The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-29
Notes from Washington.


The Presidential Race-Wiil Tildsn an&
Hendricks be the Democratic NsAts
nees-The "Old Ticket Ferlsrn Hsps
White Labor ON Southern Plantations
The Mexican Pension Bill.
Special Correspondence Of the Press)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.
The developments since the meeting of the
Democratic National Committee show that all
the candidates fear the "old ticket" There
can be no doubt that that fact had something
to do with the selection of Chicago as the
place for holding the convention. This fact
has gradually made itself known during tho
week since the committee met and appears to
be causing something of reaction in favor or
the ticket which all other candidates oppose,
Tilden and Hendricks. From everything that
can be gathered it Is safe to conclude that all
those who have claimed to be Mr.. Tilden's
successor in the Presidential race and his
choice as the proper man to represent him
have done 80 gratuitously. Every man who
desires to obtain the nomination is glad to
gain whatever strength this claim will bring
him, and the result is that every one Of the
would-be candidates makes this claim. The
fact seems to be, however, that Tilden has
not delegated his claims 70 anybody else. On
the contrary he is permitting the developrnent
of a strong Gold ticket" sentiment without the
slightest intimation that 1t is dlStastefnl 70
him. 1t is very evident that the eastern
wing of the Democratic party, the element
opposed to tariff reform would prefer T1iden
above Rll other men. An active Democrat
here, very close friend OF Mr.. Randall. said
to your correspondent few hours ago, "There
is only one thingJ that can save us next
fall"
"What is that?" was asked
"The nomination of the old ticket" he an
swered. "The tariff reform element has msao
such division in the party and lessened our
chances OF success 30 greatly that have really
little hope, though three months ago 1t seemed
to me that we were sure Of Democratic Pres
ident this year. | suspect that we VIII pe
beaten again and that by our own fault but II
there is any success for US it will be through
the cold ticket"
"Do you think Mr.. Tilden would accept IL
nominated?
ST think he would. 1 do not speak by su-
thority or with any positive knowledge bat I
believe he would feel it his duty to accept II
the convention and the nation should call up
on him to do so at such time"
This is only lsample OF the quiet Dits Oh
conversation that one may hear sanywhere.
There is a feeling all through the Democratic
party that Tilden is the only man to thorough
ly unite and enthuse the party this year. The
breach in Democratic ranks in 1884 seems like
ly to beLas wide as was that in the Republican
ranks in 1880 though on grounds less personal
in their nature. With Tilden however as the
candidate it is felt that every man in the party
would rally. Be the platform what 1t might
Tilden's name would bring every voter to the
polls and the breach which is growing wider
daily from tariff discussion would be for the
time at least healed.
wErTE LABOR IN TEE SOUTH.
Colonel Robert Beverly, President Of tho
National Agricultural Association, has made
some recent experiments with white labor In
the South as compared with colored labor. 1t
has bean held heretofore that the colored man
was the only labor that could be effectually
used in the South. Colonel Beverly thinks
otherwise. He owns something like dozen
farms in Virginia, and now after an expert
ment of one or two years with white labor
finds that class Of labor more satisfactory than
that of the colored race and decides In its
favor. Among the scores of employees on his
numerous farms there Is now scarcely colored
man. He said on recent visit here that the
experiment was so satisfactory that he believed
white labor would be substituted in many lines
of employment now filed by colored men,
both upon farms and in tobacco and other
perimeDts, he says, have been made In the
Carolinas with like results.
THE DANvILLE INVESTIGATION.
The Senate Investigation into the Danville
riot will soon conclude so far as taking OF
testimony goes. The efforts now are to show
that the outbreak was premeditated by the
white citizens and deliberately planned for the
purpose of affecting and paralyzipg the col
ored vote A gentleman who has attended
the meetings of the committee every day since
it began its session and listened attentively to
all that had gone on there, said to your corr
respondent yesterday that thus far he had
been unable to discover that the outbreak
was premeditated or that any plot or plan for
such an event as did occur existed. "There ig
only one thing" he said, "that leads me to
believe that the riot was planned for political
purposes. 1t is claimed that arms were stored
in certain business house Just at the point
where the riot broke out, and that they were
| placed there day or two previous to the event
with the hope Of having them at hand on this
| occasion. That charge has net yet been en-
| tirely proven. IL it should be, 1 would then
believe that the outbreak was planned and
brought on for political purposes was true"
THE MEXICAN BILL.
| The Mexican pension bill is likely to make
more bitterness in the House than any meas
past Congress. There is strong feeling on
| the Republican side against granting pensions
to anybody who served in the Confederate ar
my. The proposition to include in the bill all
| those serving in the Florida Indian wars, and
| other disturbances about that time, opens also
| a very broad field and one which is likely to
bring up "reminiscences of slave days not at all
| pleasant to contemplate. The following ex-
tract from letter published here shows the
| sort of arguments that will be brought against
that section of the bill.
The bill proposes to pension any one who
| served thirty days or more in the Creek war,
or disturbances of 1856, or in the Florida
war with the Seminoles, from 1895 to 1872.
These wars were waged in the interests of the
Shareholders to recover their fugitive slaves
from the Greeks, Seminoies, etc. Especially
| was the State of Georgia interested in this
| work, and furnished large numbers of volun-
| teers She received at one time $109, 600 to
i pay her citizens for their slaves, who had es-
capped to Florida, and subsequently bill
/ passed Congress giving those claimants Sl4lI-
600 for the loss of the Offspring which the
slaves would have borne to their masters had
| they remained in bondage, and notWithstand-
ing this she insisted upon the prosecution o.
the war against the exiles, raised volunteers,
and employed savages to do her savage work.
| Millions Of money were expended by the gov
ernment, and but little accomplished. The
best officers and soldiers of the regular army
sent there were disgusted with the infamous
| work because it was disgrace to the country
and to the civilization of the age, and falling
to conquer these exiles by fair or foul means,
other modes Of warfare more foul and abhoS-
rent were resorted to, viz.s the employment Of
bloodhounds from Cuba, to hunt down the fu-
gitlves.