Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-03-20
Speak for Them-A Mucl, Better Feeling
Prevailing Between the Two DEM
ocratic Factions.
Tee Fitz John Porter Blli-What the
Whisky Men Expect to Accomplish
congressional Proceedings.
FIrz JOHN PORTER


of Gen. Grant both before and after the
passage of the bill viii doubtless have
strong influence with the President. while
the fact that Senator Sabin, the chairman
of the National Committee, supported the
bin will not lessen the likelihood of the
Presidents consent to its becoming a law.
Senator Sabin's course in supporting the
bill in the face Of almost the entire party
membership in House and Senate evokes
a good deal OF comment here. The fact is
however, that the Senator had long ago
expressed himself as believing that Porter
was wroDged and ought to be righted in
this way, and with. .hisusual vigoroGsinde-
pendence OF thought voted as he believed.
refusing to permit his position rs chairman
Of The National Republican Committee TO
affect his views or his duty, as he
thought. Chatting with your correspond
ent yesterday regarding the criticism
which his course had created, he said,
that ii his action was to be construed as a
violation Of party fealty, and especially on
account Of his official connection with the
National Republican Committee, that he
would ssy frankly that his vote was given
in accordance with his own convictions
and expressions freely made many months
before his election and consequently with
ont the least expectation of ever being
called on to vote on this question, and
that his vote was simply given as his own
and not in any sense should it be inilu-
enced by any official connection with the
committee. Ii he was expected to aban-
don his individuality or independence of
action for the privilege of assuming the
additional burdens of the craftsmanship oil
the National Committee or any other posi-
ton, the parties entertaining us idea
would find il an entirely mistalF Fr-mpres-
sion, as he would always hold himself
responsible TO his constituency for any
vote or action, but would not be held re-
sponsible as an official of the National
Committee for the exercise of personal
convictions, wishing it distinctly under
stood that in no wise is his action to be
construed as committal or embarrass-
ment TO the committee or the party it rep
resents.
Gen. Porter is not the decrepld, worn.
ont, poverty-stricken old man that you
would naturally expect in one who has
been so long before the public and so pit
eously pictured as an object for national
CHARITY. He owns house at Long Branch,
one among the many handsome and costly
buildings there. occupying it every sum-
meT, and sometimes in the winter as well.
1t is but ashort distance from Gen. Grants
cottage and that OF George Washington
Childs, and is pointed out to every passer
as one OF the interesting landmarks of the
place. Gen. Porter has spent some time
here this winter. He is q man perhaps
fifty years of age, with a slight, well-knit
form and erect, soldierly bearing, full
black eye, iron-gray hair and gray mus
tache and side-whiskers, face marked
with lines of thought and intelligence,
and one which iinpresses you as that of a
man who feels himself to have been
greatly wronged and disgraeed.
WHISKY AND POLITICS.
It isa curious fact that the friends of
the whisky bib find greatest difficulty in
getting votes in States whare they expect
ed the strongest support, whileiRoasa States
where prohibition is a strong element they
are promised a larger number OF votes
than they anticipated. 'In the South
west, said Gen. McGibbon, of Kentucky,
to your correspondent, 1--WE get stronger
| support than we had anticipated. Take
| Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, aud
even prohibition Iowa, and the Demo-
Gratis frcm these states are ready to vote
solidly in favor nf cur bill. II is in the
South and Southwest this! We are aissp-
! pointed. We believed that we should
have the strength of that section, and
without asking; we fnd, however, that we
were very much mistaken. Take Texas,
and Arkansas, and Georgia, for instance,
the members from those sections seem TO
/ be afraid to help us. They think that
their support of the bill would endanger
their standing at home in some local op-
ton precinct or something of that sort. F."
"Do you think the bill will pass, gen
erai ?''
| 81 think the chances are fair, il we can
bring those Poopls- -Eha ought 10 vote
| with us and upon whom we have relied,
we ought to pass it, aud if not we proba-
bly, will not. Ii they fail us, however y
| he said, as light cleaned la his eye, 'ii
they fail us, however, great many OF
| them will sit at home when the next Con-
| gress cenveBes.
"Do you expect TO get much OF the lie.
publican vote?"
''Go. The question is becoming more
and more of party issue, and ranging It
self beside the tariff bill. The opposition
OF Mr. Randall aud his followers to the
bill and of the Republicans TO it classifies
! it with the tariff bill. Randall is using if
for 9 purpose. He has a higher and more
important object in view, and is making
use of this to aecoh. psish purposes which
win become apparent later on. Whether
he viii succeed no man can tell al
present.
sWhat is there IN The charge that
Speaker Carlisle is failing to give the bill
his aid and support9'
Nothing. He is doing all that could
be asked. His position is very peculiar
one, and he cannot afford either in justice
to himself or his party or his position, to
do more than he is now doing. We have
10 reason TO complain OF Mr.. Carlisle's
coulse on the bill"
Is THE CIVIL sAsy1cE LAW CONSTITUTIONAL
1t is whispered in official circles here
that the constitutionality of the civil
service Law Is seriously doubted. 4 prom
inent official Of the Treasury Department
aaid recently that the Cabinet officers had
been discussing the question of late among
themselves, and many of them have been
expressing the opinion that the law viii
rot stand the test of the courts should
it ever be brought to their attention.
eof course. he said, ''we cannot afford to
make any fight OF this Kind nov. 1t
would injure our party and its prospects
and do no good anyway, so nothing viii
be done in regard TO it at present. II