New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-31
CONNECTICUT POLITICS.
A BOSTON VIEW OF THE SITUATION.
SOME OF THE QUEER DrSGs" THAT ARE GOING on
IN TIE NUTMEG STATE.


BosToN. Oct 20" Queer dinge, desc b0tics
said Baron Schlegel. The Baron was German
philosopher and thinker. descended FROM we'll
don't know precisely what or where. only that hs
descended lie sold beer, wore spectaces carried
merry countenance aud large stomach and was the
leading m IN in his ward New-Iiaven, Conn, was
the scene of his labors. and 1T was there that he
| uttered the above-quoted sagacions remark which
has since passed into proverb 1t is remembered
because IA Judge Storrs said of the misprnt 1t is
80 trne. Henry"
Politics in Connecticut this year, 30 far as the
Democratic party is concerned, are indeed queer
dings" At least they look so to man MP tree ::
that is to q person who used to know something
about them but now looks at them IN disnter-
ested curious way from the border. Demo-
cratic politics in Connecticut were always more or
less confusing they varied so in different localities
They were one thing in stonington and quite.a
different in Salisbury. They meant free trade IN
| one place. in another protection; in one hard
money in another soft; in one Civil Service
reform I'm another spoils for the victOrs And vet
| the party always pulled together as though they
| really agreed about something and had common
| purpose. This year tho middle seems worse than
| ever the whole business more than ever game of
cross purposes but there's no outward sign of
difference among them. David A. Wells, Free
Trader. is working in harness with William H.
Barnum. Protectionst; Alfred Z. Burr, honest
money man, with Collector Troupe Greenbacker;
and all the Civil Service RefOrmers of the party
some of whom no doubt honest. are hand-in-
glove with the ontspoken spoilsmen, who are un-
ouestionaby sincere. "Queer dings,n says the
Raron.
read the other day in Boston paper a sort OF
pronuncamento issued by number of distin-
guished Mug wumps-all Mugwumps are moro or
less distnguished-an | confess to sort of
sympathy with Mugwumps generally. for | Mug
wumped little myself some fourteen years ago -
and gave the word currency about twenty years
ago. though that and the h0rse-car poetry are
generally credited to somebody else-alas and alas
Ash was saying. read in this pronunciamento
that the distinguished Mugwumps proposed to vote
the Democratic ticket this year because they were
In favor OF free trade and enthusiastic sup
porters of the present Administration the score
of its manly stand in favor of Civil Service reform.
And then | read in Connecticut paper that the
Democrats of the lvth District of that State had
refused denomination to EdwardlW. Seymour
who has represented them so .creditably in Con-
gress for two terms as to win the cordial esteem of
all parties Because why Because he voted for
the Morrison bill and because he was such q
practical believer in Civil Service reform as TO
refuse to urge sweeping removals from Office to
make places for Democratic partsans. "Queer
dings"
Then read that the Democrats of the Hartford
District ,having nominated a candidate for Con-
gress on a platform which. in Notwithstanding
way, squinted toward what they call revenue
REFORM" the candidate declined the nomination for
the simple reason that the platform had this squnt
whereupon the convention redssembled, rescinded
the obnoxious resolution and nominated the same
al. 4
scribe to anything that hal the smell of free trade
about it.
in the Hid District as we'll as the Ist their con-
ventlOn had to try ice before getting a candidate
who would stand. The notable thing abOut this
convention, however, its persistent refusal to
nominate General James b. Colt. a soldier OF credit
able record who bears honorable wounds received
in the service and who was entirely willing to
accept the barren honor The party in that district
makes loud professions of regard for the soldiers,
but General Colt, the most distinguished soldier
among them, has waited in vain twenty years for
any recognition of his claims. And it cannot n.
said they have not been persistcnUy pressed. Their
first nominee was wealthy gentleman named
Marlor. Being prudent investor he declined and
the convention, again giving General Colt the cold
shoulder, selected another gentleman of wealth
whose name escapes me- bnt to whom. presume,
the transtory honor of running is sufficient COM
pensaion Tor the OUTLAY. This being the home of
Mr.. David A. Wells, one would suppose that his
own party-the party which our Boston Mugwumps
have gone over to because of its free-tradc prn-
ciples-might have passed little-just little |
two-for-a- cent free-trade resolution. courageous
adhercnt of Mr.. Wells did try to inject little one
into the platform. lie might as well have proposed
prohibition resolution in a liquor dealers con-
vention. They howled him dow ont of hand.
" Oueer dngs desc bOtIcs." Mr. Wells
I{u. tlp II.
ton Tor Governor There must he a great many
Democrats in Connecticut whose feelings this
remark once made by Cleveland himself in n
balcony speech after Democratic victory. II
thank God that never expected to live to this
day." SO "CleNe" Is actually running for Gov
ernor! Well, the Democrats might have done
worse. Now don't rise up everybody and all sneak
AT once ana say " How r. say think they mipht
but | don't know how" | am expressing an
opinion; not answering conundrums. | am not
certain that | would not like 10 "Clcvc"
elected. don't live in Connecticut and it couldn't
make much difference with me- And he is such
delicious old humbug 1t seems to me it would be
rather amusing spectacle. 1t makes me laugh to
think of il. / had the happiness of somewhat
intimate acquaintance with hin from $50 to 1866.
and he Afforded me great deal of fun during thar
period. There WAS never politician IN Con-
nccticut of whom 81 many funny things were told.
lie is remembered,ch in that connection. Asa
he is beyond all question "A success
l read his letter OF acceptance the other day, and
il occurred to inc that of all the funny things he
ever said or did, that was the funniest.
have not the document by me- but remember
he took uncommonly high ground on bribery an
nonncing with emphasis that if he should be
elected 1t would be by unLought votes Well
You bet il there are any votes bought it won't be
With his money. He never that. And il !
ought in justice TO be said that in somewhat
notorious case several years ago. in VIII ch he was
charged with receiving money TO he used in cor /
ruptlng members of Congress. public opinion | :
finally exoncrated him from hav ng used it in tnat
way My impression is that nobody ever found
)ut how he did use il. The only reason for doubt
ng that he put it in his pocket that he sad 80
himself. I
cannot get over the notion that the nomination /
: supendous loke. Ii seems so incredible that ,
erons- minded men like Alfred T.. Burr ex Senator !
Eaton, David A. Wells. Professor Sumner ana
others should entertain the idea for moment of I
making Cieve Governor of the State | am told t
hat his nomination was brought about by the r
Knights Of Labor. That may account for IT. Pos
Iby they believe in him. If 80 it only shows how
asy it is TO fool men who fresh in politics and