The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-02

force and cogency Of mathematical dem
onstration. Suppose, for illustration. that
you could make a complete list of all
the possible candidates for some office-say
Mayor of New York-and that Messieurs A,
b, c, d and E composed such perfect
list If, then, with this schedule OF candi-
dates before you, you could state absolutely
conclusive reasons why A is an impossible
candidate, and other but equally conclu-
sive reasons why b cannot be a candidate,
and, in like manner. of G and ID, your
augmentation, exclusive Of the first
four would be u demonstration that
be the actual candidate. This would
irresistibly follow ii You started with
complete list and assigned valid rea-
sons for the successive exclusions. If IN
children's game certain trinket were
held in the right hand of some one of the
players and each right hand were in turn
Enclosed and found empty until the fair
haired Laura was the only one whose little
fist remained unopened, the conclusion
would be irresistible that she held the
trinket even before she was required to
spread out her tiny hand
1t is less difficult to apply this method OF
exhaustion-which might more fifty have
been named the method of excl usion--to the
republican than to the democratic candi-
dates for the Presidency. 1t is easy
enough to make a list from which
the democratic candidate will be
taken, but it would be too hazardous
and venturesome to say Of any individual
in the list that he had no real chance for
| the nomination. The democratic catalogue
may be quickly filled up. 1t includes but
four names B yard, Thurman, Hendricks
and Tilden. The weak points Of each are
apparent enough, but it cannot yet be as
serted in the case Of any three Of them
| that the weak points are fatal. Mr.. Bayard
would make an excellent President he is
upright, able, courageous, consistent, chiv-
alrous, and is unfinchingly correct on
the whole circle Of monetary and financial
questions. Moreover, he is Southern
man and would be particularly acceptable
to the South, which forms the great body of
the democratic party. This is the bright
side; now for the dark side. 1t is the mis-
fortune Of Mr.. Bayard to represent
one of the smallest States in the
Union, State which is securely dem
ocratic whoever may be the candidate
of his party. The temptation is to take the
candidate from some one OF the great States
whose vote is doubtful enough to enable
popular candidate to turn the scale. Della
ware being secure, in any event. Mr.. Thur
man might be preferred if it was deemed
certain that he could carry Ohio and that
no other candidate could or Mr.. Tilden
might be preferred if he was thought to be
the only candidate that could carry New
York. In our judgment Mr.. Bayard would
make a better run in New York than Mr..
Tilden himself; but it is probable that the
Tilden Influence would be thrown for
Thurman or Hendricks, rather than see Mr.
Tilden cut out by another hard money man.
1t would be less notifying to him to be
beaten by the Western sentiment of his
party on the currency than to be eclipsed
by the superior personal popularity Of Sem
ator Bayard.
Mr. Thurman is q statesman of strong
faculties and ripe experience, who enjoyed
and deserved the confidence Of his party
until he began TO trim on the money ques-
ton. His recreancy to sound principles
may help him in the West and if Western
ideas are to control the National Conven-
ton the Eastern democrats may prefer
Thurman to such a trimmer rs H. Tricks.
1t is impossible to say that Mr.. Thurman
ho a 10 p1i data
not knowing what bargain or combinations
may be made, it is equally impossible to
say that Mr. Tilden or Mr.. Hendricks will
not.
But when we turn our view to the re-
publican side there is less uncertainty as to
the chances of particular candidates. The
republican list il somewhat longer than
the democratic list. but SO many OF
the names must be thrown out on
examination as quickly to reduce it
10 two available names, and perhaps to one.
The republican list of possible and barely
possible candidates includes the names of
Blaine. Bristow, Conkling- who had con-
siderable strength in the National Conven-
ton of ls76-of Hartranft, who also had
some votes in that Convention given merely
10 play him of against other candidates
until their chances should be developed
u Hawley and James f. Wilson, one of
whom may be taken up as compromise
candidate ID the Convention Of 1880 should
be brought TO a deadlock; and last, but not
least, cr-Ministor washburne and General
Grant Alittie consideration will eliminate
every one Of these except the two last, and
even Mr.. wsshburno has but q slender
chance Tor the nomination.
FIRST in respect to Blaine. He had the
largest number OF votes in 1870 until the
concentration on Governor Hayes. but it is
improbable that he will ever come so near