The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-05-29
AbOut RIaine.

| 1ue TACT tnat MI. Blame IS the hTst choice
OF majority of the members of the Metho-
dist general conference, now in session at
Baltimore. ought not to hurt him any.
They have phrase in New England which
actually describes the present operations of
the smut machines in the case of Mr.. Blaine.
1t is running emptins. IN. Y. Tribune.
Some of the independent newspapers say
they are not satisfied with the explanation Of
Tom Scott. That was not expected; if he
had blackened Blaine they would have been
delighted.-Ne,o Hampshire Sentinel.
| The Blaine men are naturally very jubilanl
over the result of Wednesdays conventions,
which add eighty-eight to his strength, and
make it certain that he will largely outstrip
all competitors on the first ballot.-Hartford
CourGnt.
| The New York Tribune remarks that the
Republicans of the Springfield Mass. Dis
trict have just shown their respect for the
Springfield Republicans opinions. They
have chosen two delegates 10 Cincinnati, one
from Pittsfield, the other from Springfield
itself, and both Blaine men. This seems a
little unkind to the prophet who was cock
sure of solid Bristow delegation from Massa-
| chusetts.
| There is one thing reasonably certain con-
corning the character of Mr.. Blaine for per-
sonal integrity. He has, by his manner of
meeting the charges made against him, dis
played sensitiveness regarding his reputa-
tion and standing, that a really dishonest
man would not have been likely TO show. II
he had been guilty of what has been alleged
/ we very much doubt whether he would have
met the case exactly as he has done,-SaLem
| Gazette.
There is no state in the Union where the
feeling which animated the Republican party
during the war remains more earnest than in
Illinois, and Mr.. Blaine's outspoken course
| on the amnesty bill, with his tilt with Ben
Hill OF Georgia, drew this feeling very strong
| ly toward him. This is true, also, OF Mime
| sofa, where nine of the ten delegates are for
Blaine, and there is little doubt that this sem
timent accounts for great deal of the sue
cess which his friends have met with in the
canvass for the nomination.-N. Y. Times.
The "a delegates secured to Mr.. Blaine
Wednesday, raise his total from 185 10 269.
He will have the remaining six votes of Kan
sas and the % of Iowa, which will raise his
list to 300. The half of the Louisiana and
| Florida conventions, which he has every in
dication of getting, will take him into the
Cincinnati convention with fully $40 reliable
votes, to say nothing of various probabilities
which we have not counted on. This will be
| more than twice the strength of any other
candidate, and with such prestige he can
hardly fail to gain on the second ballot when
the ''favorite son" business is given up, the
81 additional votes requisite to secure the
nomination. Wednesdays conventions
leave no doubt that James G. Blaine is the
| coming man.-Sprinafeld Union.
At this distance of time before the conven-
tion, we believe the best sentiment OF the
party would prefer either Mr.. Blaine or Mr..
Bristow to any other candidate who will be
supported on the first ballot. We do not
even except the gentlemen, some of whom
have perhaps, said indiscreet things, whose
magnificent and altogether praiseworthy
enthusiasm in favor of reform has already
| effected SO much in the present canvass. If
they have been led astray for the moment by
| knot Of politicians outside o politics whose
| motto is, "Where you see a head, hit it,n
they will soon discover the real objects Of
of their false leaders to be political assassina-
tion rather than reform. When they take
time to reflect coolly they will acknowledge,
whatever may be the result of the Cincinnati
convention, that there was no reason in the
bitter hostility with which Mr. Blaine has
been pursued; and therefore we say that, all
reports to the contrary notwithstanding, Mr.
Blaine may count upon the cordial support
and the full vote of the party, and upon a tri-
umphant election, if the national convention
shall choose him to lead the ticket.-Boston
Advertiser.
The Washington correspondent of the New
York Tribune says: The late tremendous
strides made BY Mr.. Blaine in the Presiden-
tial race have had very exhilirating effect
on his friends in Congress and the depart
ments, as well as those who are visiting here.
Those closest to him say they have no doubt
that will be nominated on the first or second
ballot, and they give what they say are au-
thentic reasons for the belief that is within
them. Their figures are striking and in
teresting. They say that with his large sup
port in other sections, New England will give
him her solid support on the first ballot-S2
delegates. He then has the following dele
gate support: New jersey, IS; Delaware, 6;
Maryland, 16; Virginia, 1S; North Carolina,
10; Georgia, II; Mississippi, 5; Tennessee,
8; Texas, 3; Oregon, 9; California, 10; Col
oSauo' +, tuo !e.riCofieS, 10, hansas, lU;
Nevada, 6; Missouri, 10; Minnesota, 10;
Wisconsin, %; Illinois, Al; Michigan, 16'
In addition, Mr.. Blaine's confidants say he
will receive from Iowa % votes, and from
Florida 6. These are counted for on the first
ballot, and number 1872, which win lack only
Is of a majority of the convention. In case
the votes credited for Mr.. Bristow are re-
ceived by him, which some OF Mr.. Blaine's
friends doubt, these figures will be reduced
hQf fxua to Nha fri IL. - Al.
statesman seems 10 have good cause for re-
joicing.
Whether the charges against Mr.. Blaine
are instigated by Republican rivals or Demo-
cratic enemies, the fact remains that the in
vestigation thus far has served only to de-
stroy campaign material that might have
been useful to the Democrats in case of his
nomination On the Pacific coast he seems
to have been strengthened-such is the opin-
ion of the Sacramento Record Union--by the
failure to establish the charges. The Record
Union says also: ''Nor is it less obvious that
the course Of the Democrats is tending to
render Blaine the most eligible man the Re-
publicans can take, from tactical stand
point, for whereas with an unknown candi-
date the risk must be encountered of all kinds
of charges turning up against him after NOM
ination, the Democrats are so ordering mat
tiers that by the time the Convention meets
they themselves will have unwttingly given
Blaine the very strongest Endorsement con-
ceivable, and will have effectually disposed of
every charge which could be brought against
him In the canvass. 1t may be said that
there are plenty of other men who could
make as creditable a showing under the mi
croscope as he, and that may be conceded,
but none OF those other men have had the
advantage of passing through the anneaiing
furnace, and he has; and the importance Of
this distinction can hardly be exaggerated.
1t is certain, too, that the country now knows
more OF Blaine than of any other man who
has been named for the Presidency, and that
TO increase the general belief in his honesty,
and the general esteem for his talents"