New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-29
THE CATCHINGS LETTER.
TT FALLS FLAT AMONG THE FEW STATES
MEN NOW IN WASHINGTON.
ONLY THE "cr,cKoos" APPROVE IT-DEMoCRATIc
WORK MADE HARDER-TOM MOORE
AND TIE PRESIDENT.
fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrSrI

AND TIE PRESIDENT
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrSrI
Washington Aug. %-Presdent Cleveland let
ter 10 Representative Catchngs or MISSISSIPPI o"
Tariff Reform" has fallen exceeding Nat In WASH
ington although some Republicans are chuckins
over the prospect IT opens In some Democratic 'oh-
gress districts. The Democrats. as rule, decline
10 discuss the letter at all for publication. and the
comments they make in private conversation are
not suitable for print. OF course. cuckoos
chirp Is occasionally heard. John Dewitt Warner
for EXAMPLE regards the letter - 4 great state
paper displaying the greatest political sagac"y'
Chairman Wilson, OF course. was bound 10 eA-
press his admiration and approval and ne d'd SO
Tom" Johnson. OF Ohio. on the contrary. con-
demned the letter In emphatic terms. Amos J.
Cummings cheerfully remarked II regard 1t as a
dod rotted good letter." but he did not define the
meaning Of "dod rotted" Virginia Democrat
said: THE letter is a heavy handicap for us. and
will cost us two Congress districts in Virginia II
the Republicans take advantage Of IT,
Democrats who will express opinions privately
declare in substance that the publication OF the
letter was a political bunder. second only 10 the
publication Of the letter TO Wilson. and that the
two taken together have seriously impaired a pros
pect which has not been bright Tor months past
OF Democratic success in this falls Congress cleo
lions.
one prominen, Southern Senator remarked that
un.aid and the Presidents letter was one OF them
II was this Senator observed. but another re-
Election upon the Tariff bill. for which the Demo
cratic party responsible. and slap AZ the bi''
with the composition Of which the President was
thoroughly familiar before IT was passed by the
Senate This Senator echoed the private remarks
OF others when he said that he believed the Presi-
dent had made a mistake. and had only succeeded
in making It harder for the Democrats TO defend
he legislai ion they had enacted
The Enthusiastically pondsrous and namboyan'
rhetoric Of Mr. ClevclanIs letter 20 Mr.. Catchlngr
has provoked a general smile here. AMI ingenious
critics here ar. already burrOwlng fbr IN" "ourc"s
Of some ~ the Presidents more extraordinary rhe-
,orlcal effects The star this evening says on this
point:
President Cleveland h,s achieved worldwide
reputation AS a coiner OF ringing phrases through
Wit Being accused Of piSgar.tlc tendencies.
The charge by a certain metropolitan journal I9ts
FOR not only ha facts but his phrases Is well known
TO most citizens. who may. therefore % pI'pal,.
literary proiuc,lon-hs iarin letter 20 MI Catch
nrs written ycsierlay-is not free from the rusp!-
orG Fnei,sh literature Tor some OF his word effects
The most striking sentence In IN" letter Is as io'-
Il take my place WIKI IN" rank and Me Of me
Democratic party Who bei"v" IN 'arn r''oim. an h
results embodied In this bin as the clos. o. ne
war: who are no; bllnled TO the faGt that me
ana worn in the service Of Republican protection.
and who have marked The places where ne d,ad sy
blight ~ treason has blasted the councils ~ Inc
brave In their hour Of might
The reader familiar with the works OF Thomas
Moore NAV find a responsive thrill folio" the sopnl
Of the phrase. "rhr deadly blight OF treason mas
blasted the councils 81 the brave In their hour OF
might" ,,,.,
liz the original letter there were no quotation
ma rcs 10 distinguish these words from any others
The following quatralr from The Fire worship
pers' seems 10 furnish III. peculiar paraphra'e IN
The Presidents letter 10 Mr.. 'atchng-:
''Oh for a tongue to curse the slave.
Whose treason Ike deadly blight.
Comes DER the councils OF the brave. .
And blasts them in their hour OF might,
II Will be noted that the letter does not strictly
follow the verse. but IL rearrangrmcnt OF the most
fore would seem 10 be now IN order. In this con-
necion literary Congressmen are today quouhe ne
wor,is 81 Milton In his Iconoclastes." chapter q.
where he says For such Kind Of borrowing ~
good authors is accounted pagiare'