The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-03

perfect concentration of republican senti-
ment long in advance of the National Con-
vention, the Presidential nominee of each of
those conventions having been as we'll known
before it assembled as he was after the selec-
ton had been formally declared. But at
present there is no concentration upon any
candidate, and little prospect of any until
after several ballotings have been had at
Cincinnati. The preliminary action of the
State conventions tends to division. not
unity. Two of the three republican conven-
tons held last week pledged their delegates
to candidates who are not their real choice,
and the third sent an unpledged delegation.
1t is we'll understood that Governor Hart
ranft is not to receive the final vote of
Pennsylvania, nor Governor Hayes the final
vote of Ohio and although majority of the
Vermont delegates favor Mr.. Blaine they
have full liberty to vote for any other candi-
| date.
| 1t is already certain that at least six can
didntes will be voted for in the earlier bal
lettings at Cincinnati. The number of dele
gates from each State is double its electoral
| votes, and on the first ballot Senator Conkling
will receive 60 Of the 20 from New York (Mr.
Curtis being the exception); Governor Hayes
| the "A from Ohio; Governor Hartranft the So
from Pennsylvania; Mr. Blaine most of those
| from New England with small addition
| from one or two Western States; Senator
Morton the 80 from Indiana, with some
Southern and Western additions; and Secre-
| tary Bristow the 20 from Kentucky, with
| probable additions. The first ballot will
therefore be no index to the final result, and
no political prophet or son of q prophet can
predict the choice Of the Convention. It is
the cue of each candidate to magnify his
prospects and exaggerate his gains,
because if the opinion were widely
diffused that any one is particularly
strong that opinion would make him strong.
No candidate understands this kind of tactics
making more progress than any of his rivals,
he is also more active in plying all newspa-
per men whom he can directly or indirectly
reach with the story of his gains.
Mr.. Blaine's friends claim the Ohio and
Pennsylvania delegates as soon as they cease
to vote for Hayes and Hartranft, but this
claim needs to be taken with grent abate-
ment. The Cincinnati Commercial has ascer-
tanned, since the adjournment of the Ohio
Convention, that after Hayes is abandoned
the delegation from that State will stand
s for Morton, II for Blaine and "a
for Bristow. Such strength rs Blaine
has in Ohio is in the northeastern part
of the State, called the Western Reserve,
which was originally settled from New Eng
land. His pretensions in Pennsylvania may
be somewhat better founded. He is o
native of that State, and is more favor
able to its high tariff policy than any other
of the leading candidates. But the Pennsyl-
vania delegation will be controlled by Sena-
tor Cameron, who is too old schemer to
commit himself while the eddying waters
afford no indication of the real drift Of the
current He has given the Pennsylvania
delegation nominally to Hartranft, with the
purpose of holding it in reserve and throw
ing it at last on the winning side. The
States whose delegates are pledged will con-
tinue to vote for their favorite candidates
until there is manifest concentration of
opinion in the Convention, and if the ten
dency should be toward Blaine, Pennsyl-
vania will go in, turn the scale in his favor,
and claim her reward in the distribution of
offices. But Cameron and his cohorts will
be equally willing to render the same SER
vice to any other rising candidate in expec-
tation of the same reward. In Pennsylvania,
therefore, Mr.. Blaine is counting his
chickens before they are Matched, while Ohio
is more likely to favor Secretary Bristow, if he
should develop strength in other quarters.
But, although Mr.. Blaine is oversanguine,
he is perceptibly and steadily gaining, which
Is more than can be said of any of his nu-
merous rivals. This fact cannot be safely
ignored by Senator Conkling, who has but q
slender prospect of gaining supporters out
side of his own State Possessing the conf
dence Of President Grant, he is in position
to exert greater influence on the ultimate
choice of the Convention than any other
member of the republican party if he will
exercise little foresight and some magma
nimity. He must assume, by his voluntary
act, the same position in the canvass in which
Hayes and Hartranft have been placed by
their respective State conventions, expect
ing nothing for himself beyond the unknown
possibilities of the chapter OF accidents, and
holding his delegation in hand chiefly with
view to turn the scale between
other candidates in the final crisis
| Of the battle. His influence which
may prove decisive if he makes skilful
use Of it, depends on his peculiar relation to
New York politics and the exceptional i'm
portance of New York in the Presidential
election. The loss of New York by either
party is loss of the whole battle The
State is in democratic hands, and can be
rescued only by the most perfect unity
among the republicans. The nomination of