The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-04
POLITICS AND POLITICIANS.
A Talk with Hon. Simon Cameron
About Presidential Candidates.
Ex-senator Mcdonald Thinks the Morrison
Bill Will Pass-Ben Butler Says Tariff
for Revenue Only Will Not Win.
Simon Cameron ON National Politics.

''What do you think of the general condition
of the South, and what are its future pros
pectsp
Undoubtedly the South is making rapid prog
ress, and is not behind the times There are
places where change is unknown, but those are
dead places The increase of the general wealth
of the South since the war greatly exceeds the
loss sustained by the liberation Of the slaves and
this increase is the result of the development of
the white peoples energies and talents, which
before the war had lain dormant The exercise
of these has opened ore mines, great coal fields,
established industries of all kinds and is ena
bling the South to use up in its own manufacto-
ries the cotton grown by it. The Northern CAPT
talist and workman find ready fields cooperation,
the one for investment, which brings speedy re
turns, and the other for his skill, which is we'll
paid. Sectional feeling is dying away and North
ern people are well received especially those
who go there to stay and bring wealth. Why,
yes, life and property, so far I see, are
secure in the South. Disorder sometimes pre-
walls elsewhere than in the South"
''You stated, General. that you have been in
Charleston. Did youvisit Calhouns gravel"
II did 1t caused many thoughts of the past
to rise before me. Calhouns was a master mind.
Webster, Clay and Calhoun were grand trio of
statesmen Clay was brilliant orator and a
great statesman, but he had not the brains of
the others l consider Roscoe ConklIng greater
statesman than Clay, and so is Senator Ed
munds"
'Do you think Conkling will again come from
his retirement"
Certainly do Why not9 A man like him
will always come to the front. Yes, l should
not be surprised to see him some day returned
to the United States Senate Conklingi is making
money now--lots of it, He never had time to
fullV aftaud IN his huSinpSc hafOra hutn no
he is getting rich very fast"
''What do you think of Senator Edmunds"
''He is a smart man; one of the great men of
this country"
Blaine seems to be quite favorite with the
people, General
well, Blaine's another good man."
The correspondent suggested the reluctance of
the people to nominate man who so persistent
ly sought after office.
'Thats a fact When they have anything to
give they'll give it, and without any persons
persistent seeking"
Secretary Lincoln appears to be a universal
favorite for the Republican nomination for the
vice-presidency, was a remark which proved an
effectual rouser for the veteran.
yes and if had anything to say about it, l
would say to him, refuse it. To be elected Vice
president means to arouse jealouses and envy
against him. something that does not now exist
He is too young now for the presidency, but if
he would but wait few years the people would
quietly elevate him to the chair. Blaines haste
i'll his presidential aspirations defeated his
chances for that high gift of the people, and if
Lincoln accepts the nomination for Vice presi-
dent he will never become President If he
waits awhile he will some day fill his fathers
high place in the government
Where is your son now-Senator Don Cam
eronln
1.-THE last time we heard from him he and his
party were in Barcelona Spain He is improved
in health and enjoys the European trip which
he is now making When will he returnl Well,
1 can't say but from the tone of his letters 1
think some time this summer"
"Tilden too old for the Democrats to nominate
for the PresidencyP
81 don't think 60 HA is strong man in Now
York. He is feeble, perhaps, but not too old.
Mr.. Tilden is an able and acute man. No, sir;
he is not too old for the nomination if his party
chooses to give it to him"
Senator Bayard would be strong candidate
for the nomination for President if his State was
only larger and could give him more votes,
would he not9'
''Yes he would. A fine man and good states
man, Bayard would poll strong vote at the
convention if he were only backed by larger
State That is his misfortune. 1 am intimately
acquainted with the Delaware senator and have
a high degree of respect for him. He is good,
honest man"
Ex-senator Mcdonald ON the Morrison Bill.
Interview in Chicago Tribune.
Senator Mcdonald how are your Presiden-
tial prospects,"
''They are taking care of themselves" was
the prompt reply,
(which means that you are in the hands of
your friendsl'
'That is about the long and short of it, sup
pose"
Senator, you are just from Washington;
what is going to be the fate of the Morrison
billl"
'Tt will pass the House. Morrison feels con
fdent and am inclined to think he is right in
his calculations. The vote at the caucus was
not true indication of the final result 1 be-
lieve the votewas 116 for to 81 against forcing
the bill to a vote Now, the fact that fifty
seven Democrats voted no in the caucus does
not mean that ffty-seven will vote no in the
House and help to put their party in a false po-
sition. 1 do not think that half that number
can be rallied to vote against the bill
when put its final passage Many of
them may feel it to be unwise, or may be
personally opposed to a reduction in duties, but
they will not take the position of defying the
majority of the party. And, moreover, the bill
is not radical in its operations, although it has
been so represented Silk, wines and liquors
remain as before; they are exempted from re-
duction Only three articles are put on the free
hst-lumber, salt and coal The impression has
gone forth everywhere that the bill calls for a
horizontal reduction of 20 per cent on all other
articles when in fact it does no such thing 1t
calls for reduction of 20 per cent in the existing
tariff on all articles, qualified by the tariff Of
1861. In other words this reduction of 20 per
cent must not reduce the duty any article be-
low that fixed by the schedule of 1861 so that in
fact on many articles, instead of the duty being
lowered 20 per cent the reduction is much less
Take pig-iron as an illustration. The present
duty is Sc. so a ton. reduction of 20 per cent
would make the duty $500 ton. But the tariff
of 1861 fixed the duty at &C. so that the Morrison
bill in its operation leaves it at &c. which is re-
duetion of little over per cent. When the
bill is thoroughly discussed, and the people come
to understand it, it will not cause the apprehen-
sion it now does in certain quarters"
Tariff for Revenue Only Will Not Win.
Interview with Ben Butler.