Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-04-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Wdshin0tOn ADrI Ist.

Washington, AprH Ist.
The rejection of Murat Halstead's
nomination was the conclusion of the
most bitter internal struggle of the
republican party in the senate that
has occurred in years. On Thursday
the opposition was fundly hoped to
have ended with Messrs. Teller, Far
well, Plumb, Cullom ard Ingalls,, but
on Saturday it was ascertained that
half the republicans had been whipped
into line on the question, and that
several were inclined to kick over the
traces. Senator Evarts made an es-
pecially strong speech, stating that a
man hasty enough to attack the lead
ers of his party in sudden heat of
temper was too hasty FOR a diplomat.
Senator Blackburn, probably more
or less influenced by Henry Waiter
son, strongly urged upon the senate
the folly of attempting a censorship
of the press and spoke of Mr.. Hal
stead as chivalrous enemy. So far
from moving the opposition, his elo-
quence received the same polite at
tention that is accorded the tender
foot who is appointed to speak in de-
fense of red handed horse thief as
preliminary to lynching in Arizo-
ma. 1t might even be said that Sen
ator Blackburn's speech intensified
the opposition.
1t was attempted, of course, to Sc
cure enough democratic votes to over
come the opposing republicans. This
plan miscarried, owing to Senator
Payne's vigorous kicking, and was a
dangerous plan at best, owing to the
fact that any interference in such
matters by men of another party than
that in power always results in con-
solidating the opposition.
Among the things alluded to by
Mr.. Teller in his speech of Friday
against Mr.. Halstead was the letter
written by the doughty editor in 1868
to Secretary Chase, criticising Presi-
dent Lincoln and General Grant.
This incident was fortunate for the
-Halstead people, as it gave an
other excuse to add to the action of
Mr.. Halstead in attacking the repub-
lican members of the election commit
tee in dropping the Payne investiga-
ton several years ago.
How the president is affected by
the rejection is rather in doubt.
Whether or not he feels anything
more than annoyance in having been
unfortunate enough to nominate a
candidate who could not be confirm
ed is not known. Certain it is that !
he must recognize the right of the
senators TO vote for rejection on per-
sonal grounds, and that every year it
grows more and more difficult to per-
outetC cSiolaIOi . vi tiiC ADMINISTRATOR
party that the president is infallible.
1t is known that on Thursday the
friends of Mr.. Halstead were urged |
by the president to allow him to with
draw the name. This they and their
leader declined to do, saying that he
had not sought the office, but being
in tie fight would battle to the end.
How the rejection strikes Mr. Hal
stead personally it is difficult to dis
cover from his friends. They are !
certainly talking on stills when they |
say it will be greatly to his glory, 1t |
will not. For a few months Ohio |
journals and those of adjacent states
will make frequent reference to the |
matter. Henry Watterson will rage |
in the Courier Journal and democrat |
ic support will make the gallant mar
shal personally unsavory to the bitter
republicans in the northern part of
his state. Ohio is poor place to be
praised by your enemies; your friends
don't like it.
Mr.. .Halstcad comes out of the fight
with flying colors in the regard that
the most biting and vindictive debate
could discover in him no violation of
personal honor OF private integrity
and no charge of mental unlitness
could be supported. Mr.. Halstead
merely finds himself in the position
of an editor who has spoken so plainly
at times that the memory rankled in
his victims years after, and the gall
and wormwood was treasured up and
finally vented on him. After all is
said,i is magnificent advertisement
of the "Cincinnati Commercial for
1889.
IL