Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular correspondent.l

WASHINGTON, ID. T., July 2l, 1884.
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. 1t is pretty good
evidence that no mistake has been made
to fird that satisfaction increases daily
and that if the convention were to be
held over again no change would be
made. There is happy and confident
feeling among the Democrats of the
Capital. 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 ap-
pear to be a solitary crumb of comfort
for this class, and they are pretty gen.
orally making up tt cir minds that day
of judgment for them is close at hand.
They have been pinning considerable
faith to John Kelly, but present advices
indicate that he could not save them if
he would for according to all accounts
the revolt among Republicans, even in
the interior counties of New York, is
greater than the greatest strength Kelly
could under any circumstances COM
mand. Furthermore Kelly won't bolt.
1T is interesting to talk with these eX-
cited office-holders and see how nervous
they are. 1t makes them the more
wretched because there is so little
ground upon which to attack the
Democratic ticket and platform, while
their own are so effectively assailed.
Gov. G eveland's limited eXperie ice in
office-holding is about the only argu-
ment advanced. 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 Presidents
forced upon the country for the last six
teen years, and how many ofthem have
had as much qualifying experience?
Gen. Grant had absolutely no knowl-
edge of the civil service or of business,
yet they gave him two terms and
wanted him for a third. Mr.. Hayes
who was the smallest man intellectual
ly and backboneically ever pleced in
such position, had simply been Gov
ernor of Ohio. Yet Notwithstanding
the great crime by which he was SNUG
gled into the office, his administration
was the cleanest the Republican party
has given the country. Then there is
Chester A. Arthur whose sole public
experience before he became President
had been as ward politician, and col
lector of the port of New York. Vet
Republican Journals and Republican
Conventions have been for some time
past holding him up as the model Presi-
dent.
So the experience argument falls.
Any man who has capacity and admin
istrative ability, and above all firmress
and honesty of character and purpose
can creditably fill the office of President.
Governor Cleveland has all these quail
fications and he has been Mayor of the
city of Buffalo, where he studied and
mastered the great and trying question
of municipal government, under cir
cumstances of difficulties. He has also
filled with honor to himself and salts
faction to the people the Office of Gov
ernor Oft the largest State in the Union
position the executive requirements
of which are second only to those of the
Republican candidate is that he has had
too much experience" and is too well
known. If he were clean man, fresh
from the people, and clear of his politi-
cal record as we'll as entangling and dis
graceful associations of his debauched
career, his chances of election would
not he so utterly hopeless as they are to-
day.
The Capital is very quiet now, but it
is very delightful. With such weather
as we are now having, there is little
need to seek refuge in summer resorts.
Few Congressman or Senators have re-
manned since the adjournment, how
ever. The President is at the Soldiers
Home cottage, but is expected to go on
a cruise in the Dispatch shortly. Four
months provisions have been slowed
away in the vessel, which looks much
as though Arthur intended to spend a
very cool summer-out of the way.