The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-14
Position Of The D emocrnts..Judge
Davis, the Coming Man, Play.
ing q Waiting Game.

ing o waiting Game.
A correspondent Of the New York Tn.
bune at Warrington sends that paper The
following speculations rs to the position
OF the Democrats on the presidential
question:
The attitude Of the leading Democrats
with regard to presidential candidates Is
apuEzle. They are reticent on the gener'
al question and uncommunicatiVe as to
the merits OF particular men; in fact .
sort OF Free-Masonry Of silence seems to
be abroad among them. Republicans
say they are discouraged and de-
moralized, but they are not; they
are only discreet. They see that
nothing Is to be gained by commit
ting themselves TO the candidacy OF this
or that prominent aspirant, and that by
avoiding personal craftsmanship they keep
an element OF weakness out Of their
party. No one knows better than they
that the Democratic party needs all It's
strength and resources In the approaching
conflict 10 cope with It's antagonist. Some
bitter lessons have been learned ~ these
leaders during the last few months-.bit.
ter, but profitable. They have found that
Gtantism has not taken the soul out oil
the Republican party, as theEbelieyed a
year ago, but that II is still in
a vigorous, healthiul organization
that will throw the dead weight of
its neck and go into the race as light oil
foot and strong OF limb as ever If the
politicians do not handicap it with bad
candidate at Cincinnati. They have found,
loo, that all the disclosures Of corrup.
ton in the National Administration do
not incline Republicans 10 join the Dem.
ocratic party. Thus they are faced with
the problem Of how to elect q President
with Democratic votes alone. The pros.
pect would be disheartening were there
not still hopes Of a gross blunder at Gin.
cinnati, and'the schemes and intrigues oil
Republican politicians here in Washing.
ton Internationally give color to such
hopes. Like skillful player at cards who
holds weak hand, the policy otthe Demo:
Gratis is to keep quiet, look cheerful, and
await mistakes OF their over-con6dent an
tagonists. Their Conventions meet fort
night later than that OF the Republicans,
There will thus be time for their leading
men to consult and form programme
and with body Of delegates unpledged
for the most part, without decided pref
erences, and entirely willing TO take any
road that appears to lead to success
there will be no difficulty about carrying
out whatever plan there may be made
Should there DO a factious element
like the inAationists Of Indiana and
Ohio the great balance.wheel Of the
united southern delegation will keep it in
order. Ys....
There is no longer any talk Of an old
fashioned Democratic ticket. 1t was
plentiful and noisy enough at the begin.
ming OF the session, but 1t has all died
away little by little. Tho Hendricks en-
thusiasm has evaporated; Bayard is only
a fascinating dream impossible Of realiza.
tiop. OF Thurman there is some solid
residuum remaining, but it diminishes
day by h.y Tilden,s strength may be
great; but II so, 1t Is not we'll known 10 his
party associates in Washington. The
name Of Judge Davis, spoken in whis-
per a few weeks ago, is now on all mems
lips. Nine Democrats out OF ten in Con-
gfess il asked to-day, not for their prefer
ences, but for their opinions. as to who
the st. Louis nominee is likely TO be,
would reply, "Judge Davis orssome new
man."