Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-12
CHAIRMAN BARNUM TALKS.
Very Complimentary to- His Political
FOes-His Own Party on the Tariff.

Very Complimentary to- His Political
FOes-His Own Party on the Tariff.
HARTFORD, May 9.-The New York
Times correspondent has had an inter-
view with William H. Barnum, Chair
man of the Democratic National Commit
tee. That gentleman talked very freely
about political matters and in a manner
not-tO be misunderstood. Some of his
tclk was quite gossipy. He asked the cor
respondent, to begin with, when, in his
Judgment, Divine Providence would cease
to carry the Republican party along? This
question was too far-reaching, and re-
specttul silence was maintained. "Well,"
MIR. Barnum said, ''it is possible that the
Democratic party has been guilty of so
many sins that the washing away process
must go on still lOnger.v
AS to Chicago, Mr.. Barnum%'
''What will your folks do? For myself,
l like Arthur. He is not a great man,
but be has had clean administration
the cleanest since Abraham Lincoln. He
has simply let well enough alone. Things
have cured themselves. You remember
the story Of the old woman who was sick.
She had been attended by several physi-
clans, who had dosed her thoroughly with
medicine, but she did not improve. At
last new counsellor was sent for, and he
proved to have no knowledge of medicine.
He looked the invalid over the first day
he called without giving any-adVice. The
next day his visit amounted to no more.
Onthe third day he took a tumbler of wa
ter and stirred in a little flour and ordered
her to take spoonful three times day.
She at once began to mend, and finally
recovered her health. Arthur has fol
lowed the same plan in the conduct of his
administration"
After some further talk he said: ''There
are some things about the Republican
party which 1 cannot help admiring. The
most wonderful thing it ever did was to
formulate the national banking act dur
ing the war period, and experiment as it
was, it has stood substantially as solid as
the constitution of the United States,
without material amendment. 1t was a
wise piece OF craftsmanship. You could
not get such an act to-day. Congress
lacks craftsmanship. A majority of men,
bers in both political parties make eVery-
thlng subordinate to their own ambition
to hold their seats. The banking act has
no equal except in two cases, so far as its
SOlldlty and permanence are concerned:
1t is like the Bible on one hand and the
Episcopal Prayer-bOok on the other
your party papers are generally shrewder
than ours in an exciting campaign. You
are silent, as rule, on matters which or
dlnarily put an opponent on the defensive.
In 1880 Gartield's weaknesses were avoid
ed, and there was a power of sentiment
created about the tOwpath of the canal.
have noticed that sentiment is a strong
hold with the Republicans. There was
none about Hayes in 1876 and we elected
Tilden."
GLOW about the Morrison bill?"
''Of course l am glad that it is defeated,
and am only surprised that any of our
Connecticut delegation should have sup
ported it. You cannot treat the tariff as
you would price list of gOods-so much
per cent, all in regular Order.''
But does not the defeat OF the bill in
the way in which it was defeated. by
striking out the enacting clause, force
the issue greatly to the disadvantage of
the Democratic party? The question
Will be relegated to Chicago
I'VE must take our chances about that.
never give up a fight before the battle
has begun. My impression is that a
majority of the States will vote at Chica-
60 Tor the Ohio platform"
''Will Tilden be renOmInated? -
''If he will stand the nomination. The
party is for him enthusiastically and
everywhere. With him as candidate
we do not need any platform. He is a
platform in himself. He could run on
chip and be electedp'