The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-18
NOTES BY THE WAY SIDE.

washington is Une pOllIlcal ceHGro OF
his country, from which emnaate in
luences that shape and direct political !
events. At this time there is stir and |
motion in party circles, which have more |
Or less of pregnant concern in them for
5he contending organizations. The pos
tive announcement Of Mr.. Blaine has
sim plifed the position of the Repubi |
can party, and reduces to a reasonable |
certainty the nomination of President
Harrison as the Republican standard
bearer in 1892. An expression of spo-
radio sentiment for this or that promi
nent Republican in connection with the
Minneapolis Convention is occasionally
heard, but it does not carry with it
either confidence or sincerity. Tile
sober, intelligent Judgment prevalent IS
that Mr.. Harrison's will be the only
name presented to that body, and that
his nomination will be by acclamation.
His administration has been able, con
sentative and succt ssful TINS far, and
the President himself has grown in pub
lie estim ltion in a very remarkable de-
gree. No one, whose opinion is iinpar>
tial and worth considering, withholds
from him the praise he so richly deserves
and who does not accord to him the
qualities that make up the statemaD, in
an eminent measure He has more than
met the expectations of his most ardent
friends, and has drawn from those who
have emo personal partiality for him
the concession that his administration
compares favorably with that of any of
his predecessors. 1t is admitted in all
circles that ne has handled all the guess
tions, both domestic and foreign, which
have come up for consideration, with
consummate skill iand ability, and that
the character of the government has not
only suffered no detriment, but its dig
nifty and interests have been maintained
with signal jealousy and honor For
his party not to endorse him by re-
nomination would be construed as an
indirect condemnation of that which
every Republican approves, except pos
sibly in the distribution of patronage.
And thus he has been remarkably free
from hostile criticism. AS a rule his
appointments have been judicious, and
secured to the Government efficient and
reputable agents. Of course, where so
many offices had to be filled, some mis-
takes could not well be avoided The
President is not presumed fo'know each
applicant~pers onally, and his qualifica-
tions for the position he may seek. He
has to depend, in many instances and in
agreat measure upon the representations
of others, and not to be deceived in some
cases, resulting in questionable selections,
would be rem arkable and unprecedent-
ed. Detection from this source will
not have an impression upon the result
of the Minneapolis Convention, nor will
it disturb party harmony, or be felt at
the polls, in November. The concurrent
opinion is that there will be no friction in
that body and that its verdict will be
speedily recorded in the denomination of
the President.
In Democratic circles there is a wide
divergence of opinion as to who will
carry off the prize at the Chicago Con-
vention. There is no doubt that Cleve-
land has the confidence and support of
the great mass of the rank and file,
while Hill commands the assistance
and earnest support of the politicians. In
New York this is notably the case. Hill
seems to be sweeping in the delegates
to the State Convention to be held on
the 22nd of February, as result of the
operation of the party machinery which
he controls. While this is going on, in
the interest of practical politics" mass
meetings are being held at prominent
points in the State, to protest against
Hills methods, and threatening bolt of
no small proportions, if they shall be
persisted in. Hill, however, is a politi
clan, and will not be halted in his course
or swerved from the line he has marked
out He will carry to Chicago a practi-
cally unanimous Hill delegation, while a
contrasting delegation of boilers will ap
pear to make such all uproar and con-
fusion in that body, as only New York
factions are capable of making. If the
sentiment of the New York Democracy,
as thus manifested. is to be taken as the
controlling sentiment of the party, Hill
will almost certainly be the nominee. If
the wishes of the great mass of the party
in other States are to be respected, then
Cleveland will be formidable in the Con
vention. 1t seems however, to be tend
ing to the conclusion that it will not be
safe to nominate either, and that if New
York is to be honored Gov. Flower will
most likely be taken up as an accepta-
BILE compromise between the contending
factions. 1t may not be considered poll
tic, however, to honor the Empire State
with the nominee. In that event the
choice will almost certainly go to West
ern man. Palmer. of Illinois, Campbell,
of Ohio, Boies, of Iowa, Grey of Indiana,
and Carlisle, of Kentucky, are all spoken
of as Presidential timber. and upon any
one of whom the party coull unite.
But it is not the candidate alone that
is to be considered. The business in
terest of the nation is wide awake. It
is safe to conclude that any positive &C
ton of the House of Representatives,
affecting the currency or the customs
revenues, will have its effect upon the
business men of the country and deter
mine their political alignment in the
approaching contest. 1t may sound very
musical and popular to clamor for free
silver coinage and more money,-to weep
over the imaginary woes of the farmers
and to mourn over the expressions of the
masses. This may do for demagogues
who may want to fool the people into
their reelection. But the vast and ram
flied business interests of The country
want something else. They want
stable currency; they want a fixed policy
relating to the industrial fabric Of the
nation-they want, in short, something
that they can rely upon and from which
they can make their calculations with
some degree of certainty that there will
be no unusual disturbance. This class