The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-12
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE.
BLAINE, MORTON, BRJsTOW, CONK-
LING, HAYES.
'The Great Unknown The PennsyIva-
MIA Delegation.

| washington Correspondence N. Y.Tribune1
With all the disadvantages, there are
some decided advantages in surveying
the progress of the struggle for the
nomination from the outlook Of Wash
lngton. All political news t1nters here
ana the complexion Of State delega-
tion l5 often known at the Capitol sooner
than it is in the town where it is made
up. Here most Of the plots and coun-
mrplots are developed; here originate
the charges, false and true, which
smolder under the feet OF canddates. OF
suddenly explode about their ears, and
make wreck Of their hopes here Hock all
the schemerS and tricksters and iobbers
OF national politics, and here come,
too, from time to time, the men Of real
influence to take counsel together. The
candidates, too, are either here in per
son, or are represented by trusted
friends empowered to act In their inter
ests. Making due allowance for the
exaggerated estimate placed on the pow
er OF few men. and making sure Of the
many sources Of information open here
ana open at no other point, one arrives
at some facts tending to throw light on
what Is ut the least u remarkably com
plicated situation. If they do not make
the issue Of the contest at all clear.
these facts serve to dispose Of some mis-
apprchcnsions entertained more or less
throughout the country. Let me cite o
lew Of these current mistakes.
FIRST MIsAPPREIENsIoN
That Mr.. Morton is going to receive the
almost unanimous votes Of the dele
gates from the South. The most that
can be claimed with anything approach-
ing certainty is that he will have a ma
Jority OF the Southern vote. The Blaine
men claim Virginia and North Carolina
Mr.. Bristow is said to be sure Of Ten
nessee9 rs well as Kentucky, and If the
Chamberlain party controls the South
Carolina convention he will no doubt
secure the State. His friends also claim
that he has chance Of getting the del
egatlon from Georgia. Mr.. Morton s
capital seems to consist, outside Of his
own State, OF Southern votes exclusive
ly, ana 1t is perhaps only natural that
his supporters should exaggerate their
number.
SECOND Neutrality-suspicious.,
indu5triously fostered by all the trains
OF professional politicians attached to
the fortunes Of the hack candidates :
That the Bristow movement is only q
sentiment, and that the Secretary can
net rally delegates enough at Ciucin-
natl to make respectable nucleus for
an organization. The feeling in behalf
OF Mr. Bristow is indeed q sentiment,
but it is that kind Of earnest sentiment
that by its own inherent force works
out into political organization without
the manipulation, bellows blowing and
hammering Of the ordinary party pro
cesses. Enough is known now Of the com
plexion Of the Convention to predict
that on the first ballot his vote will not
fall far short of Morton's 1t will rank
third in size, and will have u power Of
accretion that Morton 5 will not possess.
Mr.. Bristow's strength may be said
with absolute truth TO be u spontaneous
outgrowth Of the popular admiration
for his course in the Treasury There
has been no organization here working
for him, and none Of the efforts usually
resoited to for the advancement Of u
prospects have been under
taken < enc either By x himself or his personal
cause public sentiment has made him
50.
THIRD NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
That Gov. Hayes nomination il out
)f the question. Nothing is impossible
n nominating convention when there
ire q half n dozen competitors in the
ieId, and nothing is more possible, in
;ase of number Of ballots at Cincin-
lati without choice, than a union Of
he losing candidates upon Hayes,
against whom nobody has the slightest
ll-feeling. This way Of defeating a
'ival who is getting dangerously near
he goal Of majority is as old as the
history Of National Conventions. The
ohio men ought not therefore to be
accused Of acting foolishly in holding
N TO weak candidate as long as he has
chance of being pushed on to success
~ the jealousies of his stronger com
,etitOrS.
FOURTH MISAPPREHENSION
That Mr.. Blaine is going tc make an
demonstration on the
irst ballot. He will be pretty certain
o lead Morton by perhaps score Of
'otes, but he will be q long way off from
he needed majority. New England is
rot going to be unanimously for him. |
Western Massachusetts, is for Bristow, !
o is Connecticut, and so, we are in
ormed here, is Vermont. Then he will
lot get all the anti-ConkI king votes in
Sew York. Still, with all possible draw
,acks, he is unquestionably the leading
andidate at the start, which counts for
good deal in contest where q great
many participants are chiefly anxious
0 get on the winning side.
The mistakes made by the politicians
lere in their estimates of the situation
row wholly out Of their obtuseness to /
he influence Of the currents Of opinion
n the country For example, there are
ncn about Congress and the Depart
nents who speak Of Mr.. Conkling as
he possible nominee, and who are stu
IDLY obliyious to the fact, patent to
everybody who knows anything Of the
ceilings Of the masses Of the Republican
)arty, that to nominate him would be to
1--WE away the battle to the Democrats
It the start The other day there was
tory about town that Mr.. Cameron had
greed to deliver
THE PENNSYLVANIA DELEGATION
oddly to the New York candidate, and
hat on the strength Of this acces-
ion Mr. Conkling'5 friends were
making a raid upon the forces Of
Nr. Blaine and Mr.. Morton. The story
ound ready credence, and was tele-
,raphed to the newspapers. Possibly
here was some sort Of negotiation be-
ween the two Senators, but if it involved
he transfer Of the Pennsylvania vote to
Ir. Conkling, the scheme would prove
Lbortive, for the reason that the Penn
yivania managers dOnot believe he can
De elected, and will not be tempted by
my promises Of salvage money to try to
ave his sinking craft This statement
s made with some knowledge OF the
springs that moved the late Convention
1t Harrisburg, and Of the real purposes
If the Cameron Mackey ring that con-
rolls the Pennsylvania delegation TO
1t is a noticeable feature OF the can