Year: 1876

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18th 1876.
DEAR JoURNAL:-Matters of great
public interest crowd upon each other
here in such rapid succession that it Is
hardly possible to keep pace with them.
The question of most importance yes
terday, is almost forgotten to-day, and
tomorrow is entirely lost sight OF.
Still the subjects of most earnest
thought and attention are not found IN
the papers, and are not even much DIS
cussed in the 1obbies. The examin-
alton into the several departments of
the government for the%purpose of ex-
posing the


GROSS FRAUDS AND EXTRAyAGAHCIES
existing therein, is now the work be-
fore the committees. Day and night
these bodies are silently engaged, and
before long such exposures will be
made as will astonish the country, as
well prepared as the people may think
themselves for the information. Al
ready the work of retrenchment and
reform has begun in earnest. The
legislation in regard to the District of
Columbia, and the cutting down of
salaries and outfits provided for in the
Diplomatic and Consular andthe West
Point Appropriation Bills, give the
most gratifying evidence of the pur-
pose of the Democrats to apply the
pruning knife most thoroughly. The
Republicans, while processing TO con-
cur in this movement, always find
some excuse why they canuot support
the particular measure then pending
After vain efforts to defeat each, they
generally conclude to vote III the affir-
native when the final issue comes.
How much credit they deserve for
this, the history of legislation for many
years past will tell.


But in the political kaleidoscope
there is one conspicuous feature which
is always visible, however much the
surroundings dissolve and change.
The subject of the


PRESIDENCY


is never forgotten amidst the great
questions which daily engross atten-
ton here. This matter is not unattend-
ed with difficulty with either party. /
have found no Democrat, come from
what section he may, who is not fully
agreed that among the distinguished
gentleman named in connection with
the nomination he should be chosen
who has the greatest elements of
strength. In other words, / find none
so welded to individuals as to be will
ling to jeopardize the success of the
party, and the most pronounced advo-
Gates of particular candidates freely
admit their favorites' weaknesses.
while they press his strong points. If
the delegates meet in convention with
such feelings, it will not be difficult to
select the proper man.


There are two sections of the cOun-
try to be considered by the Democrats
in making a selection, viz: Ohio and
Indiana on the one hand, and New Jer-
sey and Connecticut on the other. It
is conceded that without one or the
other of these two groups of States it
will be impossible to succeed. The
leading candidate must therefore have
an overpowering local influence in one
of them, or possess strong popularity
in both. It is said, and I think with
some force, that as elections are to be
held in


OHIO AND INDIANA


in October, just one month before the
Presidential election, that if candi-
date is to be selected with a view to
his local popularity, these two States
claim the first consideration, for de-
cided defeat in October there would
make it difficult to elect President in
November. This view of the case will
be fatal to the aspirations of Governor
Tilden, who is unpopular in tho
States, especially in Ohio.


It is upon this ground that the
friends of


THURMAN AND HENDRICKS


urge their names, and beyond doubt
they are to-day the two most conspicu-
GUS candidates for the nomination.
Either of them would suit our peoples
for no men il the United States aye
more distinguished for craftsmanship,
patriotism and honesty.


=. The friends of both of these gentle
men slaim for them the greatest posi-
tive strength in the West, and the
greatest negative strength in New
York. New Jersey and Connecticut.
It is thought, however, the great popu-
larity of these gentlemen in their own
section, and the enthusiasm with
which their names will be urged by
their friends, will mutually injure the
prospects of both.


In this event, I find here a strong
unde=current setting in favor of


JUDGE DAVID DAVIS,


of Illinois, a Justice of the Supreme
Court. The intimate friend of Mr..
and appointed by him to the
SUPP enae Court Bench, notwithstand-
ing his pronounced Democratic bear
ings, and the person selected by him
20 administer upon his estate, Judge |
Davis is said to possess such popularity
n Illinois with both parties as to
ender it absolutely certain that his
lame will carry that State, while he is
cry strong in Ohio and Indiana. The
Iecision rendered by Judge Davis in
he celebrated Miliigan case would be
platform to recommend him
o every conservative citizen of the
United States.
I find others, whose opinions should
'e gravely weighed, who hold that we
annot jeopardize the certainty of car
ying the great State of New York, in
vain effort to secure Ohio. or throw