New-York tribune., 1883-06-08

themselves. And we cannot imagine how this
fact, which ought to be considered confidential
in newspaper offices, should have become so
generally known. We are quite certain that
IL was not given away by the news
papers. Possibly the public y which
after all is not SO easily fooled as some people
tbink-may have guessed 1t. At any rate, we
must believe that both these gentlemen were
sincere in the assertion that they did not want
to talk politics. All the same, however, they
did lust little for the benefit OF the readers
of THE TRIBUNE. Many man who has
already chad enough" sits with his glass
under the neck of bottle protesting mot
another drop" till the glass runs over. But
there is no reason to doubt that he is in dead
earnest all the time.
This, however, is aside from the main busi-
ness. Mr.. Watterson, who shrinks from pub
lcity as duck does from water, though refus-
ing to talk politics, was finally drawn into an
expression of opinion concerning the Speaker.
ship and the Democratic Presidential column,
which readers of Wednesdays TRIBUNE will
remember was admirably condensed into half
column. Without repeating the report of tho
interview we may epitomze 1t still more briefly
in the statement that he is confident Mr. Carlisle,
of Kentucky, will be elected Speaker; Randall
will not get fifty votes; Sam Cox will get
some votes" @But Carlisle will be elected be-
yond doubt Mr.. Tilden Is not candidate
for President Mr.. Mcdonald, of Indiana, Is
universally spoken of" in Kentucky, and we
are left to believe that the latter is Mr. Waiter
sons candidate. MIR. Beck, after protesting
4 D. xa1lr cd
himself to be drawn out so far as to say that he
believed the majority of the people of the
United States to be tired of Republican boss
ism but not yet quito prepared to trust the
Democratic party, and that ii all depends on
what the Democrats do in the next Congress.
@If,n saws Mr.. Beck, ave organize and go
"honestly to work to legislate for the good OK
the whole country, put down monopolies with
out disturbing industry, carry genuine re-
form of the civil service into effect, and keep
clear of the idea that power is to be used only
"to reward political friends we will elect the
"next President"
Whatever may be said Of Mr.. Watterson's
predictions which relate to men, Mr. Beck's
talk, which sticks to principles and avoids men,
il clearly that of prophet. or prophet, how
ever, who substitutes for "Thus saith the
Lordr an If" of tho most overpowering di-
mensions. "If" the Democratic majority III
the next Congress can do all, or one, even, OF
the things he has enumerated above, we have
no doubt it could elect the next President
The trouble is it cannot do any one of them,
consequently cannot gain the confidence OF the
people, and rs further consequence cannot
succeed in the election. II is a tremendous
"If" "If" tho party could have done any OF
these things at any time during the last dozen
years it would have been in power to-day.
All, the "IfW "If" the party we've only some
other party and were honest and actually be-
levcd in something Mr.. Beck seems 10 differ
from Mr.. Watterson regarding the issue on
which the next contest will be fought. He says
differences of opinion on the tariff will not
affect it, Mr. Watterson. on the contrary, con-
siders that the only vital question. He fore
casts the election OF Carlisle, free-trader, as
Speaker, the appointment of q revenue-reform
Ways and Means Committee, the introduction OF
a bill revising the present tari1, and the slap-
ing of the whole Presidential contest upon the
question just raised. Thus the Kentucky
prophets are at odds. Watterson dismisses
Randall, Cox and the rest. and elects Carlisle
Speaker beyond peradventure, and upon such
premises lays ont the Presidential campaign.
Beck is by no means SO confident of his prem
ises he puts them in the shadow of his vast
and ponderous g If" and behind that iu clear
sighted and prophetic. Verify, between these
two prophets out of kentucky we fear we shall
not find out much.
We must express our gratitude, however, to
MIR. Watterson for the tender and delicate
mann er in which he expressed himself regard
ing our OVID candidate, Mr.. Samuel Cox. Be-
ing inquired of concerning him, he says: "Oh,
think Sam Cox will get some votes Thep party
might go further and fare worse" The
prophets will remain in town day or two
longer.