The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-04
, April skies In Politics.


as ftful and uncertain as the physical
weather proverbially is in this capricious
month. The atmospheric disturbances
which follow the spring equinox bring such
sudden alterations that Presidential candi-
dates cannot anticipate whether they are
to realize q transient burst of sun
shine or smart drenching shower
as their next experience. The republican
party is going through transition period
between the settled political weather of the
last fifteen years and the settled weather
which may again set in when the issues of
the Presidential canvass shall have been
declared and the candidates selected. The
hopes and fears of aspirants accordingly
partake of the fickleness of an April sky.
None Of the republican candidates seems
to be so much affected by these variations as
Mr.. Blaine, who cannot foresee whether he
is to be drenched or dry in the next sudden
change. Three or four days ago it was the
boast of his friends that he was the assured
second choice of his party in Ohio and
Pennsylvania; but it is now ascertained
that he will have only twelve of the
Ohio delegates to twenty-four for Bris-
tow after Hayes is abandoned, and
that the Pennsylvania delegation will
go against him en- mosse after Hartranft
has served the temporary use for which he
has been named. Mr.. Blaine must be filled
with disappointment and chagrin at the sud
den turn things have taken in Pennsylvania,
his native State. His modification and the
grounds of it are set forth in Washington
despatch to the Sun, of which we insert the
significant parts
The cx-Spcaker had counted confidently favor
able demonstration for hmsel. Hc born In Penn
syvania, though IA Yankee by adoption" as he
had paid assiduous Simon Cameron cultivated
Mcpherson ana tho younger class OF republicans, and
dined all the active politicians without regard 10 color
or previous condition OF scrvtudc.
S,ill the ungratefu managers would not touch him
any TERMS though he was quite liberal IN his offers
They thought HIM entirely too smart and had a hint
besides that coming Investigations might make such
candidate decidedly uncomfortable to carry this
summer. Thus. unkndest cut or all, his own native
State is handed over to Conkling OF all other mcni
Blame could have borne anything but that
The name OF Hartrantt is mere blind to cover
Camerons policy and programme. 1t is well known
at Washington that the veteran manipuator has
adopted sthc favorto son OF New York" as his political
proiege and means TO nominate him at Cincinnati il it
be all practicable In Post Office parance, Harranft
is "a straw bid,'' and nothing more. He is not IN
=
in at the proper time.
While Pennsylvania will be turned over Mr.. Conk-
ling whenever business meant and the Cameron clan
really intend 10 support him earnest 1t must not be
supposed however for that that the delegation
will stick to him through thick and thin. Should II
appear that Grant deliver his expected stock
OF Southern and official delegates, so as with the
jorty the Cameronans will turn their attention to the
coming man and make the best terms possible as his
'original friends"
When last heard from Brother Blaine in a sad
state OF mind. He had gone down TO New England TO
look for aid and comfort
We already knew, from several authentic
sources, that Senator Cameron has snubbed
Blaine and come to cordial understanding
with Conkling. His motives are of little con-
sequence, SO long as we are assured of the
fact. Whether he will abide by his present
choice is also of little consequence, SO far as
his attitude bears on the chances of Mr..
Blaine. If he deserts Conkling it will not be
for Blaine. He is too shrewd a politician to
throw his influence against a candidate whom
there is any possibility of his ultimately
supporting He means to be strong and in
fuential with the next administration. BY
supporting Blaine in the crisis of his for
tunes he would lay him under strong obi
CATIONS of gratitude but to oppose him now
and finally come over to his side when Penn
sylvania support was no longer important to
him would give Mr.. Cameron no claim to
influence if Blaine should be elected. Mr.
Cameron is too crafty a politician to blunder
in this way and destroy his hold on
the successful candidate by backing
and filing This is not Cameron's style; it
is not the method of any sagacious politi-
clan. If he should finally abandon Conk-
ling, as he possibly may, it will not be in
favor of Blaine, who would never trust him
or believe in his friendship after his support
of Conkling in the most critical stage of the
canvass The Pennsylvania delegation is in
the absolute control of Cameron, whose
determination to turn it over to
Conkling as soon as the Hartranft ''straw
bid is withdrawn means that he will in no
contingency put it into the scale of the
Maine candidate. If he meant to support
Blaine at all he would give him lift when
he most needs it and lay him under obliga-
tions.
In spite of this rebuff in his native State
Blaine is making evident progress but his
gains, if they should be considerable,
will be his undoing The. moment his
rivals begin to think him formidable
they will have a strong motive for
combining to destroy him, each taking his
chance for the reversionary interest. The
recent boastful airs Of Mr. Blaine's friends
may be one reason why Cameron has shown
his hand at so early stage of the game. If
Blaine had been content to work quietly,
without Haunting his supposed gains, his
rivals would not have feared him. His
weakness in parading his gains is
likely to prove fatal to him. All his COM
petitors have o common interest in defeating
him as soon as they begin to think him for