The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-16
Let all the Candidate. Reconsider

In no former campaign were there so
many aspirants for the nomination of each
party as now. In the Northeastern States
we have Messrs. CoNKLING, TILDEN, Ev-
ARTS, BLAINE, MORGAN. WHEELER. SEY-
hoUR, JEWELL, PIERREPoST, and FEEsH.
In the Middle States this side of
the Alleehanies, Messrs. BAYARp, HAM
COCK, HARTRANFT, and PARKER have
their supporters. Az the West there
nre THURMAN, BRIsTow, MORTON, HEN
BRICKS, ALLEN. WAsHBURNE aud HAYES
Though this list contains above a score, 1t
might be enlarged without including any
but those who are occasionally mentioned
by newspapers, and may receive more
or less votes in the Conventions. As we look
nt tins noble army Of candidates, il is no
wonder, though the Conventions are close
mt hand, that nobody can give decided
prophecy as TO the result of the struggle.
This uncertainty " due not more to the
multiplicity of candidates than to the fact
that in no previous contest were so few of
the delegates hamper red by pledges or in
Uructions, or so likely to act rs they please
In making nominations. Only three or
four State Conventions have uttered any
thing approaching to positive directions to
their delegates on this subject. Indeed.
we do not rocollect one which has given
them abs olute instructions of the rigid
type formerly In use. The large majority
of the Conventions have said nothing
nbout candidates, while in nearly
all the rest, suggestions ana requests,
couohed in the meekest phraseologv, have
been rs far rs they dared TO 20. When the
recent Republican Convention of Michi-
gan passed a resolution modestly invit-
ing their delegation TO act nj Cincinnati
"with rs much unauimity among them
selves rs possible" they lad down in rath-
er suggestive terms the rule that will ulti-
mately govern all the delegates to both
Conventions. That is TO say they will
ngree II they can; and 4 they cannot
why then they will disagree. In a word,
in tho history Of Conventions TO nominate
candidates for President there was never
displayed such a spirit of independence
among the members rs is sure to be exhib-
tied at Cincinnati and st. Louis.
For these reasons, all those statements as
90 the strength of this or that candidate,
put forth with such assurance in some
quarters and particularly in behalf of Mr..
BLAINE, rest on a sandy foundation. An
Intelligent and impartial view OF parties,
candidates, and delegates tends rather 10
prove that we shall have repetition this
year of what has often happened hereto
fore in National Convent ons, when the
leading aspirants proved just strong
enough to defeat each other. and thus pre-
pare the way for the sudden appearance,
a aNrttr
gle of some T esh name that broke the
deadlock and swept in triumph. through
the assembly.
1t is worth while for conspicuous leaders
who are Catching desperately for the
prize at Cincinnati and st. Louis to remem-
Der that, during the past third of n century
throe-fourths OF the Presid, initial nomina-
tions which were ratified at the polls, were
made under such an impulse rs we have
dc,ciibrd In 1910 the great Wing leaders
WEBSTER and CLAY, were thrust aside In
the Couv, ution to make room for HAIR
RIsoN' clerk of "a county court, whose chief
recommendation seemed to be that lac
was said to live in "A log cabin, drink
hlrd cider, aud keep stuffed coon
skin for watch dog. In 1874 the
friends of CAss, WooDBURY, and BU-
CHANAN combined to break down VAN
BUnEN wi,h the two-thirds rule; hut his
supporters were strong enough TO prevent
the nomination Of either of them, and the
out come, at the end of the long conflict
was POLK, who had hardly been dreameo
OF before. In lsis, CLAY and WEBSTER, the
long established ola els Of the Wing party
were successful in holding each other bN
the throat, while ZACH. TAYLOR. who hat
never cast vote in his life, carried off tn,
nomination. And thus It was in 1852. CAss
BUCHANAN, MARCY, and DOUGLAS Tough
desperately for three days at Baltimore
when, through sheer exhaustion, they fel
before FRANK PIERCE, the obscure Briga
dier OF whom not one Democrat In IA hun
dred had ever heard. The whirlwind o.
applause that bore the then almost un
known name OF LINCOLN through til,
Shiea9o Convention In 1890, to tho amaze
ment OF the advocates OF sEwARD anS