Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-07-23
from our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, ID. c., July, 10

Washington, ID. c., July, 10, 'S4.
In the week that has passed since
the National Convention adjourned,
there has been opportunity to consider
its work and estimate the strength of
the ticket nominated. It's pretty good
evidence that no mistake has been
made to find that satisfaction increases
daily and that if the convention were to
be held over again no change would he
made. There is happy and confident
feeling among the Democrats OF the
Capitol. Washington is an excellent
place to judge the pulse of the nation,
because people and politicians of all
classes are constantly coming here and
the changes in public sentiment are
carefully watched by the office holding
population. SO far there does not APP
pear to be a solitary crumb of comfort
for this class, and they are pretty gem
orally making up their minds that
day of judgment for them is close at
hand. They have been pinniug con-
siderable faith to John Kelly, but pres
ent advices indicate that he could not
save them if he would, for according to
all accounts the revolt among republic
cans. even in the interior counties of
New York, is greater than the greatest
strength Kelly could under any circum-
stances command. Furthermore Kelly
won't bolt.
1t is interesting to talk with these
excited Office holders and see how ner-
vous they are. 1t makes them the
more wretched because there is so little
ground upon which to attack the Dem
ocratic ticket and platform, while their
own are SO effectively assailed. Gov.
Cleveland's limited experience in Office
holding is about the only argument adj
vanced. The sum total of his public
service Is as Mayor Of Buffalo and
Governor of New York, says local
Blaine organ. But what rubbish and
cant that all is! Take the President s
forced upon the country for the last
sixteen years, and how many of them
have had as much qualifying expert
encc? Gen. Grant had absolutely no
knowledge of the civil service or OF
business, yet they gave him two terms
and wanted him for n third. Mr..
Hayes, who was the smallest man in
tel!ectually and backbcneically ever
placed in such q position, had simply
been Governor of Ohio. Yet notwith.
standing the great crime by which he
was struggled into the office, his ad,
ministration was the cleanest the Re-
publican party has given the country,
Then there is Chester A. Arthur
whose sole public experience before he
became President had been as q WARD
politician, and collector of the port Of
New York. Yet republican journals
and republican conventions have beer
for some time past holding him up as
the model President.
So the experience argument falls.
Any man who has capacity and admin
istrative ability, and above all firmness
and honesty Of character and purpose
can creditably fill the ::office of Presi.
dent. Governor Cleveland has al
these qualifications and he has beer
Mayor of the city of Buffalo, where he
studied and mastered the great ant
trying question of municipal govern
ment, under circumstances of Difficult
ties. He has also filled with honor tc
himself and satisfaction to the people
the Office of Governor of the largest
State in the Union--a position the ex
ecutive requirements of which are sec
ond only to those Of the Presidency
The trouble with the Republican candi
date is that he had too much "experi
encc" and is too well known. If ht
were clean man, fresh from the PEG
pie, and clear of his political record a
entangling and disgraceful associations
of his debauched career, his chance.
of election would not be so utterly
hopeless as they are to-day.
The Congressional campaign com
mittee of both parties have opened theil
headquarters, and will begin to sent
out campaign documents having specia
reference to the Congressional elections