The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-11
a LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Nov. s, 1896

w AohlN0lONy NV ., ACJO.
To the Editor of the Eagle
Whew? What land slide it was. You
can hear nothing else but election talk
here just now. The Democrats are
naturally loud in their demonstrations of
Joy, for to tell the truth they are even
more astonished at the result than are
the Republicans. They expected to win
the house by small majority, but their
most sanguine rainbow chaser had no
idea of the tidal wave that went their
way. OF course, there are now plenty
of Democrats who with a straight face
will tell you that they expected the result
to be just what it was, but they didn't
al the same. The Republicans attempt
to make the best of a bad thing by talk
ing of ''Off year." ''usual result" sal
ways to be expected, ETC., but they can
not hide the effect of their fright-you
can see it in their faces. The best in
formed among them expected to lose the
house by small majority, but the man
who would have told them Monday night
what the result would really be would
have been considered by them fit sub
iect for the insane asylum.
What makes the Republicans take
their severe drubbing SO much to heart
is that they themselves are responsible
for having stated early in the fight that
this was national campaign and that
its result would show whether the peo-
pie condemned or approved of the adj
ministration and the Republican major
ity in congress. Now the Democrats
are guying them numerically and re-
minding them of all their foolish talk
about the national campaign.
There is one Republican who, if ap-
pearances indicate his feelings, is not
cast down by the result of the elections
that is Secretary Blaine. l saw him
this morning and he was in the very best
of ehumOr, and / am told that he re-
marked TO friend that it was no more
than he expected. Two things which
We're potent Issues in the fight just ended
the Mckinley tariff law and the Fed
eral election biil--both of which proved
to be heavy burdens to the Republican
party, were opposed by Mr.. Blaine, and
the knowledge of this is probably what
makes that gentleman so good natured
in the face of the defeat of his party. The
fact that his rival, Speaker Reed,
strongly favored these measures has not
been forgotten by Mr.. Blaine.
Mr.. Harrison has taken the result very
much to heart, as owing to the reports
of Mr.. J. S. Clarkson, who was assisting
the congressional committee, he had be
come convinced that his party would re-
tain their Control of the house. Mr..
4 flar L-crar a. hC
suit was known, ostensibly for his health.
but it is probable that he was very glad
10 get away from the explanations he
would have been asked TO make. II is
not now thought that Dir. ClarksOn
would hrve the slightert show for a cabi-
net position even IL there were half
dozen vacancies.
Victory has Its troubles too. Already
there are evidences that the tight among
the Democrats for the speakership Of the
next house is to be long, stubborn, and
bitter. At the start there are half a
dozen candidates. Mr. Mills thinks the
removal Of Mr. Carlisle to the senate and
the death of Messrs. Randall and
Cox gives him a mortgage on the
Speakership, but his claims VIII he
holly disputed BY those who believe
themselves better qualified to WELD toe
speakers eavel than the Texan; among
them are Sir. Crisp, OF Georgia who /.
proved himself an able parliamentarian
during the last session.: Mr.. Mcmillan, Of
Tennessee. a prominent member Of the (
WAYS and means committee; Mr.. Bynum,
Of Indiana. who obtained national re- /
putation BY being censured BY vote OF /
the Republicans OF the house for his 1
abuse Of Speaker Reed: Mr.. Springer. Of 4
Illinois. who often adorned the speaker's I
chair when Mr. Carlisle Was SPEAKER and 4
Of Kentucky, who y per 4
-onally one of the most popular men VINO .
ever served IN congress. /!