Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-24
EDWARD BATES AT CHICAGO.

Hon. Edward Bates of Missouri, is much |
talked of by some of our contemporaries as the
''probable Republican candidate" for the presi-
dency. He is very respectable gentleman,
of quiet conservative ways, and with but ut
tie experience of political life. Not much is
known of his actual position on the questions
which now divide parties and regulate political
organizations. Some time last year, he wrote
letter to the little company of Wing Know
Nothing Union Hunkers of New York city, of
whom the world hears occasionally but this
letter was not very definite on the slavery
Yuvssrvu. aSr saIu
to his meaning. His friends in Missouri say
he is call right" and have published long
statements to this effect, not as definite and
unequiyocal, perhaps, as the most perfect
frankness requires, but quite favorable to him.
Of course he will speak for imself, and speak
clearly, if he shall finally allow himself to be
placed prominently before the Chicago Con-
vention as a candidate for nomination.
We infer, however, that some of the friends
of Mr.. Bates expect to have him placed in
nomination in a blind, vague, non-committal
fashion, SO that he may stand up before the
country on a cunningly-contrived "fence,"
''tacing South by North, and looking nowhere
in particular. The St. Louis Evening News,
his principal newspaper organ, has sort OF
editorial letter, in which this expectation is
expressed in very significant terms. This
journal is conducted by that Mr. Mitchell who
has been at Washington, asking the Republi
oope 70 u,alro him housn Iriutar IT has npvpr
favored the Republican party, and, at the last
election in Missouri, did all it could to defeat
F. P. Blair, Jr. Here is what is said in that
paper of the position Mr. Bates is to occupy
as a candidate for the presidency =
Edward Bates, of Missouri, has the chances
as one hundred to one in his favor, as COM
pared with any other man in the country.
The action of the states of Maryland and Mis-
souri, in putting him forward as a National
Union man, anembdTdSSed By platforms, and
"dead. faAs"-restng his claims on the lofty
patriotism and unblemished reputation of long
and spotless life-has decided the question.
Already the voices come upfrom every quarter
of the country, and from every shade of OPP
position, that Edward Bates is the man above
all others for the times, the man who can rally
the most varied interests, and stir up the most
animating associations, and obtain the greatest
Old Wings of the country, to man, will be
for him. The American party everywhere
will give him cheerful and Jealous support.
The powerful Republican party of the North,
no Longer pressing for sectional ideas, will pay
homage to the eminent patriot of Missouri
the man of the Washington stamp-and seek
the peace and concord of the Union by yield
ing him their sufrages. On this common
ground the north and south can sacrifice their
mr. nd xVQp have a nOItpd IL
f dino nennle once more"
favor at Chicago, and we are very sure that it
would fail utterly at the polls. presidential
candidate mounted on it would encounter such
"dead-falls" as no friend of Mr.. Bates appears
to have heard of or imagined. "Unembar.
raised by platforms !" Republican principles
must be flung overheard and the powerful
Republican party" the only party from which
the candidate can hope to get single electo-
raj vote, must get down upon its knees and
confess that it has been sectional, fanatical,
wicked concern, but now repents in dust and
ashes. This appears to be the meaning of the
other expression which we put in italics, where
the writer declares so confidently that the Re-
publican party will be found "no longer press
AhS iOi SSStlOHdi lucas WHICH ID quite Us
much an accusation as anything else. But, let
no earnest Republican be apprehensive. Such
spectacle as this writer predicts, will not be
witnessed during the year of our Lord, 1860.
We would not intimate that Mr.. Bates is
responsible for the sayings of this correspond
ent of the News but, the letter from which
we quote shows very clearly what is thought
and intended by some of his friends. They
will be wiser a year hence. To ignore the
question which shapes our American politics
is impossible. 1t must be settled and no man
should forget that nothing is settled that is not
right The New York Tribune, which some
times counsels very badly, but always talks
well on the slavery question, said in a recent
issue:-"To denounce slavery agitation as the
great evil of our day, yet dodge the vital CUES
ton on which that agitation is based, is either
lunacy, trickery, or drivel." Of course the
Tribune did not say this with direct reference
to Mr.. Bates and his friends but, it is quite
good enough for universal application 1t is
nowise likely to be forgotten at Chicago, when
our representatives go there to nominate a
Republican candidate for the presidency.