Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-05-22
CREAM OF CURRENT COMMENT At THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Compiled for the Hrn,LD)


WASHINGTON, DC. May 20, 50.
Save among aspirants for Office
under the Cleveland administra-
ton, these are indeed piping times
of peace here. I'm fact we have
little to do now but calculate the
number and violence of the breakes
ahead of the President. 1t was
remark of Mr.. Calhoun that aneces.
sarily unpopular period Of an ad-
ministratiOn was its first three
months, the trial being imposed by
the distribution of patronage. The
Cleveland administration is gong
through this experience prescribed
by Mr.. Calhoun. Discomfort is al
most universal among Democrats,
and except among the Bread and
Butter Brigade by which classi-
fication are known all who hold or
seek Office as q means of living,
complaint and criticism Of the
powers that be are heard on all
sides among the Democrats. For
a long timo selfish interests usually
dictate to leaders of a party so
embarrassed by its first possession
of a power in a long period, the
suppression Of factiOnal contrO.
versy. Ordinarily leaders would
avoid collisions if possible. But
Democratic discords and dssen.
sions are apparently irreprevible.
A look ahead reveals the serious
troubles in store for the administra-
ton within a twelve.month. The
Democratic majority in the House
of Representatives next winter will
be about one half OF what it was in
tho late Congress. If the policy
pursued thus far IN regard to pa
tronage be continued, it is certain
that the Administration will meet
with a very lukewarm support
among the Democratic members,
and may encounter very decided
opposition.
Besides the offices, there are
other questions likely to create an
tagonism with the President, and
to disturb the harmony of the ma.
jority. Mr.. Cleveland's letter in
regard to silver coinage excited
very Ii ostile feeling at the close of
the last session. II his opinions
on that subject had been known be-
fore the meeting Of the Chicago
Convention, he could not have
been nominated.
This subject, though passed over
in the inaugural address, will be
presented in the regular message
next December. 1t will certainly
lead to an angry discussion, and t
may provoke an open rupture with
the Administration, unless Mr..
Reagan and Others associated with
him modify the strong conclusions
they expressed few weeks ago.
-
The tariff is still n stumbling
block to Democratic unity. Dir.
Morrison is pledged to renew the
contest, and the defeat of his Sen
atOrial aspirations IN Illinois will
encourage his ambition to figure
as a leader on this question.
Whether he will have the power to
lead will necessarily depend on the
election of the Speaker. Should
Mr.. Carlisle be again chosen, NJ.
Morrison would doubtless have the
Craftsmanship Of the Committee Oh
Ways and Means. If Mr.. Randall
should be elected, he would be as.
signed to another place in the
natural order of a change IN the
organization Of the House.
The outlook for the new Admin
istratiOn with these breakers ahead
is not cheerful. 1t remains to be
seen whether the policy of the
President will attract a sufficient
following from tho Independent
Republicans to compensate for a
threatened dIsaflection in the
Democratic ranks. 1t is the pro-
blem of last November in New York
applied on a national scale.
~
The rural Democrat who went to