The Portland daily press., 1876-06-22
The st. LOuis Convention .

Now that the Cincinnati convention is
over and its work well done, public attention
is turned to the meeting at st. Louis next
week. In view Of the excellent nominations
made by the Republicans the choice of the
st. Louis convention is not of great moment,
though its action will do something to shape
the character of the campaign. Republicans
look forward to the gathering with anticipa-
tions that 1t will afford them day or two of
choeA amusement. Democrats, bearing in
mind the fatal facility of their leaders for
blundering, look forward to it with consider
able apprehension. What the convention
will do in regard to candidates and platform
it is impossible to foretell, but it is pretty
safe to assume in the light of history that it
will do the most foolish thing it can find to
do. Still there are so many nominations it
can make equally foolish, that there is con-
siderable room for conjecture.
Apparently Gov. Tilden has majority of
the convention, but not the two-thirds nec-
essary to nomination. New England is
nearly solid for him, and by his ingenious
system of advertising he has secured many
votes in the South and West. But there is a
powerful opposition to him in his own State,
and the feeling that he cannot carry New
York may turn the convention against him.
He has lost strength since the Cincinnati
convention. The general acceptance of the
Republican nominations by the Indepen-
dents and the adhesion of the leaders of the
Fifth Avenue Conference to Hayes and
Wheeler have done away with powerful
argument which his friends have urged in
his behalf.
Ofthe chances of the other candidates lit
tie can with certainty be said Thurman is
apparently out OF the contest, the detection
of his own state rendering him unavailable.
Hendricks has considerable strength, but the
hostility of the German vote will injure him
before the the Convention. In many respects
he is the most suitable candidate that can be
selected, for he is neither hard money nor
soft, neither free trade nor protection, but
merely man OF expediency, ready to assume
any position and support any declaration of
principles which may be acceptable to the
convention and popular with the people.
Hancock wore blue coat instead Of a gray
one during the ''late unpleasantness," and
so is out of the question. Bayard has too
much independence Of character to make
him agreeable to the politicians, and his
nomination would be too evidently triumph
of the South to be an advisable one. Davis
is only possibility. Parker of New Jersey
has of late become prominent candidate,
but has little to recommend him to the con-
vention. The Democrats are already talking
soil of Connecticut is frequently mentioned.
They could easily do much worse. Mr.. In
gersoll is a man of personal purity, of intel
lectual ability, and of political record so
obscure that little can be brought against
him. His nomination would arouse little en-
thusiasm, but it would be eminently respect
able.
The platform will probably consist of sound
ing phrases, cunningly contrived to conceal
any decided expression of opinion upon the
questions before the country. There will be
a wrangle over the currency issue, which will
result either in the adoption of a soft-money
plank or in the remanding of the question TO
the Congressional districts. The one course
will have the merit of sincerity and no other.
The other course will be cowardly and eva
sive, but in view of the ruling sentiment in
Democratic districts, will be in effect COM
initial of the party to rag-money.