Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-04-24
TWO REPUBLICAN STATESMEN.

Recent declarations from Senator
John Sherman, Of Ohio, and Rep
resentative William Walter Phelps,
OF New Jersey, made at different
times and places, are singularly
wise and conservative. They are
also commendable for fairness.
They do not permit their vigorous
partnership to lead them into cap
tiOus criticism Of the administra-
ton, but freely give it credit for
much good work and excellent
intentions. They are all tho more
deserving of praise as Republican
leaders, because they justly esti-
mate the power of their opponents.
In a recent issue of the HERALD
we reprinted Mr.. Phelps views in
full, as eKpressed:to a journalist in
that singularly graphic and strik-
ing style for which Mr.. Phelps is
distinguished. He was elected
last fall by the largest majority he
has ever received, and will be the
Republican leader in the House Of
Representatives next winter. He
is much the most accomplished
member of the House and enjoys
universal popularity. With South
ern members especially he is q
favorte. Mr.. Phelps is an init
mate friend of Mr.. Blaine, and
would probably have been Secre-
tary of State had Blaine been
elected. Intensely American in
feeling, he is also an ardent protec-
zionist, and lives in a district
which has grown enormously
wealthy through the policy of pro-
lection. Both Mr.. Phelps and Mr.
Sherman are convinced that the
country will inevitably and speedi-
" return to its long maintained
preference for Republican princi.
pies and Republican rule. Mr..
Phelps advances the striking view
that inasmuch as the Cleveland
administration seeks to commend
itself to public favor only by
adopting Republican policies and
methods, the Democratic leaders
and a majority of the masses of the
Democracy must become offended.
On the other hand he thinks that
the recalcitrant Republican Of the
last campaign, who would not vote
for Blaine, will conclude that after
all, the Republican party Is better
qualified to carry out Republican
principles than Democrats I'M
trsined to sympathy with them,
and until lately the violent &C.
cusers of Republicanism and itS
leaders.
With some notifications Mr.
Phelps views are probably correct
A reaction in behalf of the Re-
publican party is quite as probable
as any long.sustained confidence
in an administration beleaguered
with difficulties like those that
environ the Cleveland administra
ton. How serious those Difficult
ties may be cannot be revealed
until the administration shall still
more broadly and boldly assert III
policy and purposes. Up to date
its action has been merely tentative
1t is evidently feeling the popular
pulse; it has done nothing agrees
i've and has not yet challenged thu
Republican fire, though it has
brought upon itself good deal o
, visible wrath from its own party
Still it is hardly evident yet, al
Mr.. Phelps seems tointimate is thu
case, that Democratic dissenslon'
have reached the stage of ripenes'
that would threaten an early ant
violent break between the admin
istraton and the masses of th'
, Democracy.
The recent elections we're in thu
main, considering all the circum
stances, encouraging to the Re
publcans. Still they met a dis
, aster in Michigan and in Mr.. Phelps
own state of New Jersey the cleo
tions prove that Democratic dis
content there is not widespread, OF
that it is more than counterbal
anced by Independent accessions
1t may be that, as with Tilden il
New York, Cleveland will prove
stronger with his own party aftel
neglecting and disregarding it;
leaders. Against this it may b.
we'll said that Cleveland is not
Tilden, nor are the leaders of thu
f Democratic organization of to.da,
as vulnerable and short.sighted q
2 were those Of ten years ago.