The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-17
The Political Situation.

WASHINGTON, NOV. ll.-Inere Is
certain New York gentleman, an
active and intelligent politician, who
never comes to Washington without
spending an evening with the Presi-
dent, and this gentleman spent Fri
day evening at the Soldiers Home.
On Saturday The american CORE
spondent had a long conversation
with him, and, in its course, learned
that the President is feeling very
hopeful now of Republican success
next year. Those who know General
Arthur best know that he is not one
of the most hopeful of men. IT will
be remembered that during the last
Presidential campaign he was severe.
ly criticized for long time for his
apparent lethargy, and it was not
until he became satisfied that New
York was going to be fully 'appre-
ciated that he began to believe she
would prove herself worthy of that
appreciation. Until the elections of
last Tuesday he was very fearful of
the coming conflict, but now he feels
better. New York, he told his friend,
was sure TO be Republican next year,
if the Republican managers did not
overthrow their present plans. The
only annoyance he feels is that Vir-
ginia has gone backwards, but even
that he considers an ill wind that
ought to teach the party to spend
fully as much energy in keeping a
solid North as in trying to break the
solid South. In the words of the
gentleman above referred to, "the
President believes that the hand
writing on the wall which indicated
that the Republican party must go,
has disappeared, and that the grand
old party is going to stay" The cor
respondent ventured the question as
to whether the New Yorker himself
looked for any assistance from the
South, and he replied: "No, don't
| think we can expect 1t. The recent
event IN Virginia shows that. The
leaders of the Southern Democracy
know that all that is needed to bring
every white man in the South into
line is merely to raise the race cry i,
and they are sure of success. The
history of the past few days in Vir-
ginia shows that, as have similar
events at more remote periods and
further South shown. With a fair
contest we would carry three or four
Southern States. but a fair contest
cannot be had without troops at the
polls 10 protect the coIored men, and
that the sentiment of the country
will not warrant. No, fear we must
look for solid South again next
year. We might possibly carry North
Carolina, but that is doubtfol, very
doubtful. Virginia is lost to us, 1
presume, so far as next year is con,
cerned at least, and we must look to
the North for our support. In the
course of few minutes the converse
ton turned on the subject of the
Democratic candidacy. and this man,
who has made New York politics his
life's study, said that Mr.. Tilden was
sure to be the man; that his party
would not dare to pass him by under
the existing state of affairs in his own
state. "Asa Republican," continued
the New Yorker, 81 am glad 1t is
going to be Tilden. For we will have
two strong allies against him. One
of them will be John Kelly, who can
never make protestations enough to
convince those who know him that
he would do all he could for Tildend
and the other is Ben Butler. Butter
feels that Tilden defeated him in
Massachusetts for the purpose of GET
ting him out of the way. and he is as
sure to stay in the field next year as
his staying In is sure to wreak his
Vengeance on Tilden. 9