AFLOAT IN WASHINGTON.

AFLOAT IN WASHINGTON.
A Hot Fight Coming Between CarIisI,
and Randall Over the SpeakershiI
Belt-NO Party SpIit-Democratic Wis
dOm-Pleasant Still FlOundering-Th,
Guiteau Record in Great Demand.
/ WAsHINGToN, April 15.-There coult
be nothing duller than the politics of th,
present hour. 1t is an off year, it is true
when not much political activity is to be
expected. But off years have in the re-
cent past been never so dull as now
About all the politics you hear talked OF
is contained in small discussions as tC
whether the Republicans will carry Ohio
next fall; whether John Sherman will
after all, be candidate for the Governor.
ship of that State; whether Ben Butler is
sufficiently foolish to be working for the
Democratic Presidential nomination; who
will be the next Speaker; whether
the terrible annihilation of Bourbonism.
so-called, which the Republicans have
promised for, 10! these manyEyears is, to be
accomplished, and whether the Demo-
Gratis Will attempt to revise the tariff at
the next session. Nearly all talk upon
these matters is simply political prattle
and gossip to pass the time away. Visit
ing politicians do not launch them into con-
Eersation. Ii is only by printing them
that your are able to get.even their prattle
about these things. They tell YOU. Lets
talk about the weather, Politics. why
there is actually nothing to be told in
that line." There is, however. little
spurt now and then when the advisable
lty OF reopening the tariff
question by the Democrats at
the next session is spoken of. There are
different views on this subject. The Re-
publlcans keep saying and saying that
the Democrats are going to attempt new
tariff law, just the same as if there had
been no tariff legislation in the Congress
just closed. The wish is father to the
thought: Nothing would please the friend
ly Republicans better than for the Demo-
Gratis to follow Henry Watterson's advice
and commence big tariff trouble as soon
as Congress reassembles. They have al
ready laid out very pretty fight. 1t is
10 commence with wraHgle between
Carlisle and Randall as representing diff
ferent views ON the tariff: to continue
with family fight during
the long session, and finally wind up IN
1884 as did that famous encounter between
the Kilkenny felines. That's the Repub-
llcan wished-fOr programme. There are
denying the fact-who are more than anX-
ious to follow out the programme which
their Republican friends have so kindly
cut and dried for them. 1t is difficult to
tnd any number of men assembled to-
gether among whom judiciOus employ
ment of the foOl-killer would not prove
boon. But the majority of Democratic
opinion is not at all favora-
Bile to what the Republicans
I'D Ii TO-
be sharp fight between Randall and Car
Isle. But it is not going to divide the
Democrats of the next House after it is
over. The Democrats have had enough
of that sort of thing. They have been
often chastened, and Christening induces
prudence. So will they not allow the
Speakership cOntrOversy-war will be
no name for ito divide their after coun-
ellis so that they will not again go aground
on the tariff rock. That is the talk of all
OF the leaders of any prominence, and is
undoubtedly the actuating feeling of the
rank and file. There is a tariff
law now which is somewhat
of tumble. All legislation enacted in
the haste with which it was put through
is more or less a tumble. There are cru
dities, imperfections and mistakes. 1t
will be necessary that something be done
towards Strengthening them. 1t will be
done, and then the duties on many arti-
cles should be reduced. Attempts in this
direction may be expected. They will,
however, be assaults by detachments;
there will be no movement upon the whole
line of tariff entertainments; there will be
no attempt to frame new tariff bill. 1t
will not really be known inside of year
how the present one works. To bang away
under the circumstances at the tariff would
unsettle the industries of the country
and work hurt to the party which should
do the banging. And then it would be of
no practical use whatever for the Demo-
Gratis of the House to frame new tariff
bill. The Senate is Republican, and the
President is Republican. Any revision
that might be accomplished in the lower
House would stop right there. These be-
ing the facts, and the DemOcrats-in view
of 1SS4-being on trial, las it were, there is
most acceptable feeling abroad in the
party to 90 slow and sure. A few hot
headed Democrats have several times be-
fore now planted defeat where victory
was almost certain. Their days as politi-
cal planters are over. The Republicans
may urge on a row, and lay out pro-
grammcs for Democratic political sui
cides, but l think that this time they are
without their host. The Democrats are
going to have the next Presidency even if
they have to behave in order to get it.
Despite the embargo laid upon your cor
respondent by Mr.. Pleasant and Mr.. A.
y. Wilson, he is able to give you an
other item about the office of Internal
Revenue Collector at Savannah. The
last report made upon the management of
that Office stated that certain things were
not conducted as they should be. The In
ternal Revenue Bureau, upon the basis of
this report, wrote letter to Pleasant.
making certain structures upon his con-
duct of affairs. Pleasant has Just an
swered that letter. He makes explana-
tiOns of all that has been reported against
him. Some of his explanations are salts
factory and some are not.
The government has just published the
official record of the Guiteau trial. 1t makes
three large volumes. They are handsomely
gotten up in boards and calf, and are
printed in the best style of the Govern
ment Printing Office. The three volumes
make in all 2,681 pages. But limited
number of copies were printed-in all
about 250. There is a great demand for
them from all over the country, which of
course cannot be supplied. AS much as
$50 is even now offered for the three vol
umes. In years to come their value will
become fabulous when compared with the
actual cost of printing. POTOMAC.