New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-29
THE PRESIDENCY.
GOV. HARTRAAFT A CANDIDATE.

| DETERMINATION OF PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICANs
TO SECURE his NoNISATIoN-Hrs SUCCESS IN
GOVERNING TIE STATE AND CARRYING 1T AZ
SEVERAL ELECTIONS.
| IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE rRIBUSE.l
PHI ADELPHIA, Jan. 2S.-A very import ant move
ment is now being discussed by the Republican poll
cians of this State. 1t has for its object tho bring
ing forward of Gov. Hartranft as candidate for
the Presidential nomination-not n candidate TO TO
celve the complimentary vote Of the Pennsylvania
delegation the first ballot and then to he set aside,
but one to struggle with the strong contestants
for the prize. When the Lancaster Convention
put Hartranft forward Pennsylvania choice
for the Presidency last June, the possibility
of his becoming a formidable candidate was
hardly thought of. The Endorsement thus
given was designed only TO help him
in his second race for the GovemOrship. As far a.
they had any decided preferences the delegates to
that Convention were for Blaine They did not
think seriously of Hartranft, because they had M
idea that national politics would take such shape
as to give him any strength in other States Since
then and particularly since the meeting of Congress,
matters have taken new turn. Mr. Blaine has dis
posed of HIMSELF far Pennsylvania is concerned,
by digging up the skeleton of the Rebellion, and
dragging it in to mar the good feeling of the Cen
tennal year. throng of candidates of very
moderate claims crowdng forward and
preparing TO make the Cincinnati gathering
sort of Donnybrook Fair. When such men
as COnkling, Hayes, Washbnrne, and Morton adj
vanced statesmen for the emergency, the friends
of Gov Hartranft do not see why he should be back
ward about entering the lists They think his
claims. the of both record and availability.
are superior to those of either of the candidates
prominently named. He has carried Pennsylvania
at four elections twice at the head of his ticket
Auditor General and twice Governor Two Of
these elections-thOse of 1868 and 1s72-wero
fercely contested, and his victory determined The
issue of the Presidential then in progress
He has made the State trustworthy Republican,
it never was before his entry into politics
The delegation to the Cincinnati Convention win
be chosen at State Convention TO be held late in
March or early in April. District delegates will he
selected on the recommendation Of the delegations
from the several Congressional districts In Beaver
County delegates to the State Convention have
already been chosen and instructed to support Mr..
NJ. S. Quay one of the representatives Of tho
XXIVth District in the National Convention. This
circumstance may seem trihing but it is the begin
ming of the Hartranft campaign. Mr.. Quay is Secre-
tary of the Commonwealth, and is the trusted adj
wiser of the Governor in political matters He s an
emineny skilful and sagacous politician, and will
90 to Cincinnati to carry off the nomination for
Hartranft if such result lies within the range OK
possibility As far as can be learned, all the Repub
lIcan politicians of any account in the Stats are
favorable the project and there appears TO be No
good reason why it should not have fair a chance
of succeeding as any other Presidential scheme nov
on the carpet. great deal might be said in favor
of Gov Hirtranft as an available candidate He
has most of Gen. Grants good qualities; he is quiet
reticent unaffected, averse to speech-makng, firm
in his opinions trne in his friendships. and immov-
able when he has made up his mind. But I'M
like the President he has never regarded his ohos
as something belonging TO him personally like
farm TO be worked for his advantage and pleas
ure and that of his family. On the contrary,
throughout his whole official career lie has manifested
a strong sense of his duty and responsibility TO
the State and has thus the praise of all parties
for his conscientious and impersona administration
To have made a good Governor of great State like
PENNSYLVANIA is as strong a recommendation as .
man can have for the Presidency. In this respecs
Gov Hartranft is not TO be compared with Gov.
HAYES. because in Ohio the Governorship isalmost
snecure David Tod used TO say that there was
very little to do but to pardon conyicts and commits
sion notaries public aud that he able to obllgs
the Democrats by getting their friends out OF thu
penitentiary and the Republicans by appointing
them all notaries.
In PENNSYLVANIA, as in New-Yorll, the right per-
formance of the duties of the Executive Office re-
aures administrative abilities of high order IL
military reputation is 10 count for anything III the
coming canvass Gen. Hartranft has an army record
unexcelled by that of any volunteer officer. There
are some draw backs to his candidacy, bnt they are
not serious The Yerkes scandal of 1872 might bs
revived but it is so completely dead here in Penn
sylvania that the Democrats did not attempt to
make use of il in the campaign Of last Fall and they
could not do much with it if they tried in the ma
toual canvass. The support of the Phlladelphn
Ring would damage the Governor, aud the prospecs
of Mann, Stokley Bingham, Hill, and the rest OF the
ex-Pilgrims organizing kitchen cabinet at the
White House, would certainly not be pleasant one,
but such prospect would be merely imaginary.
The Ring has not been able to control Hmtranffs
action az Governor and would have small influence
with him were he elected President.