Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-04-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Special Correspondent

one hundred business men, as favor
ably as he did before the returns from
Chicago municipal election reached
Washington, and it is probable hat he
will decide that important public
business" will prevent his going to
Chicago to make a financial speech.
He has doubts about attempting to
launch a Cleveland or any other Dem
ocratic boom in a city that has just
gone Republican by more than $4,000,
particularly when he remembers that
the anne city was carried by 8 5000 ma.
jority in 1892 by the Democratic Presi.
dental ticket. A change of more than
10000 votes in the short space of
two years and II half indicates even to
the slow moving mind of as great an
egotist as Mr.. Cleveland that the Dem,
ocratic party is losing popularity in
Chicago. as well as elsewhere.
The rumor that Secretary Gresham
intended to resign, which was started
anew early this week, was the source
Of considerable amusement among
those who are acquainted with the stu
alton. The denial that quickly follow
ed the rumor was not needed to con-
vince them that Secretary Gresham
would not resign unless compelled to,
although he knows that the object for
which he changed his politics-the
hope of succeeding Mr.. Cleveland as
President-is impossible of attainment.
But he needs the salary and he also
needs the friendship of Mr.. Cleveland,
upon which he depends for a restora-
ton to a place on the bench. With the
possible exception of Secretary Herbert
Mr.. Gresham is the poorest member of
the cabinet, and, although an able law
yer, he has been so long out of active
practice that he fears he would not find
it profitable to resume. 1t is probable
that Secretary Gresham will resign be
fore the expiration of Mr.. Cleveland's
term, but it will be to accept another
office and not to retire to private life.
According to the story now being re.
peated around Washington, three po-
litical and personal friends of Mr..
Cleveland, one of them a member of
the cabinet, were smoking their after
noon cigars in a in the White
House a few days ago and were
discussing the political outlook, when
II of them said: Speaking of pc.
litical predictions, reminds me 10 ask
one myself. The next Presidential
campaign will see two Democratic
parties in the field. One OF them, the
first to nominate a ticket, will have
a free silver man for its candidate and
a big, broad silver plank for him to
run on. The other will be a Democratic
party of smaller dimensions. 1t will
stand for gold alone. Its candidate
for President will be an out and out
gold man-will be called a gold bug,
or possibly a gold elephant by his op.
ponents-and the financial plank of the
platform upon his campaign which will
be made will advocate the gold stand
ard without any ifs, and's or butts
This party will not expect to win; it
will merely make the campaign for
principle. Now for the other side. The
Republican party will have for ito can
didate a man who is friendly to silver
without being an enemy to gold, and it's
platform will reflect his views and he
will win" When asked to complete
the prediction by naming the three
candidates the gentleman said: THE
identity of the free silver man and the
mar who is friendly to silver is purely
speculative al this time. But the choice
of the gold wing of the Democracy is a
foregone conclusion; it will be Grover
Cleveland" Unless all signs fail two
of this would be prophets predictions
promise to become facts-the election
of the Republican candidate and the
nomination of Mr.. Cleveland on a gold
platform.
The friends OF real reform in the
civil service-not the spurious article
given by this administration, are pleas.
ed with the black. eye given the spoils
system by the majority Of 40, $40 votes
in favor of the civil service law in
Chicago. Civil Service Commissioner
Roosevelt in discussing this subject
said: II want to see the civil service
system become universal, in the first
place, because the offices ought to be
out of politics, and the service would
be improved if they were, but, in the
second place, and chiefly, because ]
wish to take out Of public lite the ut
terly demoralizing and degrading in
f~1uences of the spoils system. 1t has
been, on the whole, the most fruitful
of the causes which tend to the degra.
dation of American politics, land in NO
way can we SO strengthen the forces
which tend to the elevation of our poll
teal life as to utterly destroy the spoils
system.'
Mr.. Cleveland and family this week
moved out to their suburban residence
and the force of the detectives who
stand guard over his precious person
will now have to work a little harder,
as some Of them always accompany
him on his trips to and from the White
House and regular patrol duty has to
be done night and day over the grounds
of his Majesty whilom residence. les,