Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-09-04

Row HE REACHED THE WHITE HOUSE,
and l6 vesey street. New York Paper Govern
price, Is cents.
The anonymous author of this extraordi-
nary book is writer of marked and versatile
ability, keen observer, shrewd politician,
and withal rapid worker, II, rs must have
been the case unless he is also something OF
prophet, the book has been written since the
sessions Of the national Republican convention.
To say that his productions timely and enter
tanning falls far short of its just need of
praise; it Is one Of those works of remarkable
and enduring merit which are only turned of
at rare intervals by the thinkers who lead the
van in the broad field Of political economy.
The lesson of the book is two-fold it illus
trates vital defect in our electoral system and
it shows up the evils which are inseparable
from the candidacy and success OF an UNI
worthy candidate who has been foisted upon
his party by wholesale wire pulling and
shrewd manipulation of professional poll
ticians. In "Major Brewster" it is easy to
recognize James q. Blaine; but the portrait
ia not wholly that Of the present Republican
candidate. In fact, the words "Democrat"
and s'Republcan" do not occur any
where in the book. Brewster" is
more Blaine than he is any other individual
but he is likewise the representative of
a certain class and the photograph is not
extensively faithful to the honest followers of
the Plumed Knight He is represented as
capturing the party nomination by the same
| dashing tactics, the same manipulation of
the reckless elements, the same bamboo2ling
Of better men and the same clrcumvention OF
| those whom he could neither beguile or buy /;
but he finally reaches the goal of his amhi-
| ton by the bribery Of Presidential elector
| in a tvav that raNalla tha fTmOra that alIa-
tered around the Cronin vote in the
| Tilden campaign. There is also a touch
| OF the same campaign in the cipher dispatch
| business, detailed as occurring at Brewster's
headquarters while the returns Of the closely
contested election are coming in; where
Brewster disarms suspicion by making public,
/ with 4 great show OF y1rtuou6 indignation, q
cipher dispatch offering for sale the electoral
vote Of disputed state, and Immediately
i afterwards, in private consultation with his
| faithful private secretary, lays his plans for
the purchase Of the single electcr required to
give him the majority.
The great lesson Of the story is summed
| up in Brewster's comment upon the reading
| of the cipher dispatch referred to 1.-THE
American people are fools to expose them
selves to such dangers, and their candidates
to such temptations. This whole system Of
electing President ought to have beer
thrown overheard years ago"
There are other exquisite portraits Of
political leaders, In Carroll" the dis
affected, who, after being tempted into
taking the stump for the party by the implied
assurance of Brewster that his lovely daugh
ter shall be CAROLS bride, cannot SO stultify
his conscience as to say one word III commen
dalton or even in defense Of his prospective
father-in-law, we recognize mixture
of Roosevelt and Ingersoll. 1t Is ii
perfect keeping with Brewsters char
| aaNa fl,of ha uhNnld 1inhlnahinuly
diate this compact after his election ant
when he has no further use for his unrespect
J ing ally. In "Thomas B. Bunkery of Injan
nerville,n we see a probably but little over
drawn picture Of the politician of smsl
J calibre, but huge pretensions, who make
bombast, buster and corruption the levers +
} lift him out of the obscurity in which h
should have been allowed to vege
: tate and who carries things wit
| high hand when he gets int
} Congress and does not hesitate TO put th
| screws down upon the President himsel
! when the latter wishes to reinstate d.
I serving widow who has been turned out OF
0 government clerkship to make room for th
8 illiterate daughter of a wavering constituer
Q whose influence Bunkery wants to make SUI
t Of in the approaching canvass. Thei
are plenty Of ther equally happy portraits
+ in fact, the book abounds with them.
Q But the volume is not one of men only
d deals with measures also, and there ID haru
/ a species OF crooked legislation OF an evil {
b the body politic that does not come IN for
o touch OF the authors satirical pen. Railros
legislation, the Capitalization Of capital, Il
oppression of labor, civil service r
!, form, the Freedmen's Bank, 70
% eign missions, and many other matters
= kindred interest receive attention in come
> ton with the thread OF the admirably to
70 narrative and there IL enough OF the got
aud nd uolf cunrifiainU 1nfaruOUnu
"a throw in striking relief the dastardly Il
wicked and the vile against which it is Il
y mission OF the writer to warn the people
i, the country, irrespective Of party. 1t
u book which everybody should read al
q which every one who begins on will read.