Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-04-10
WASHINGTON MATTERS.
Democratic Disruption-Whisky Extension Killed
Presidential Candidates.
JOE COVER
from our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, ID. o., April 4, loo4:--
The Democratic House caucus on Tues
day evening was as barren of results as
were those of the hen setting on nest
of brickbats. The meeting was called
for the express purpose of whipping into
the traces those Democratic members
who had betrayed symptoms of hesita-
ton and weakened belligerency on
the Morrison bill, but none of this was
permitted to crop out in the meeting.
What Mr.. Carlisle's resolution meant,
or what it amounted to if it meant any
thing, is one of the inquiries that are
being made by those who voted for it.,
as well as those who opposed it. 1t is
enough to say that the caucus added
nothing to the dimensions of Mr.. Nor
rison's Presidential boom, nor did it pay
him the homage of agreeing to stand
up to the rack. fodder or no fodder. On
the contrary, it is pretty certain that if
Mr.. Randall maintains his ability to
keep his forces in hand, he will be
abundantly able to turn Mr.. Morrison S
horizontal twenty per cent. business into
most unpleasant Democratic protec-
zionist perpendicular. 1t was this that
attracted Mr.. Randall to a front seat in
the caucus, audit was this that brought
out Mr.. Carlisle's non-adjustable, auto
matte, harnony-provoking resolution,
that meant much more for Mr.. Carlisle
than it did for Mr.. Morrison or his hori-
zontal distraction. Taking it all in all,
this tariff business in the hands of a
Democratic President-making Congress
in Presidential year, is proving to be a
most dismal and disappointing sort OF
material to work up, for it has laid out
cold both tariff and anti-tariff candi-
dates in such numbers that after all
there seems to be no alternative left but
the old ticket.
BY the decisive vote of 165 to SO the
whisky bonded extension bill was killed
in the House on Thursday Mr.. Hewitt,
as model representative of the party
that never learns and never forgets,
made most remarkable speech in favor
of the bill, taking the broadcast free
trade ground. and demanding the aboli-
ton of the whisky tax as measure vi
tally affecting the dearest interests OF
the whole business community. 1t can
not be said that the vote upon the de,
feat of the whisky bill is any indication
of the complexion of the ultimate vote
upon the Morrison bill, for many of the
men of both parties who took morality
view of the question and voted to let the
whisky men take care of themselves,
represent diverse sides of the tariff bill
Besides, many of the free-trade shouters
fought with all their might against the
bill, fearing that the final outcome of its
passage would be the wiping out of the
entire internal revenue tax, including
the system itself. Against this class Of
Representatives was another, of which
Mr.. Randall was one, who believed thai
the effect of the success of the bill would
be the perpetuation of the internal reve.
nue. system, and therefore they opposed
it with determined zeal. When the far.
sighted leading political doctors thus
disagreed upon the effect of great poll
teal measure, the House thought il
would take the short cut and make the
whisky fellows pay their taxes as other
people have to pay theirs.
Simultaneously with the spasmodic
hoists which Mr.. Blaine's boom is re.
ceiving in Pennsylvania, there comes
from New England, as well as from
States farther West,som very insigni6-
cant expressions from the public press,
of approval of Mr.. Arthur's administra-
~tion, with the appeal to Republicans to re-
frain from swapping horses while cross.
ing the stream. That Mr.. Arthur has
broken away completely from any ties
that may have bound him to the obiec.
tionable machine politics of New York,
in which we may say he was schooled
there can now be no doubt, else he
could never have secured the undeni.
able prestige of successful admins
t,.rt hot oil L
surrounded himself with men who have
acquitted themselves fairly before the
public, and who have contributed in nc
small degree toward preventing the
failure that might have followed Mr..
Arthur's sudden accession to his high
office. SIS he honest? Is he capable?
Is he faithful to the public trust?n were
Jackson's prime test of the aspir-
ant for public position. Is not Mr. Ar
thur both honest and capable? and has
he not been entirely faithful to the trust
which SO unexpectedly fell to him? The
business interests of the Nation have
been entirely safe in the hands of Mr..
Arthur, and he has shown the courage
of his convictions in the timely obiec-
tons that he has made to questionable
measures of public policy, as indicated
by the veto of the River and Harbor bill
in the face of most powerful Congress
sional sentiment. Day by day there are
Matched up new methods, new schemes,
and new measures of legislation having
sinister designs upon the surplus in the
National Treasury. which more than
ever require the watchful interference
of an Executive whose acquaintance
with political methods is thorough and
whose will is powerful enough to work
successful and effective defeat of them.
Such are the arguments put forth by
Mr.. Arthur's friends and such the
claims made by prominent newspapers
in the country in favor of retention OF
the present Administration.
JUNIUs.
The arrest of Capt. Dodge, the leader
of the Niobrara regulators. was a trife
dramatic When Sheriff Hoffman opened
the door of the Dodge domicle the cap.
tain was sitting by the fire reading. He