New-York tribune., 1891-02-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
. SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS VIEWS OF MR.
CLEVELAND.

ELECTION TINE COMES-THE SECRETARY
SHIP OF THE TREAsURY-TIN MINES IN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS JOSEPH
E. JOHNSTON AND CEN
ERAL SHERMAN.
Washington, Feb 19.-I had an opportunity last
.rinr of hearing Southern Democratic view
- the political situation. The Southerner with
',hom talked has had great experience in pollti-
-, affairs He is one Of the best-kn0wn Southern
ION lie has lived in nearly every State i'll the
South. was closely identified with the Confederate
government at Richmond. and has since lived III
washington, where he las had intimate relations
With all of the leading public men Of the South lie
said
There is no one in the whole country whom
we dislike so much as NJ. Cleveland. We would
much rather see a Republican elected than he. The
South has 10 use for Mr. Cleveland. We do not
regard him as Democrat He is Mugwump
ont and out. We despise Mugwumps. They are
treacherous and untrue. A Mugwump is man
who will do anything in the name of reform.
never saw one who would hesitate to commit any
noliticaI crime to carry his ends We Southern
democrats aspire toward good government We
did not have good government under Cleveland
IT, was more OF a partisan sp0ils Administration
than was ever known in the history of this Gov
ernmeut Jackson and Marcy have passed into
history as the spoilsmen of this country, but
when the truth comes to be known concerning
Mr. Cleveland it will be that they were color
less weak characters by the side of him in this
regard. There never was time in the history
of this Government when there was such
an abuse of personal power by the President.
There was never time in the era of our Govern
...Lo .LS IaNfr fraN 1Q1u
in connection with the Administration. Instead
of Democratic simplicity, we were treated 10
aristocratc pretensions and displays hitherto un-
known in Washington. i know OF my own knowF
edge that in the history of no Democratic cam
paign was there more money spent than was spent
by the President and his friends to secure his re-
nomination. Money was spent like water in every
possible direction No President was ever so auto
cratic and so dcspotic If a Senator or Member
dared TO oppose him, he marked for punish
ment When his punishment followed, the whole
Mugwump press shriekcd and hOwlcd over the re-
buke given 10 another unworthy politician. This
man. who himself represented, to the uttcrmost
degree the spoils system, who used the patronage
under him as if it were his personal prop
erty. and who never looked at any question
except from his own personal point of view,
was held up by the hypocrites of politics as
the apostle of reform. There is no more. disgust
ing word in the language. Whatever you may
charge against us Southern people, we are not
bypocrites and Cleveland's name is odlous to us
from his being the epitOmc of everything hypo-
critical and pretentous." The same gentleman
said that the South, for many reasons would not
support Mr. Cleveland for the nomination. There
was one cause now beginning to operate which
would be an additional element against him. This
WAS in the movement Of the Farmers Alliance
throuehout the South The Farmers Alliance in
virginia has issued a call for special meetings.
At these special meetings it is proposed to make
unlimited free coinage of silver the issue IN the
coming campaign. The Farmers Alliance IN all
the Southern States will be pledged 10 free coin
age of silver, and will demand nominee who
shall be the unqualified advocate of the same
principle
If the Republicans had control of the Legislat-
IRE in Rhode Island, Senator Adrich would have
been appointed to succeed Secretary Window.
Then again, if there had not been detection IN
the ranks of the Republican Senators on the silver
question. the President would have insisted on
Offering the place TO Mr.. Aldrich, thinking that
the majority could afford TO spare him, on account
of the superor qualifications Of Mr.. Aidrich for
this most He is the man whom the President
wants TO appont. lie is sound on the money
question. The President has had other names
unon his list of possible selections. HIS hrst
choice has asrays been Mr.. Aldrich. lie has also
considered Senator Mcmillan, of Michigan. Bl'
there WAS the same objection there as in the case
of Mr.. Aldrich. The Democrats control the Legs
lo,ure there which would elect his successor
The President has also had in view two men iIoii
Ohio. Mr. Mckinley and eX-COngressman roster
They should be classed, however, SIMPLY as among
The rcmotcr possibilities Of the sltuauoh'
The new Secretary will have to be appointed
ord confirmed and must be at his post OF duty on
Tho last day of this month. AT the present mo-
mont there arc two possible solutions to the qucS-
,ion One is 10 promote Secretary Proctor 10 the
head of the Treasury Department and go OUTSIDE
for some one TO fiji the Sccrctaryship OF war lie
has made a splendid reputation since ne came 10
Washington. lie is considered to-day one oil Iic
strongest if not the strongest man In 'hc O""l"''
in point of administrative abih'y'
rbore is still another solution. General Nettlc-
ton. OF Michigan, who is to-day the ac'iha "e'i',
,arv is an able man. lie is thoroughly II accoi'
with Mr.. Windows policy, and would carF% O''
49,; ,oIicv ,,ithout change or deviation. lie las
,,,oa. doc;siop Of character and much more than
ordinary executive ability. lie transacts bcsihes'
roridl,, and without fuss. lie has thoroughly the
oonrdonce Of the President. If he were Dcttcr
known to the public his selection "ou" oe pio''
able. The President knows that ne co"i" '"i1 y
ON the Treasury under General Net'ie'oh DO VIZ
~ a,.ar,- IVindom were alive Senator
Sroorer has been mentioned from time 10 tlHie'
hut the President is reluctant TO take TWO 'apl"''
o.. from, the same State. The probability To-
da, &, thot either Secretary Proctor will be chosen
a,no one outside the present list Of those
eligible.
General Murray, former Governor of ''ah' 20"
. r.s;don, 90 Son DIEGO, Cal, has received an IN
tercstins letter from friend of his George 'eaucS
This letter is good answer 10 some o' 'De ''s'
men,s made against the tin-plate provision ol VIZ W
Mckinley bill. II shows that the uh ih""S'i ~