Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-12

events, though not II politician in the
usual sense Of the term, of an age and
amount OF acquaintance with men AMI
things which entities his judgment to re-
spect, has given us his views of some of
the consequences Of the coming change Of
administration. And though his letter
was not intended for publication we ven
ture to copy u portion of it. as showing
what is, passing in the minds ol some
thoughtful men. rs they look over the
late campaign and its result our cor
respondent says: ono mrn talked of be
fore the National convention. could have
cone as near an election as Mr. Blaine
did. His vote from the Democratic party
was by no means confined t. the Irish
Americans. Every one hears of Demo
Gratis of the best class who voted for him
on the only real issue in the election
viz, shall the South rule the Union by
fraud That question was not decided by
the election of Cleveland; but great step
was taken towards its decision in the af-
iirmative ut the merit election. No result
could nave been more favorable to the
South than the precise result attained.
The Republicans have the United States
Senate and so no change will he
lIEillt III lHt luIIll -NItlltt Will result an
enormous surplus IN the treasury to he
distributed in the Southern States. No
issue will be started by the Democratic
party during Mr.. Clcvcland's term. All
they will feel called ON to do will he
what they have the power to do. viz.
distribute the patronage so as to enable
the South to carry New Yorlrand Indiana
in lSSS. That done, the way is open for
Southern dominion and rcprisals ON the
North.
OF course it is possible tor MIR. cleveland
to behave so that the Senate will fight
him. If the appropriation for the civil
service commission should be refused n,
Mr.. Randall suggests, to relieve Mr.,
Cleveland from embarrassment. the Sen
ate may-in view of that and of the fact
that nothing was decided by the election
and that even New York was not for
Cleveland or for the Democratic partv.and
only against Blaine by II thousand-say
no more patronage shall be given to
Cleveland than seems wise to us. If SO,
the power of the Senate will again be in
creased at the expense of the eXecutive-a
result not so much to be deprecated as
before this election because the campaign
and election seem to show that under our
form of government, no government by
party is longer possible Hereafter there
is no such thing as party obligation :;
and as between Il convention without
binding effect and the Senate. the
Senate is the more stable body. Another
thing has been settled-that neither Ed
munds nor any other man of prominence
in affairs and brains enough to do any
tbinr ln snlnpt ul f,r bu l
candidate of the North. The decisive
fight between the North and South will be
in 1SSss That, too, will depend ON New
York, and at this distance it is not easy to
see how the North can win All the riff
rail- will have gone over to the powers hat
he. Many of the Independents will he
permanently in the Democratic ranks.
and 'Union-savers' and sellers of dry
goods who hold the notes of Southern
men will of course be plenty Don't dis.
turb the South is going to be the cry for
four years. After lSSS, the North Will be
excited enough but then it will probably
have lost the power to recover its ascend
ency.'
This is perhaps too sombre view of the
political future-though it is the view of
one who has not been wont easily to lose
heart and courage. As regards one fca-
ture of the result, in the very dangerous
weakening Of the Republican National
organization the words we have quoted
above do not seem to us much too strong
The Democratic MACHINE has been
strengthened, if that was possible 1t re-
nominated Cleveland by the frmest APP
plication of the despotic unit rule. 1t en-
forced the obedience of men and of
factions that had far greater reason to bolt
than the Independents had. 1t will of
course use the Federal offices to still furthc
! consolidate and strengthen its OganZa-
ton. 1t Will be able to nominate, and We
greatly fear, to elect whoever ii chooses, in
/ ISIS, without regard to NOrth ern feeling
or any pretence of reform. On the other
side, 1t is, as our correspondent suggests,
going to be impossible so far as at present
appears, TO nominate any man of mark or
experience. The feeling aroused by the
treachery of the Independents, among the
Republicans, is very strong. 1t cannot be
quoted in II hurry. The majority of them
Will be likely to feel four years hence as
they do now, that whatever else happens
the men who comprised the defeat of Il
fair nomination in 81 shall not be allowed
/ w StltCN llIt Ill -, llDT snail tllc
candidate he one who is particularly ac-
ceptable to rcnegadcS and traitors. Over
against this feeling, and rs an added
source Of weakness, will he the feeling
that it is of no consequence what kind of
ticket is put up by the Republican conven-
ton, since Il considerable section of the
party, still calling themselves Republicans
and represented by powerful organs, take
the ground that ii fair party nomination
has no binding power, even on the dele
gates to the convention and of course,
much less on the rank and file. 1t is posi-
bic that events may be SO ordered by the
higher power which controls nations, that
new issues and crises may absorb and over
rule existing divisions and animosities
But ut present the prospect for "A strong
and united Republican National party
four years hence, cannot be said to be of
/ the best. And there is too much ground