New-York tribune., 1876-04-07
THE PRESIDENCY.

OUTLOOK OF REPUBLICAN, CANDIDATES.
POPULAR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES LEADING But
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NOT CONTROLLING
THE soUTH-BRIsTow's STRENGTH SOUTH
HAYES YET A CASDIDATE-THE "GREAT UN-
KNOWN FEARED.
lFRoM STAY CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, April 5.-In many respects the capi-
tai is not good point of view from which to survey
the Presidential field. The atmosphere is mnrky
with the conflicting ambitions and Jealousies OF
rival political cliques, and is so filled with the va
pors of SUSPICION detraction and malice that 1t is al
most impossible to get clear view of the stu
ation Besides, in estimating the chances OF candi-
dates, and especially of Republican candidates. there
is always undue weight given here to the power
of few prominent public men, who are supposed to
hold in their hands the votes of their respective
States, and who naturally take great dlre to foster
these exaggerated ideas Of their importance. Par
ticularly il this the case with the knot Of leading
Administration Senators. One is constantly hearing
of tho combinations and trades these gentle
men are fixing up among themselves. From
tho talk about the corridors of the Sen
ate wing for the last few days, ono might
suppose that Mr.. COnkling Mr. Cameron. and Mr.
Morton were abont to play game of euchre for the
control of the Cincinnati Convention, and did not
propose to deal any other candidate n hand. One
u
nersbip with Mr.. Conkling against the Indiana SEN
ator and then all tho slate-makers go to work to
revise their figures; and perhaps tho next day
it is reported that Mr. Frelinghuysen is to be let
into the game and that the whole Senatorial party
are going to combine against the outsiders in the
person of Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. BristOw. Few people
stop to inquire whether these political gamesters are
really in possession of the cards they profess to play
withwhether they actually hold their State delcga-
tiOns Ike personal property, to be disposed OF at
their pleasure. Herein lies the chief fault OF most
Washingto predictions on the result of the Conven-
tion-that they leave public sentiment almost
wholly nout OF tho account, and reduce the
whole matter OF the nomination down to the
level of the low machine politics of the day. Now
il cannot be denied that the machinery controlled by
these veteran pipc-layers in the Senate is going to
exert great deal of power IN the Convention, but
that the people can be crowded out altogether, and
the doors shut tightly that no sound OF their in
dgnant demand for reform will enter is scarcely to
be supposed. There was National Conven-
ton in this country whose action was not modified
II not shaped by the current public opinion of the
time, and il will be very dangerous for the politicians
to try the experiment now.
With all the disadvantages, there arc somc decided
advantages in surveying the progress of the struggle
for the nomination from the outlook Of Washington
All political news centers here, and the complexion
Of a State delegation is often known at the Capitol
sooner than il is in the town where 1t is made up
Here most Of the plots and cOunterplots are deyel
oped here originate the charges. false and true
which smoldcr under the feet OF candidates, or sud-
denly explode about their ears, and make wreck OF
their hopes; here flock all the schcmers and trick
sters and jobbers of national politics and here come
too from time 10 time, tho men OF real influence to
take counsel together The candidates, too, arc either
here in person. represented by trusted friends
empowered To act in their interests. Making due al
lowance for the exaggerated estimate placed on the
power cf a few men, and making sure of tho many
sources Of information open here and open at no
other point one arrives at some facts tending TO
throw Light On what is at tho least remarkably
complicated situation. II they do not make the
issue Of the contest at all clear these facts serve to
dispose OF some msapprchensions entertained more
or less throughout the country. Let lie cite few
of these current mistakes.
Frst misapprehension That Nr. Morton il going
to receive the almost unanimous vote of the dele
gates from the Sonth. The most that can be claimed
with anything approaching certainty is that ho will
have a majority of tho Southern vote The Blaine
men clam Virginia and North Carolina. Mr..
Bristow 10 said to be Of Tennessee as well rs
Kentucky -and il the Chamberlain party controls
tho South Carolina Convention he Will no doubt
secure that State. His friends also claim that he
has chance Of getting the delegation from Georgia.
Mr. Mortons capital seems to consist. outside OF his
own State Of Southern votes exclusively and it is
perhaps only natural that his supporters should ex-
aggerate their number.
Second misapprehcnsion. industrionsly fostered by
all the trains Of professional politicians attached TO
tho fortunes Of the hack candidates. That the Bris-
tow movement is only sentiment and that the
Secretary cannot rally delegates enough at Cincn-
natl 10 make a respectable nucleus for an organiza-
ton The feeling in behalf of Mr. Bristow is indeed
sentiment but il il that kind of earnest sentiment
that by its inherent force works out into politl-
cal organization without the manipulation, bellows
blowing and hammering of tho ordinary party
processes. 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
Mortons. Ii will rank third in size, and will have
a power of accretion that Morton's will not possess.
Nr Bristrow's strength may be said with absolute
truth TO be a spontaneous outgrOwh OF the popular
admiration for his course in the Treasury. There
has been no organization here working for him, and
none Of tho efforts usually resorted to for the ad-
vancement of candidates prospects have been
undertaken either by himself his personal friends
He il n candidate solely because public sentiment
has made him
Third misapprehension That Gov. Haycs's nomi-
nation IS out Of the question. Nothing Is impossi-
bic in n nominating Convention when there are half
dozen competitors in the field, and nothing is more
possible, in case of q number OF ballots at Cincn-
natl without a choice, than union of the losing
candidates upon Hayes, against whom nobody has
the slightest il-feeling. This way of defeating