The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-11-11
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 1855.


tious were full of small sized miracles.
When President Cleveland first form
uIated his policy of civil service reform
you heard a good deal said about the
opposition it would meet wi h in the
North and the disposition of the South
ern people to approve it. Yet North
Carolina lets Representative Cox be
defeated in convention, and develops
a sudden fancy for ranti-demOcraticp pro-
clivities in her delegation. Kentucky
cuts Speaker Carlisle's vote down to a
mere shadow of it's former self, and
Virginia throws away her democratic
seats in Congress with recklessness.
On the other hand, Minnesota, the old
Republican stronghold, polls so close
a vote as to leave the issue in doubt for
a time. Massachusetts pushes Andrew
almost to the front, and New Hamp-
shire almost breaks her straight Re.
publican record in the House.
The news of Speaker Carlisle's posi-,
BILE defeat caused profound surprise
here. That of Mr.. Morrison did not
as it had been regarded among the
possibilities. He has always had a
more or less close contest, and his dis
trict is really Republican, although he
has repeatedly carried it by his per.
sonal popularity.
The question of who is likely to sue
ceed Mr.. Morrison as Chairman of the
Committee on Ways and Means is one
about which little definite idea can be
formed at present. Mr.. s 8. Cox will
require to be placed, and there is an
impression that somehow he may be
Mr.. MOrrison's successor. He has a
longer Congressional record than any
other Democrat in the House. and he
has been very prominent in the party.
Hardly anybody alludes to Mr.. Nor
rison but speaks of his conspicuous
honesty. When Morrison previous to
1880 was spoken of as possible canai
date for the Presidency, Gen. Eppa
Hunton, of Virginia, then a member
of the House, was said to have struck
the mark when he expressed the Opin
ion that if Morrison were made Pres
ident there would be more honesty
and less manners in the White House
than at any time since Gen. Jackson
lived there.
The President did not go home to
vote last Tuesday, but he sat in the
room adjoining the little telegraph
office ofthe White House that evening
and read the news direct from all parts
of the country rs fast as it came. OF
all the fiimsy reasons given why the
President did not go home to Buffalo,
probably the silliest explanation was
that he mid not wish to vote for q Ger.
tain Democratic candidate for Con-
gress in the Buffalo district, that gen.
tleman having made a speech some
time ago in which it is alleged he ex-
pressed lack of sympthy with the Ad
ministration. The whole thing about
which so much ado was made amounts
tn nothing, but will state one good
reason why he wss not there. He re
moved from the district some time ago
and although he is entitled to regis.
tration in Buffalo. is at present dis
franchised, like many other residents
of Washington.
L have from good authoriey that Mr.
Blaine believes that Mr.. Cleveland
will be re-Dominated in 1888, and that
he will be re elected That is why he
says he does not expect to be nomina
ted himself at that time, and why he
says he does not want to be. He has
said recently with great emphasis that
he would never accept the nomination
for the Presidency unless he felt GER
tain of election. He will work for
some good Blaine man, however in
the Republican convention of 1888,
and bide his time. He will keep him.
self before the country, as no one
knows better how to do than he, for
the nomination in 1892. Mr.. Blaine
will not be as old man, even then
as was Samuel j. Tilden when he was
elected in '76.
MIR. Blaine's recent attack in one OF
his campaign speeches. upon the civil
service reform record of the Admins
tration, came with very bad grace from
him. to say the least of it. He has a
number of relatives and friends in the
employ ment of the Government here,
some of whom are retained in their
places because of a desire to show cour-
tesy to the Presidents late opponent.
His private secretary draws salary at
the State Department while he is still
attending to Mr.. Blaine's business
here. His brother is still retained as
curator of the AgricultnralDepartment
museum, and his son retained in the
Court of Alabama claims until that
institution expired. l could cite other
dependents of his who are quartered
on the Government. Yet in the face
OF all this he has the effrontery to
abuse the Administration for turning
out efficient old clerks and putting
their friends in the places.
From the 10th of November until
after Congress meets, the President
will grant 10 more private interviews
TO visitors except such as call upon
business of actual public importance
Ills public duties are unusually oner
ous just now, and he must have time
to write his message To Congress. Ev
cry day at certain hours there is raid
upon the White House by those who
want to talk to the President before
this announcement goes into effect.
WHEN Dom Pedro, the Emperor Of
Brazil, visited Pittsburg and was
shown the palatial residences of the