Arkansas weekly mansion., 1884-02-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
{ From our Regular Correspondent.1


here on Wednesday evening, the
23d inst, by an enthusiastic Re-
publican caucus of Senators and
Representatives., presided over by
Senator Edmunds. He said, On
taking the chair, that the outlook
for the Republican party in 1884
was thus early in the campaign bot
ter than at any time in the past fif-
teen years, and there was every
reason to believe that the party
would be successful, if it only exer-
cised wisdom In selecting it's candi-
date. There was harmony in the
talk of all present and harmony in
action, and every indication of per-
feet accord in the coming contest.
The usual Congressional campaign
committee vas appointed. This
caucus, composed of representative
men of the party from all parts of
the country, yielded no expression
as to the personality Of Presiden-
tial candidates, but confined itself to
the appropriate work of advancing
the cause of the party and the &C.
curing of it's success next Novem-
ber.
Yet outside of the caucus and in
a general way the question ef can
didates is receiving a good deal of
attention here. President Arthur,
who is thought to have at least as
good a chance as any of the others,
is not now in the best of health.
Late hours and tho incessant pulling
and hauling of office-seekers have
left. their marks on his stalwart
frame and ruddy| countenance. 1t
is noticed that he has gradually dis
continued out Of door exercise. His
appearance struck some of the for
eign ministers very fOrcibly at the
reception on New Years day, when
he appeared to them to bo as much
of an invalid as Senator Anthony or
exSecratary Blaine, neither of
whom can be classed among those
enjoying robust health. Arthur
and Lincoln arc spoken of as Il pop
ular combination. General Logan
also has a large following, especially y
among the soldier element, and a
ticket composed of Logan and
Frye is much talked about. Justice
Miller, Of the Supreme Court, is an
other OF Those often mentioned
among the workers. He Is
, described as wisc Hs Solomon, brave
IA = lion, incorruptibic rs an angel.
with judgment and experience and
tact that would never err Ho wa.
born in Kentucky and located in
Iowa, from which he was appointed
to tho Supreme Bench by Mr.. Lin
coin. He is now regarded as thc
ablcst man on the bench. He is
something over sixty years of sge
and has the vitality and activity OF
man of forty. Nothing shows the
greatness of Miller more than ono
incident in his life. He was cdu
Gated IN tho profession of medicine
and practiced it until he was thirty
years of age. The gentleness ard
tenderness of his nature could stand
it no longer. The suffering of his
patients he could not endure, and he
determined to leave profession
that gave him nothing hut pain
Then he went to the law, and six
teen years after he entered I. law
yer's Office he was appointed TO &
scat in the highest judicial tribuna
in the land.
Mr.. Blaine has been Often de
clared cut of the race this time, ant
most people believe it is so; yet l an
told by one who ought to know tha
he is really making a still hunt. HI
is steadily at work on bis book
whatever may be his intentions in ,
political way. The first volume il
nearly ready, and those who hav'
heard the author read few chap
ters are impressed with its higl
literary character and with his sue
cess IN getting outside of himself
as it were, which is no light matte
for one who is 40 much Of a parti
san. Mr.. Blaine is very systcmati
in his literary work. His method
are those of a journalist rather thai
of tho professional book make,
, He is, indeed, a born newspape
: man, and it is = pity, some of u
think, that he did not follow tina
tcallipg, instead of switching o-
, from editing a country paper to ru
for Congress. 1 happen to know
by the way, that when Speaker @
tho House of Representatives h
had a great temptation to put hi
feet on the very top round of tn
journalistic ladder. He was offere
the editorship of one Of the creates
New Iolk newspapers at salar,
larger than any editor now receive.
and nearly as largo as that of tn
Preside of the United States
Curiously enough, too, the offer cam
from journal which has never bee
friendly towards Blaine from tha
day to this.
The Senate is engaged In the dc
lectable work of dissecting tn
American hog, for the purpose o
finding ont whether Franco an,
. Germany are justified in ostracisin
our tOothsome porker. The cor
sis,ency of \ nation like Germany
which rears it's children upon exc
!, cradle bologna, and tho still NOR
J revolving smear case and schweitze
cheese, and refusing the doliciou
] corn-fed pork, fresh feom the wes
ern prairies, need only to be men
toned to be appreciated. Every