The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-10

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there are four republican candidates who
cannot be regarded as parties in interest. but
only as trustees Of certain amount of sup
port which will be made over to the real
competitors. Nobody believes that Mr.
Jewell will receive any votes beyond those
ranft will gain any votes outside Of Pennsyl-
vania, nor that Mr.. Blaine will receive any
additions to the strength he had eight days
ngo. Governor Hayes probably stands IN
the same category, although he has, perhaps,
a faint and distant chance Of coming in at
last as successful compromise candidate.
But for the present Hayes must be Chased
with Jewell, Hartranft and Blaine, whose po-
litical assets will be distributed among can
didates Of more enduring strength when OBJ
legations of courtesy shall have been dis
charged. The successful candidate may be
interest in the assets of these four.
The real strength of the competitors is
not to be measured by the number Of dele
gates counted rs for them. By this rule Mr.
Blaine would be the strongest of oil, whereas
he is in fact the weakest. BY this rule Mr.
washburne would have the slenderest chance
Of any, ranking even below Jewell, although,
with one exception, Washburne has the best
prospect. BY this rule Hartranft would be
stronger than Hayes but Hayes has some
chance for the nomination, while Hartranft
has none. BY this rule Conkling would
II fcrr IN ho ~ oyn
ton, and yet his true rank is first or next to
the first. The real question is not who will
have most votes at the outset, but who has
the largest reversionary interest in the
delegations, whose first vote will be no
guide to their ultimate choice. All reason
ing or speculation which does not rest on
this reversionary basis will prove delusive.
Where will the Morton forces go when
Morton is withdrawn? Where will the Hnr-
tranft votes go? For whom will tho Hayes
votes and the Blaine votes be thrown? If we
could answer these questions it would not
be difficult to make pretty good guess as to
the nominee. But aside from the Hartrnntt
votes, which will be given to Conkling, the
distribution is q mere matter Of conjecture.
Morton's strength should more naturally be
given to Conkling than to Bristow, because
its geographical location puts it under the
able to Conkling and hostile to Bristow.
The Ohio delegation would go to Conkling
with the nomination Of Hayes for Vice Pres
ident, Conkling and Hayes making o strong
ticket Jewell, as a loyal member Of the ad-
ministration, should be willing to support
the administration candidate Such Of the
Blaine delegates as desert him will
pay no Difference to his wishes in
the bestowal of their votes. If the
number who desert before the Convention is
organized should be large Conkling may be
nominated on the third or fourth ballot
But if most of the Blaine delegates should
stand by him and court an alliance with
Bristow the result might be withdrawal Of
all the prominent candidates and the nomi-
nation of Washburne, or even Hayes, as
means Of restoring harmony.
A desperate attempt will be made by
uniting the strength Of both upon the latter.
How formidable this movement may prove
does not yet appear, but there is no reason
to doubt that both are eager for such IN ar
rangement-Bristow as the only means of
securing his nomination, and Blaine rs q
desperate resource to prevent his being
driven out of politics If Blaine could hold
his original strength unbroken and deliver
it over to Bristow such q coalition might sue
coed and control the nomination. The orig
inal Blaine delegates added to the Bristow del
egates would make clear majority of the Con-
vention, and no effort will be spared to unite
them on Bristow. But it seems probable
that enough of Blaine's supporters will
abandon him to Illustrate this dexterous
game Its success would be almost as dis
astrous to the republican party rs the nomi-
nation Of Blaine himself The country would
say that Bristow was mask for concealing
the face Of Blaine; that if Bristow were
elected he would be puppet of which
Blaine would pull the wires that Blaines
stronger character would subjugate Bristow
to his will and be "a power behind the
throne greater than the throne itself" Such
ticket would receive only lukewarm sup
port from the real leaders Of the republican
party. The administration would abandon
it to it's fate. and without the support of the
administration no republican candidate can
be elected. Such a ticket would disintegrate
and destroy the republican party, for Bris-
tow does not represent the party, but only
its elements of discomfort, and the
support of Blaine would nullify Bris-
tow's reform pretences and cover them
with derision. A reform candidate
who derived three-fourths Of his strength
from such traficker in jobs as Mr.. Blaine
would be hootcd ont of the field. What
possible chance could Bristow. as the cats
paw of Blaine, have for carrying New York
against the GOODNESS Of Senator Conkling's
friends and the left-handcd support of the