The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-11-14
Washington Letter.
n our regular correspondent.

~ 1LetEGEs
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 1888.
Mr.. Cleveland has been defeated,
but under such circumstances that
the Republican party as an organi-
cation has really no right to claim
credit for the victory, although the
result places its candidate in the
White House for four years. Mr.
Cleveland has been sacrificed to
crafty the personal malice of May
or Abraham S. Hewitt and to salts
~ the greed of a gang of corrupt
local politicians in New York city
1t is a reproach to our country that
such thing could have been possi-
ble, and it will remain IA reproach
as long as the vote of New York
city can control the Presidential ell
ection. Few people here however,
believe that Gov. Hill, of New
York, did not do his best to re-elcct
Mr.. Cleveland Col. Lamont, who
doubtless reflects the sentiments of
Mr.. Cleveland on this subject, says
that he is fully satisfied that Gov.
Hill has done all that he possibly
could for the national ticket, and
that the votes he got that Cleveland
did not get, were from the republi--
can liquor interests, and could not
have been controlled by anyone.
Mr.. Cleveland has so conducted
himself since the election as to win
the admiration of everybody, re
publicans as well as democrats. He
is disappointed, ofcourse. He would
not be human if he was not under
the circumstances, but he hides it
well. On Wednesday, with the
streets full of .iubilant, yelling re-
publieans, and a battery of artillery
in the park just in rear of the White
House firing salute to celebrate
Harrison's election, Mr.. Cleveland
was holding his usual public recep-
ton, and quietly shaking hands with
the large crowd in attendance, and
exchanging smiles and pleasant
words with each one. Most mon
would have splked for some time
after the election.
There is a great diversity of opin--
ion among Democratic officials as to-
the cause of the defeat. For in
stance; Secretary Whitney says that
the loss of New York was caused by
the fact that the wokingmen had
not been properly educated as to
the tariff. Yhe question was not
presented TO them IN the right man
ner, and they were made to believe
the Democrats were free traders
instead of tariff reductionists. JUS
tiee Lamar is of the opinion that
the tariff had nothing whatever to
do with the result. Representative
Foran, fresh from an interview with
Z the President, said: / am not good
en- Possmortem. can diagnose the
ease, but there my skill ends, Tar
If and Civil Service reform did it.
Civil Service little and Tariff
great deal. The President was en-
tirely right in all that he did, but
he was right to soon. The time was
no yet ready. But the manufac-
turers have refused small reduc-
ton. The result will be that there
will be an upraising of the taxed
people and they will be cut deep.
Everybody confesses, that there
must be tariff revision. The Dom
ocrstic party will be stronger than
ever four years hence. There will
be reaction from this intense sell
fshness. Representative Taulbee
feels confident that the responsible
ity now given the Republicans will
eventually prove their destruction
And thus it goes on. Columns
might be filled with the different
opinions but it is unnecessary.
Mr.. Cleveland, in talking of the
election, admits that his tariff mes
sage may have lost him a good
many votes, enough probably to
have caused his defeat, but he still
maintains. with courage that does
him honor, that if he had the whole
business to do over again, he would
not change his course in.regard to,
the tariff question by hairs
brea,,thi US What he did wac the re-