The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.


that now being done by the insignificant
administration organ ofthis city, in its
frantic effort TO revieve the bloody shirt
in connection with Mahone's defeat in
Virginia. George G. Gorham. who,
through his utterancc in this same sheet
was more than any other man responsible
for the conditions that lead to the murder
of Garfield, is the author of the blood
curding tales from Mahone's graveyard,
and it ia said he also wEote that ridicu-
louS, lying address sent out over Mahone's
signature. Gorham has been the God
father of Malone in the republican party.
1t was he who arranged the bargain by
which the vote of that unsavory individ
ual was given to the republicans in the
senate in consideration of certain patron
age, and it is he who has kept the admin
istration to its part of the bargain, hold
ing out to Mr. Arthur visions of divided
south in the next contest and a solid dele
CATION from Virginia for the present in
cumbent. And this frantic effort to fire
the northern heart is the last desperate
resort of unscrupulous men who know
that unless something of this kind can be
made to work their goose is cooked" for
all time
| And in this connection let me say that
all this twaddle about Chester A Arthur
not being candidate for reelection un
| less pressed into it is the veriest bosh
| He is candidate and is scheming and
planning to that end. The Post of this
city says He will enter the canvass with
the intention of accomplishing his purpose
come what may and be the opposition
what it will. Blaine, Harrison, Edmunds.
Logan may aspire and may scheme
much is permitted them; but Arthur must
be the party nominee. President by
accident he wishes to be president by de
sign. President now he intends 10 be
president hereafter The republican party
must be subdued into nominating him;
This accomplished the methods of subjec-
tion will be applied to the people. who
will control the election He is in sym
pathy with and back of Malone in This
dirty shirt business and in its revival sees
a possible ray of hope. But it will per
haps dawn upon his sluggish mind one Of
these days that the people are not fools
and further that the great states of lndi-
ana and New York cannot be bought
every time president is to be elected.
Himself and Dorsey may boast of having
won by corruption once, but I'll bet my
old clothes they can't do il again Arthur
would probably be as easily beaten as any
candidate the republicans could set up
He is not in full sympathy with his pres
ent cabinet and would be glad to make
some changes to further his plans, but he
does not do it for fear of scandals and
dissensions.
1t is a mild source of wonder in these
days what will be the intimate end of the
beruffled Attorney General. His peculiar
conversations with his callers do not leave
the best impression upon the minds of
his visitors. The egotism and senilC
vanity of this once great lawyer make hin
alternately an object of amusement and
pity. The other day gentleman called
upon the Attorney General and after 6
long conversation arose to 60. wait {
moment" said Brewster II want tC
show you rare book The visitor, q
literary man, instantly paused. "A very
rare book" said Brewster '1t is the
only copy of its kind in existence. Wal
until can get it for you and then yor
can go into my private Office and while
away pleasant hour or so looking il
over" The visitor was anxious to see
the book before going off into private
room with it. The Attorney General now
took down out OF his library an elegant
ly bound book and handed it to the cage
visitor He opened it and found it to bt
a collection of the speeches and pamph-
lets OF B. FL. Brewster. Of course there
was only one copy in existence. Brew
) ster, as he handed over the book, said
''that is all have left of the acres o
matter have written. My briefs and ar
guments would fill libraries, but out O.
them this is all ! have left to leave to my
boy Benny" The gentleman who re
lates this incident says. Imagine poo
Benny with only that rare book betweei
him and cruel world
The new delegate from Utah is among
the Congressional arrivals of the last few
days. In personal appearance he is tn,
opposite of previous delegates from tina
Territory. Mr. Cannon. his predecessor
is short, stout man with bald heat
and few nearly white locks, a full rount
face with high color and short neck. Mr.
Caine is tall and slim with sharp, keel
face set off by red, crisp mustache ant
short side whiskers. He dresses in fash
ionable manner and has the alert air o.
New York broker He was formerl,
private secretary TO Brigham Young. anC
bas been on the Mormon stage being a
the time of his election stage manager o
the Mormon theatre at Salt Lake City. 4
recent Mormon visitor, in speaking o
Caine. said. Between you and me, h
is slightly below par among the Mormons
'.Why?" I asked. Because he has onl
one wife," ''Does he not believe in poly
gamy?" "Oh, yes, but he has never QUIT
seen his way clear to taking q second wifi
think he is rather timid about introdue
ing disturbing element into his family
If it were not for his lack of courage Mi
Caine would stlnd very much higher j
the Church" Mr.. Cannon, who is ais
here nov, has three wives and at one tim
had 4heu, alIin Washinpton with him