Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-12
NJ. chandler and the south.

William Z. Chandler is, perhaps, the
ablest politician in the Cabinet. de Is
sharp. shrewd and ciear-headed. He Is
not a statesman. He is political mana
ger. a plotter. a man who believes III at
tanning his ends in politics without re-
card TO the means employed. He Is not
bad man Ia the worst sense. Neither Il
he good man. From moral
standpoint he probably ranks
with the average successful politician;
personally. he is popular because ne Is
aniabIe and obiging. Democratic Con-
gressmen like him because Of his social
qualities. They do not trust him, how
ever. in political matters. There Is rea-
son 10 believe that Mr.. Chandler entered
the Cabinet with the idea that be could
strengthen his party in the South. He
was shrewd enough 10 see that the Re
publicans were losing ground in the
North and West. and that if they were to
retain control Of the government few
Southern States must be won over to the
Republican side. He inaugurated
Southern policy tor the administration.
Preceding administrations had southern
policies. but they were not successful.
They were barren Of beneficial results.
Malone had accomplished a great deal in
Virginia. and Mr.. Chandler resolved TO
stand bv him and encourage him in every
possible way. Mr. Chandler also saw
that there were faction fights in the
Democratic party in quite number Of
the Southern States. He was told by his
trusted agents that he had but to manage
skillfuHv TO make encouraging head
way in Mississippi, Louisiana, GeOr-
gia. North Carolina. and even in
Texas. His party friends in the
south who were seeking favOrs
from the administration reported to
him that his plans were working adj
mirably. Money and patronage were
distributed in localities where it was
thought their effect would be the most
quickly apparent. Malone and Chalmers
were pushed prominently to the front,
and the country was led 70 believe they
could have whatever they wanted. What
has Mr.. Chambers scheming amounted to:
Absolutely nothing. If Mr.. Chandler
was led 10 believe that there was any
large number of Democratic voters who
were watching for chance to desert
theirpartv. he was misinfOrmed. There are
factions in the Democratic party in near
IL all the Southern States, but
there Is no marked disposition to
Join or aid the Republican party. Mr..
Chambers policy and plans have not been
productive Of anything. Malone is
weaker to-day than he was year ago.
The chances are that he viii show still
greater weakness in the elections this fall.
and that he will not be able to give his
state TO the Republican party in 1884.
Chalmers movement in Mississippi has
become ridiculous. In the convention
in jackson. few days ago, which Chal-
mers called. only fifteen counties We're
represented, and il is asserted as probable
that. in some instances, one dele
gate represented several counties.
Chalmers represents only himself.
He has no following 10 render
him formidable. Shrewd as Mr.. Chandler
undoubtedly Is. the failure Of his plans in
the south must seriously damage his repu-
ton as a far-sighted politician. The indi-
cations are that all Of the sixteen South
ern states will cast their electoral votes
for the Democratic Presidential candi-
date These States have lJ3 votes. There
will be 401 votes in the next electoral col
lege and POI will be necessary to a choice.
To looks as if a Democratic victory in the
next national contest were assured.