The Portland daily press., 1884-03-10
PROSPECTS BLASTED.
Despairing Lament of a Democratic
Eeader.
tspecial Despatch to the Boston Herald.l

Special Despatch to the Boston Herald.)
WASHINGTON, March 8.-Representative
Buckner of Missouri, chairman of the commit
tee on banking and currency, and one of the
Oldest members of the House, in conversation
with few friends today, while .lamenting the
folly of the Democratic leaders, remarked: !:
81 must say that in my opinion things are
looking bad enough for the Democratic party.
After the elections of 1882, when the country
was aroused by the sweeping successes we
achieved, began to feel that we had a future,
and was in hopes that the better counsels Of
prudence would prevail in the organization
of the House. MIR. Carlise was elected speaker
upon an issue which had already given
us much trouble I felt satisfied, il the sam
feeling were carried into the proceedings of
the ma iority in the House there would be a
fatal disruption of the party, and on the
strength of tnis belief wrote letter to Mr..
Carlisle calling attention to the bitter feeling
on this tariff question and inevitable result IT
pressing the issue within the party by the
selection of majority on the committee of
ways and meaEs who would persist in crowd
ing those who represented constituencies hav-
ing mixed industries as source of wealth,
and therefore not favorable to any agitation
of the subject. This letter was sent immedi-
ately after the election of Mr.. Carlisle. It
was clearly to be seen that the bitter sntago-
nism of Mr.. Morrison to ex-Speaker Randall
weulu Prove an element of discord in the
party, which would be attended by the most
disastrous results The party i'll the House,
after the contest over the speakership, was not
in shape to be at all benefited by the renewal
of the conflict between these two leaders and
which, it was evident to all sober minded per-
sons, would be the result OF Mr.. Morrison's as
signment to the craftsmanship of the ways
and means. The feud between these two gem
tlemen has been going on for years, and now
it seems to have broken out with increased
bitterness. 1t now looks as if Mr.. Morrison
and his friends, finding themselves thWarted
in their unfortunate tariff scheme rather than
succumb to the best interests of the people, as
shown in the very general expression of oppo-
sition from all parts of the country, will resort
to the desperate method of persistent and ru-
inous opposition. | am sorry that this contro-
versy has been renewed, and fear it would
now be too much to expect the committee of
ways and means to retreat from its position,
which seems to be mainly opposition to Mr..
Randall. The latter gentleman, who is on
the defensive in The contest, can but await
developments which do not encourage the
hops OF harmony and a peaceful solution OF
the present difficulties. feel. however, as If
/ had done my duty. What L foreshadowed
in my letter to the then newly-elected speaker
has come to pass, and the end of it, l am sorry
to believe, has not yet been reached" Mr..
Buckner evidently feels keenly the unfortu-
nate position in which the Democratic party
has beenplaced by the headlong course OF the
controlling wing.