News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-03-13
The Political Outlook.

The following letter upon the po-
litical situation was not written with
any intention of addressing the pub
lie, but its views, being those of
business man of prominence, appeared
to us to state the result of careful in
vestigation at Washington with such
frankness and ability that our readers
win be pleased to see it:
WASHINGTON, March 3, 1884.
II have been looking over the situa-
ton and prospects ahead, and the out
look to me is very encouraging. The
Democrats are fast destroying them
selves, now that they have majority in
the House of Representatives, by show
ing to the country that they have no pol
icy. and by breaking among themselves
upon the tariff and some other primary
questions. They appear to be dividing
into irreconcilable factions. They
are as much without an available candi-
date for the Presidency as they are with
out policy. Payne, of Ohio, is, in my
opinion, their most available candidate
but the country is not going to elect an
octogenarian President this time.
In my opinion the next campaign is
not to be boom tor any man. l mean
elected. The business men of the coun-
try, the leaders of its enterprise, its indus
tries and its material interests are becom-
ing aroused as they have seldom beer, land
they will insist that the nominee shall be
level headed and trustworthy man.
There is at present only tentative bust
ness doing; there is plenty of money
and a large amount of merchandise and
natural products are changing hands, but
few people in legitimate business are
making much money. There will be nc
serious panic simply because there is nc
large general Indebtedness; but there is
lack of confidence for new and large
undertakings. and yet the resources OF
the country are so large and the popula-
ton so rapidly increasing that the incen-
tives to enterprise are too strong to be
resisted for a great while. The public
will have a condition of things which
measurably insures safety. President
Arthur is gaining in the confidence OF
this class of people. His administration
has been in the main clean and conserv-
alive; but at this present time he could
probably not carry his own State OF
New York. owing to old feuds there, and
that state of things is fatal to his eandi-
dacy. l believe that Arthur is to-day
the second choice, however. of more
people than any other man who can be
named, and if New York can be recon-
ciled he would be strong and would be
elected Logan has many friends west
but he would look to the soldiers. and 4
we are TO take soldier. Gen Sherman
viii sweep the country in spite OF any
comes nearer to the ideal candidate than
any other man, in my opinion. He would
suit the business men he would start
with New England solid; he can carry
New York and Ohio; PENNSYLVANIA will
be for the Republican candidate in any
event; Indiana will gladly support Ed
munds; and if Lincoln is put upon the
ticket for Vice President do not believe
there is any combination possible that
can defeat it.
Edmunds will do nothing to make
himself candidate. | think that he
honestly does not want the office; but he
will stand just where he is now; that is,
he will not withdraw from the field. but
will let the party do as it pleases with
his candidacy, at least until such time as
the withdrawal of his name will make a
cordial concentration upon some other
Republican; and no such concentration
is so likely to come to any one as him
self
The Stalwarts will not oppose Ed
munds; the rank and file of the Republi-
can party will 90 for him heartily, and
he will have the support of the great
Lody of the Independents.
He appears to be by far the strongest
candidate to-day, and l think his strength
is likely to increase rather than diminish
L give you my views for whatever they
may be worth, but they have been formed
after considerable observation and DELHI
Grafton.
l have written much more at length
than l intended, but perhaps not more
than my interest in the subject justifes.