The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-09-05
Who Shall be President7

Auo NoW 1OIk L1CftttW (llSCuSS0S
tho presidential contest of 1880, and
endoavors to narrow down tho
chances between the aspirants in
each party. The task of selecting
tho Democratic candidate is the
moro difficult as no ono of tho pos
siblo four-Thurman, Hendricks,
Bayard and Tildcn-has fatal weak
ness. Bayard would have the best
chance were it not that no comes
from the smallest State in tho Union,
and ono undoubtedly Democratic,
so that tho party will probably seek
q strong man in somo doubtful
State. Tho .UcraM is n hard
money paper and therefore has
]ittlo use for Thurman and less for
Hendricks. It does not SEQ it's way
to rule any of the four absolutely
from the track.
But to the task Of showing what
Republicans cannot be nominated
tho Herald betakcs itself with
alacrity. The aspirants arc Blaine.
Bristow, Conkling, Hartranft, Joe
Hawloy, J. T. Wilson of Iowa, "a
dark horse) and Washburno and
Grant, The three first arc disposed
of in breath. Blaine's NIullican
letters killed him when tho party
was strong enough to try weak
candidate. The Herald says, "The
Republican nomination in 1876 was
equivalent to an election, but in
1880 the chances are that any ordi-
nary Republican will be beaten"
and it then proceeds to SHOW that
tho. candidates must be stronger
than the party. Bris:ow cannot
harmonic the clements, for he AMI
Grant were at dagger's points, and
he only developed strength as an
enemy Of Grantism. Conkling is
young, not quite fifty, He can
afford to wait. Besides, his bitter
fead with Hayes would prevent
nomination ut present. The Hcrula
thinks he will so back to the Senate.
The chances of Hawlcy and Wilson
arc considered too microscopic to be
noticed. This narrows the field
to Washburne and Grant. Of the
former the Herald says that he was
in Congress tie unflinching enemy
of jobbcry. His long absence in
Paris removed him from the inter-
MI discords of tho party, while
his conduct as minister to France
during the Franco -Prussian war
makes him popular with the Ger
mans. The conclusion is, eff tho
Republican, party had not become so
debilitated as it is, Atr. Washburno
would mako o strong candidate.
But the party is reduced to such
condition that what it needs is not
so much candidate as O savior.
1t is tho opinion Of many Republi.
cans that no man so we'll meets this
requirement as General Grant"
OF Grant tho Herald has this to
say:
Itseems to be generally admitted
that no otl.er citizen has so strong
n hold upon the Republican party or
upon tho national feeling as General
Grant. The great series Of oyations
which have been given him in
Europe has strengthened him in his
own country by gratifying tho
national prido of his countrymen.
The Influences which tend toward
his nomination are as active, per-
vading and potent rs those which
originally made him candidate
against his will in 1868. Whether
he can bo elected as we'll rs nomi-
mated depends so much on tho
popularity Of the Democratic candi-
date whom he will have to run
against that no opinion can yet be
formed as to his success. Wo think
that, although he is the strongest
candidate the Republican party
could take up, he has moro chances
to be beaten than to bo a1ected !.