The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-01-26
RALEIGH ~ c., THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 1885

|
long. He has no health there, saves no
money, and has no enjoyment, and under
| such circumstances of course he will come
back AS he is a known politician by
| trade Il do not use this word in the gen
orally accepted sense, but in the high sense
in which call such men as Bayard, Vance,
Cox and Ransom politicians), of course, if
he comes back, he will want something
Everybody knows that; and nobody better
than these North Carolina Washingtonians.
What does he want9 is their inquiry
do not suppose anybody doubts that
Gov. Jarvis would like to succeed Ger
Ransom. 1t is nothing to his discredit that
he has this honorable and high ambition
But Jarvis will not say he wants it unless
he thinks he can succeed. He is too long
headed a politician for that.
His recent letter to the Wilmington Mes
senger is interpreted to mean that he is
willing to be candidate for Governor. If
he makes the race he will be strong COM
| pettor of Messrs Steadman, Clark, Holt
and the other gentlemen who are aspiring
to gubernatorlal honors. They say-and
their friends join them-that they have
supported Mr.. Jarvis and his administra-
ton through two terms and that he ought
| not again to offer for the place. That
sounds we'll, but we all know that men
who want public places do not wait long
on their friends and former supporters
The rule in political life is usually: every
man for himself; the devil take the hind
most"
A prominent North Carolinian here, who
knows about as much about North Carolina
politics as any man here, told me yester-
day that it was his opinion that the strong
est man for Governor had not yet been
named, and that he himself had not de-
clded what his own opinion was. He hopes
that before the convention is held there
will be such crystalization of sentiment
around some available and strong man as
to insure his triumphant election. We all
! hope that.
The next political topic of greatest in
terest is the Fourth District The man
| john nichols-who now sits in the seat be-
| longing TO the Fourth District will not, of
course, get enough votes to return. 1t has
as many able men in it as any other dis
trict in the State, and one of them ought
| to represent it. l was asked who would
succeed Cox-for the present occupant
don't amount 70 enough to be counted.
| Again, didn't know and said so.
| Every Congressman here wants to sue
| oeed himself and is anxious to make
! good record-and so far as records will 90
/ to securing a denomination every Demo-
crat here has a good one. Our men are
| safe, valuable and faithful men. Most of
them are here either for the first or second
term, and have not been in harness long
enough to make reputation outside of the
| Halls and in their own State. This is a
hard place for any man to make reputa-
ton. There is usually but one way to do
it: That is to work faithfully and steadi-
| ly. Nothing else will tell. Brilliant speech
es count for naught until a reputation has
been won. 1t is a knowledge of details
and careful looking after business, and
long service that gives man position in
Congress. North Carolina has no mem
ber who has been here as long as six years,
and therefore has no member who is re-
garded as leader in the House
But outside of North Carolina circles,
l hear little or nothing of North Carolina
politics. nor read nothing about them in
the papers Our State is not talked of
much by outsiders, most of whom think of
it as some one has said, North Carolina
is strip of land between Virginia and
South Carolina" One leading Southern
Senator did ask me if it could be possible
that North Carolina would retire Ransom.
He expressed great admiration for our
Senior Senator, and said he hoped North
Carolina would not be guilty Of the folly
of retiring so useful and valuable a man
for the Senate for any new or untried man
didn't answer his question-for, having
started out on the ''know nothing" plat
form l intended to stand upon it to the
end so far as politics and political changes
in North Carolina are concerned.
North Carolina is regarded as certain
for Cleveland by all who ''fgger" on poll
ties. But they know so little of Nortf
, Carolina or North Carolina affairs tha
, any calculation they make is based onl,
on what has been. In this they remine
, me of the Moore county uegro-as strons
Calvinist as John Calvin ever was-whos,
prayer was, go, Lord, what's been, ha
been; what is, is; what's gwne to be il
gwine to be-" They don't know. In fac
the ignorance about North Carolina il
every respect is appalling and humiliating
for it is partially our own fault. But o
: this more anon. J. D.
Z Can Chatham Beat This!