Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-03-27
Wisconsin Politics.

The special correspondent of the New
York Times, who has been visiting
number of states to ascertain their res
pective preferences for president, makes
Wisconsin the subject of his last re-
port. The value of these letters is i'm
paired by the manifest purpose of the
writer not to give plain. uncolored
statement OF the facts as he finds them.
Their purpose seems to be in part to
influence public sentiment, and not
merely to give an impartial report. The
preference of the writer is clearly for
Edmunds, and it is equally obvious that
Arthur Is about the last man whom he
would wish to see nominated.
The Wisconsin letter begins with the
following passage respecting Gen. Fair
child:
The delegates to the Republican Ma
tional convention from the state of Wis
consin will vote ON the first ballot for
Gen. Lucius Fairchild. While his many
friends hardly dare to hope that their
support will secure the prize for him.
they tell the story of his life with honest
pride, and assert that his career as a
soldier, state officer. and representa-
tive of the nation in foreign lands con-
tains the elements of political strength,
and ought to command the respect of
every Republican voter
.'Gen. Fairchild,n said veteran Re-
publican who knows him well, twas the
first volunteer in the Union army from
Wisconsin. In his early youth he went
to California with the Forty miners
Having made some money there he re-
turned to Madison, and just before the
war he was made captain of an indie
pendent company of militia that had
been organized in the city. We heard
one night that Fort Sumpter had been
tired upon. The next morning he volun-
teered and rendered the services of his
company. His father was a Democrat,
and a 'copperhead' at that, but the son
left the Democratic party that morning
never to return to it. In the service he
rose to the rank of colonel, and became
brigadier-general by brevet He was
in command of brigade, | think. when
he lost his arm at Gettysburg. His
wounds forced him to return to civil
life, and he was elected secretary of
state. The Republicans afterward
elected him governor for three success
sive terms. He then became counsel at
Liverpool, and he filled that office to
the satisfaction of all with whom he
came IN contact. From Liverpool he
went to Paris, where he served as con-
sul-general, and before he retired to pri-
vate life at home he served as our min
lister to Spain
politicians here say that good Presi-
dents are made out of material like this.
They point to his empty sleeve, to his
fornia, to his experience an au execu-
tive officer and familiarity with our dip
lomatic and consular service, and es-
pecially to the fact that he has never
been identified with faction. He adj
vocated civil-service refrom years ago,
it is said. He is man of tact, who
has made no enemies. Hes as good
dark horse as there is in the country
said one, land he could get the nomi-
nation if he lived in New York, Ohio,
or Indiana"
1t should be said that if any person
told the Times correspondent that Gen.
Fairchild's father was a ''copperhead"
it was a SANDER without foundation or
excuse.
The letter assumes that there is not
much earnestness in the Fairchild move
ment, and that the important thing is to
learn the second choice of this state.
The writer found some sentiment favor
able to Arthur, but general belief that
he cannot carry New York, and there
fore no probability of his receiving sup
port in this quarter. The writer also
discovered a good deal of enthusiasm
for Gen. Sherman, Mr.. Blaine was found
TO have many warm friends in the state,
while Logan has ''no strength in Wis
consin." On the whole, Edmunds seemed
as acceptable to the generality of our
Republicans as any man named.
Among the Democrats, he found that
Mr.. Flower, of New York, is regarded
with much favor, and learned that his
nephew in this city, Mr.. John S. George
is taking care of his uncle's interests.
Of the tariff question here, the Times
writer says:
"High-tariff men and low-tariff men
agree in saying that the tariff issue will
not change any votes. A Democrat
said: Republican low-tariff men have
written to me that if the Democrats
Wouiu SLlch W INC poSlOtOn TAKEN III COLL
gress by the majority they would join,
us, and think we could get segment
of the Republican party in Wisconsin if
we should present a united front in sup
port OF revenue reform. But our party
seems to be paralyzed by discord, and
the Republican low-tariff men will stay
where they are.'' 1t is an open secret
that Col Villas, perhaps the most prom
inent Democrat in the state, remembers
with feeling akin to regret the free
trade speech he made at the Iroquois
club dinner, and has come to the con-
clusion that his party has ''gone too
far" The wool-growers demand higher
rates, and protection thrives in the pine
regions. A prominent Republican says
that the passage of the Morrison bill
making lumber free would increase the
Republican majority in the state. If the
views of the people are fairly repsented
by leading politicians, however, either
there is great diversity of opinion in
the state with regard to this matter or
the majority of voters know very little
ahollt if - Mil7yn7IIpe Se1ti,leL