The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-02-28
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

ton is to be hardly less troubled
than that of President Garfield.
The two administrations promise to
be in strong contrast in some re-
spects, though with certain points OF
similarity. Gen. Garfield was
member of the Golden Club and an
advanced tariff reformer. The coun~
try still remembers his declaration
that he was "for protection only as
step toward free trade"
Gen Harrison, on the other hand,
is for protection forever, believing
in his heart that it is the foreigner,
not the American consumer, that
pays the tariff tax on imports.
This circumstance of itself and alone
marks the width of the interval be-
tween the two men. They are as
much unlike, in fact, IN intellec-
tual character and training as two
Western statesmen could well be.
AS respects the civil-service reform.
the Hoosier President promises to
occupy better position than the
Ohioan. Gen. Garfield's call upon
Brady during the campaign to know
chow the departments are doing" in
the HAtter of campaign contributions
is still fresh in the mind of Demo-
cratic civil-service reformers. Both
carried Indiana with money, but
with widely different amounts and
with plans of management wholly
unlike. 1t was "soap" in the form
of "crisp two dollar bills" accord
ing to the famous speech of Gen.
Arthur at a memorable New York
banquet that carried Indiana in 1880,
whereas in 1888 it was skilled man
agement of ''foaters in blocks of
FIVE" aided by lavish use of sums
ranging from S. to s25, that decid-
ed the issue.
The points of resemblance, how
ever, between the two administra-
tons promise to be more numerous
and striking than the contrasts. Mr..
Blaine figures as the premier of both,
and in the one, as in the other, is to
exercise those talents of intrigue
which disquieted his party so great
ly eight years ago. The feud be-
tween Garfield and Conklin was
kindled by Mr.. Blaine's interfer-
once in the distribution of New
York patronage. The New York
custom-house was given to the
wrong mana politician devoted
to Mr.. Blaine's fortunes-wifh the
result that Conklin and Plat resign
ed from the Senate in disgust. The
wounds then opened in the party
have hardly healed to this day, and
it is not a good omen for the new
administration that it has to face
the possible opposition of one of the
two Senators who gave the last Re
publican administration so much
trouble in 1881.
Mr.. Plat occupies a vastly strong
er position in New York politics
now than then, being to-day the
undisputed boss of the Republican
party in the Empire State. He
has been an aspirant for a place in
Mr.. Harrisoa's cabinet, and if SER
vices during the campaign were to
be considered, his claim was I'M
doubtedly better than that of Wan
amaker. The later's money inau-
enced probably as many as eight or
ten thousand votes, and thus gave
victory to failing cause, but one
word from Mr.. Plat would have
caused twice ten thousand voters to
have knitted the head of the ticket.
The refusal to Mr.. Plat of cab
met position now will probably look
to him like base ingratitude, second
only to that of Garfield to Conkling
and himself in 1881. Blaine, his
svil genius, and Window, a New
Yorker, virtually, are taken intothe
new Presidents official family, while
he, who holds New York in his
hand and more than any one person
made Mr.. Harrison successful, is
excluded From the politicians
point of view this is preposterous
arrangement. Mr.. Plat will be
wholly unlike himself, therefore, if
he does not attempt in some way to
ftget even." Entire control of the
enormous spoils of New York might,
perhaps, solace his blasted ambition,
but that would spoil the cherished
plans Of other politicians and stir
up q host of other enemies.
Whichever way we look, trouble
nnems tn he imnondinO. Sunnosinr