The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-22

There Is widespread Ieeilug tHot III "o
vet witness on the Presidential stage is mere
prelude, and that when the curtain rises on
the real play it will reveal a different set of
actors and some changes Of costume. This
expectation, OF this surmise, rests upon very
good reasons. None of the known candi-
dates on either side has or seems likely to
secure a majority Of the delegates in the
National Convention of his party. There are
one or two on each side who will receive
pretty large vote in the early ballotings, but
it will be only large enough to arouse the
jealousy of competitors and stimulate COM
binations for defeating the one who has the
best start at the outset. In the Cincinnati
Convention Conkling and Blaine, who
bitterly hate each other, will lead on the
first ballot, and the friends Of Morton, Bris-
tow, Hayes and Jewell will hold their dele
gates steadily in hand. hoping that the
other out in protracted and fruit
less struggle which may generate so
much bad blood between their supporters
that the Convention can be harmonized only
by setting them both aside and concentrat-
ing upon some candidate who has stood
neutral in this contest. Every other candi-
date on the list, including even Hartranft,
who was not put forward by Pennsylvania
with any expectation that he could be NOM
mated, will entertain hopes that when Conk-
ling and Blaine are out of the race he may
have o chance, since nobody can foresee
where the Conkling and Blaine columns will
60 when they break and scatter. Morton,
his utmost, not merely to keep his own sup
porters in hand, but to encourage the
friends of the other minor candidates to
stand their ground, seeing that he has no
chance at all but in preventing concentra-
ton on Blaine or Conkling. But when
these leading competitors are forced to with
draw it will be a smaller sacrifice Of pride
for their adherents to vote for some candi-
date who has not been SO active and resolute
a rival to both as Morton has been through
out the preliminary canvass Hostile as
Conkling and Blaine are to each other in
every other respect they will be of one mind
in wishing to pay Morton off for his impair
republican candidates will thus be put on
the shelf, and the contest will then be among
the weaker competitors, or between all of
them together and the Great Unknown.
The chances are that Conkling, Blaine and
Morton-whose supporters will form large
majority of the Convention-will prefer the
Great Unknown to any of the second rate or
third rate candidates. Being strong men
themselves they will feel natural contempt
for inferior abilities. Besides, they have
common motive for desiring the success of
their party, and they know too well that this
Presidential contest is to be SO close and
doubtful that the republicans have no su-
perfuous strength which they can afford to
throw away. The Great Unknown may be
far stronger candidate than any of their
minor rivals, and it is for their
interest that the republican candidate
be man whose name will CON-
mand public confidence as soon as it is
will have great potency. If Hayes should be
nominated by the aid Of Blaine's friends
Blaine would virtually control the federal
patronage, to which neither Conkling nor
Morton would consent. In like manner, if
Hartranft should be nominated by Conk-
lings assistance Conkling would be
s'power behind the throne" result to
which neither Blaine nor Morton would con-
sent. If the three leading candidates are
defeated, as seems probable, they will prefer
some one whom they can jointly support,
and who, if elected, will recognize their
claims and services When, in the progress
Of the Convention, all three are put outside
the pale of choice, the Great Unknown is
more likely to prove the winning horse than
any of the weaker ones who have been
regularly entered for the race.
But who will the republican clark horse"
be? That is q question which it would re-
quire prophet to answer, and the HERALD
does not profess to be either prophet nor
even seventh son." But we think
it safe to affirm that the republi-
can party has several men in its
ranks who would discharge the duties
of the Presidency with as much credit
and discretion as any of those who yet make
u i
fish in the sea as any which have been
caught out of it." and as good candidates
for the republican nomination as any of
those who have been fshed up and dangled
in the face of the public. We need not go
out of our own State to find more than one
republican who would make useful and
honest President. Mr. Fish, Mr.. Evarts and
Mr.. Wheeler are samples, and it would be
easy to extend the list. 1t would be equally
easy to suggest many good candidates in
other States, but we will mention only one,
who may serve as favorable specimen.
Mr.. Washburne would not only be popular
and available candidate, but would make as
successful President as the very best of the
gentlemen who are now on the cards. More
effectually than any other candidate he