The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-04

In several instances Secretary Daniel La
mont has given evidence OF being not only
q very excellent politician, but an un-
usually shrewd person. Heis credited with
saying, after the Ohio election: "Well, the
Mugwumps claim that a Republican victory
| in New York will sustain the President. l
I don't see Why the same sort OF logic does
! not apply to Ohio" There is a nice tinge
| of quiet sarcasm in this. 1t is a very neat
! side wipe at the absolute absurdity OF the
I Mugwump situation in New York at the
present time. A Washington correspon-
/ dent well nays that the ridiculous assumpf
ton that it will help a Democratic Pres''
| dent to lose a Democratic State is outside
| of politics and coaches on the domain O
7 opera bouffe. OF all the published explain
! atoms oil Cleveland's position ON the New
| York contest not one has approached what
is probably the true one. Analysed, his
| course has a great deal Of political shrewd-
ness. His administration is still young.
| If he were to throw himself actively int"
I the New York campaign the struggle might
| ;us4lv BIZ regarded as a test OF the judgment
upon him in a State which he barely car
| ried. But he is too wise to make such a
| doubtful experiment. He wants the candl-
I dates and not himself to be the issue. He
does not propose that his acts and policy
shall be Judged by proxy. As matters stand
the Democrats in the State claim that a
victory will sustain the President, white the
Muqwumps vociferate that the defeat OF
Hill is necessary to his support. Either
way, then, he is sure to be sustained, al
Though az a matter OF fact the result will
nave no bearing on the Administration at
all, The truth is that the Mugwumppr press,
in it's desire to get back Republican sub
scribers, and, at the same time, keep upan
appearance Of consistency, is trying to
reconcile two things which cannot be re-
conciled, and the manner in which the
effort is being made is not at all ingenious.
As for Ohio, the contest there never had
any National significance. Two years ago
Hoadley was elected on purely local issues,
and this year he was beaten on the same
issues. There is no time when the party
lines are drawn in Ohio that the Republi-
cans can be defeated. They only lose
when there is a fol-de-rol OF excitement
about home questions. This year it has
been largely a personal row between Nc
Lean and Halstead. Those men have hated
each other. for years. "Thief," 'black-
mailer" procurer'' and ''bunko-steerer'
have been the mildest epithets they have
used. Their feuds nave been a disgrace to
American journalism. Each has proven to
his satisfaction that the other shout Id be in
the penitentiary, and yet, as a matter OF
fact, they are both decidedly pleasant peo-
pile. It might be a good idea to revive the
ducking-stool for them, for this would ap-
p~ropriately cover the cases. Their billings
gate has become a National nuisance. But
the contests cut no figure in National poll
tics. The result in New York is a doubtful
one, but the President can afford to be the
least concerned person In the country as to
the outcome, save in his individual capaci-
ty OF a Democrat. He has not injected him
self into the contest. 1t is not his fight. 1t
does not involve his policy. His Admins
tration is SO young that Democratic defeat,
ever in New York, can in no wise be re-
garded as a judgment upon it Or be con-
strued into a cause for a change Of fronts.