The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-31

A Bay State Mossback EnIishtens a Crowd
of Old "Wheel- Horses"

of Old "Wheel-HOrses."
Special to tho Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Aug 30.-In the corridor Of a
popular hostelry, last night there stood knot
of of1iceseekers, discussing the outlook for
themselves and their friends. In the group were
represented Indiana, Ohio Illinois, New York
and Massachusetts, and each man has been
prominent in the politics of his State from the
opening of the war, and each aided very ma
terialy in last years Democratic victory; hence
each one expected to be largely influential in
disposing of the patronage in his own particular
State. Of course, they have all been disap-
pointed. Their talk ran in about this vein:
II don't understand" said the Hoosier, with
an oath, this new outft--at all. l don't seem
to catch on to their little game. Suppose it's
because Pm so blanked stupid"
"Nor do get peep at their hand" observed
the Sucker, who was something of sport, from
Cairo 81 never saw such layout il a decent
place before. The more man has done for the
party the less influence he seems to have with
the administration. All through the war and
ever since have spent my cash for the cause
never funked or skulked in the darkest days
and I'll be blessed if l can get the least thing
ask for, while a lot of brand new brass mounted,
plug hated. cane sucking billy-goat dudes carry
away everything in sight All they have to do
is to ask for what they want, and they get it.
What in sheol does it mean, anyhow?"
All the Others save the man from the Bay
State, talked in the same strain. They all
declared that there was a screw loose some
where but what particular screw it was or how
to tighten it, not one OF them seemed to know
Finally the Bay State Yank spoke up
''Gentlemen, you seem to be away off on the
situation and the new policy. l have been here
now six weeks. Three of them-frst three--l
put in boring the President and bounding mem
bers of the Cabinet Every day was at the
White House early and late, and yet have not
drawn blood. At the end of the third week
gave it up Now I have put in three weeks
sizing up the situation, and I think l am right
onto the African in the fuel"
With one voice the coterie asked for the'result
of the discovery.
II will tell you,f said he. II have nosed
around everywhere; have been in all sorts of
holes and Places and gif-gatfed with all sorts of
people, from the President down, and I have
settled the situation to be just this: The Presi-
dent and his Cabinet have determined that the
party shall take new departure, and cut loose
from the past entirely. All the old fellows, like
ourselves, for instance, are to be whistled down
the wind Grover thinks that our opposition to
the war and war measures, whereby
we obtained the names of Bourbons.
copperheads, mossbacks, etc., has made
US too unpopular for him to hitch onto He has
determined that we and all who stood by us in
the hot, fierce fights of 1S61-65 shall remain in
the obscurity Of private life. Hence, if one of
our kind is pushed for place he straightway
gives it to some jaibrd or young skinker who
never ran a township caucus, much less State
campaign The President has determined to
cut loose from all the old stand-bys and their
methods and rely upon the crop of youngsters
who have come up since the war. Take
such men as Thurman. Has he given
one Of them a place. See John G. Thomp-
son, who kept the party's banner flying when
everybody else was in despair, put off with a
1000 ayear place-hardly a proper reward for
ward hummer tell you Cleveland won't have
any relish of the old guard about his admins
tration. He thinks our day is over and has
turned his face to the new men. We might
as we'll 60 heme, put our claims in the fire,
shoulder the party load again, and show these
boys how elections are carried, and victory"
"Damfdo" exclaimed the Hoosier.
''Nor T."
''Not Dy BANKED sight for me-"
''Tll see him in the revised first"
Then they all said they would leave the city
The Yankee was declared right