The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-12
SENATOR EUsTIs.
Remarkable Conversation Between the Pres
ident and the Louisianian.

SENATOR EUsTIs.
Remarkable Conversation Between the Pres
ident and the Louisianian.
Washington Special to Louisville Courier journal.
The fact that Senator Eustis was at the White
House last Friday night and had lengthy pri-
vate interview with the President has been al
luded to in the public prints. Certain state
ments purely conjectural, however. have also
been made of the nature of the interview
Under the circumstances, it seems best to give
the facts as they actually occurred. They are
creditable to both parties concerned, and full OF
promise and significance. On Wednesday after
noon, March 3. correspondent who is known
to be warm personal friend of Senator Eustis
called at the executive mansion and was admit
ted to the Presidents study. In the converse
ton that ensued, and which related chiefly to
the controversy between the President and the
Senate and to the Presidents message which had
just seen sent in. the correspondent made some
allusion to comment thereon by Senator Eustis
The reference was purely accidental Ithad not
been provoked by anything the President said,
nor was it made with any idea of leading up to
the result which ensusd. 1t had the effect, how
ever, of bringing Senator Eustis into the CONVEX
sation, and elected from the President these re-
markable words:
'sWhy does not Senator Eustis come to see
met l have not the slightest ill-wll against
him, nor can | suppose that he has any against
me- My duties here take me out of myself.
They leave me no time, even if had the in
clination to harbor personal resentments. l am
trying to give the people clean, and honest
and able government, and to this end want the
co operation of all clean, and able. and honest
nap,n <n1t oknpE fic hak
shall be glad to see and confer with him, and
hear his views
Is was spoken as by a man who rose above
trivial considerations who thought not of him
SELF but of the people, and the administration.
and the Democracy, and Senator Eustis met it
in the same lofty spirit. He promptly declared
his desire to call upon the President. and on
Friday evening, accompanied by the CORE
spondent, went to the White House, whore he
was cordially received by the President The
conversation between them lasted about an hour,
perhaps a trife more, and was perfectly frank
and earnest on both sides. Senator Eustis gave
his views as to the situation with reference to
| the Senate. and explained at length his idea of
its real significance and purport. He told the
President that in his opinion, the Republican
Senators using the controversy to rivet
the attention of the people, so as to secure
the fullest possible audience for certain
disclosures they hoped to bring about, rejecting
on the character of some of his nominees, and
that they were concerned very little, if at ALL
about the papers they had called on him to pro-
duce. He said it would be fatally unfortunate if
the Republicans should be able to establish Sc
rious charges against any considerable number
of the Presidents appointees.
The President quickly said: IF it be true
that any of my appointees is unworthy hope he
will be rejected. 1t is the Senates function to
see to this. The Senators are my coadjutors
and advisers; they cannot be too exacting for my
taste. want no improper mon in Office"
Very true" responded Eusts. IF the mat
ter ended with the rejection of the bad and the
substitution of a good one, there would be salts
faction all around Nobody imagines that you
desire any other consummation. But, Mr.. Pres
ident, do you not see the political aspect of this
matter, its bearing on the administration and
the party? The lessor the Republican Senators
will seek to establish is not that of your ac
quiescence ia the rejection of bad man, but
that of your having appointed this bad man in
the first place. They will make the point that
your administration has been unequal to its re-
sponsbilities; that it is under reckless vicious
influences, and in support of this will bring for
ward the list of defeated nominees, with the
charges made and sustained against their COM
potency, fitness and moral characters and then
ask the country to remember that but for the
Republican Senate's Intervention these men
would have been holding Office under Demo
cratic administration
The President nodded. but said nothing
"It is not d question" continued Eustis, 'sof
whether you have knowingly appointed bad men
No intelligent observer of political events be-
ieves or can be made to believe the slightest
charge against the perfect integrity of your
motives. The question is whether the Demo
cratic party afford to go before the people in
the approaching congressional election with the
record of having produced SO much rejected ma
terial"
II don't see how that Is to be prevented nown
1.-THE record can be forestalled. The names
of appointees as to whose fitness there is any
doubt can be withdrawn. Every man whose
presence in the government is source of criti-
cism and suspicion can be eliminated"
Would you do that?'
81 would. From the highest to the lowest
would lop off every branch that threatened the
health and vitality Of the Democracy"
This was in effect the substance Of the con-
versation. Every word that was spoken
breathed the sincerest interest in the success of
the Democratic administration. At the close
the President shook hands warmly with Senator
Eustis, and thanked him for the candor with
which he had spoken. While giving no intilna-
ton of an acceptance of Senator Eustiss view of
the situation. he said nothing to indicate the
contrary. They parted good friends, each evil
IDENTIFY convinced of the others purity of motive