The New York herald., 1878-12-19
\ WASHIN GT0N.
A Bird 's-Eye View of the Po-
litical Situation.
POLICIES OF THE TWO PARTIES.
Republicans Sounding the
Old Bugle Call.
SECTIONAL AGITATION AND GRANT
Gossip from the Friends and Enc
mics Of Mr. Conkling.
BLAINE'S AMBITIONS AND PURPOSES
c,.u1thern Democrats Returning t0
SECTIONAL AGITATION AND GRANT
'BLAINE'S AMBITIONS AND PURPOSES
Southern Democrats Returning to
Sound Currency Views.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

y.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s, 1873
THE CAMPAIGN OF 18S0-ATTITUDE OF THE
PARTY LEADERs--How VICTORY CAN DE BEST
ORGANIZED.
Although the session has far less than three
weeks and has been singulary free from exciting
events, the gathering of prominent men from all
parts of the country has had important effect upon
the temper and policies of parties. There have been
important debates for the discussion of the Blaine
resolutions after the first day attracted little atten
ton. but there have been numerous and constant
private consultations which likely to bear impor-
tant results in the future.
POLICY AND THE MAN.
The leaders of each party casting about for
policy for 1880 and it is as to policies. and not con-
cerning men, that they consulting. Candidates
will depend platforms. and neither party will
have it is well understood large latitude in select
ing its ticket The Western democrats speak of Thur
man. the Eastern of Bayard. The Southern democrats
for the present silent. but all united in de-
claring against Mr.. Tilden utterly unavailable and
out of the question. He had his chance
and flung it away, they say and he
have no further prctensions. Few democratic dark
horses named. though hears occasionally of
General Hancock.
On the republican side General Grant undoubtedly
looms up more and more. The President is reported
TO have said to friend that Grant seemed to him
most probable because the prominent rivals, Sena-
tors Blaine and Conkling. would be able to defeat
each other. and, he shrewdly added the republican
politicians not likely to risk dark horse again
very soon.
coNKLING FOR GRANT (?
The political gossips have been speculating about
the meaning of report which has been freely set
by of YnO's m mosf fa fuI
friends during the past week These say that the
Senator has told them in the most positive language
that he is not candidate for the Presidency but
That he is in favor of the nomination of General
Grant. They add that he is undoubtedly in earnest
In this announcement and. while they regret his de-
termination. they ready to follow his wish and
judgment. This is malignant and evil thinking
world. and it is therefore not wonderful that those
who prefer somebody else to Mr. Conkling laugh ut
this report and meanly suggest that Mr. Conkling
forcsees that General Grant easily be defeated in
the next Convention by careful management but that
he will be able to turn very formidable number
of delegates to his favorite candidate. and that
Grants heir Mr.. Conkling would thus have very
god chance for the nomination Such is the tone Of
personal politics here, where in the august
Senate Mr.. Blaine openly accused the other
day Of being engaged in company with
his famous resolution in political
adventure for the Presidency" 1t may
be well to add that the reports that the President
is Grant man without foundation. He takes no
part in personal politics and has candidate.
REPUBLICAN POLICY.
But persons less discussed than policies at this
time The republicans came here pretending to be
united for sound currency. and were inclined to
make that their platform in 1880. But they presently
discovered that not only they not united this
question. but many even of their professed hard
money people weak in the knees. Messrs.
Burchard and Fort, who attacking the national
banks, represent. it is seen. pretty formidable
element of republicans given to silver and
other currency dclusions and inclined TO be put
down. Mr.. Blaine who travelled extensively through
the West and Northwest during the fall gained prob.
ably realizing of this fact and II is this per-
haps which led him to put himself, and far as he
could. his party upon revival of sectional agta-
ton and suspicion.
GOOD ADVICE BLAINE.
1t is part of the gossip OF the day that when Mr.
Blaine came here last month no exchanged views on
the situation with some Southern men OF
influence and sound Judgment and that he
was urged by these not to bring in his resolution.
but to openly abandon the Southern question
lend his influence TO reorganization Of the Southern
wing Of the republican party by drawing respectable
and influential men into its leadership and declaring
told it is said that tho domocrattc party in many or
indeed most of the southern States is so ready TO
split to pieces that nothing but the nical attitude
Of the Northern republicans holds togcther that the
appointment of respectable and influential to the
important federal Offices instead Of such oous persons
as Wells. Anderson and others like them. If coupled
with bold and outspokcn declaration of sympathy
and friendship by man OF Mr.. Blane's influence in
his party, would create at formidable and re-
spectacle republican party in the South and
carry of large part Of the white VOTE and that IT,
top of this. he should take the lead in movement
for the improvement Of the Mississippi levccs and
moderate advocacy of ocean subsidies and into rnal
and harbor impro vcments in the Southern States.
policy to which he IL ON general principles believed
to be favorable he could for himself not only
the entire southern republican delegation in the con.
vention of 1880. but the electoral votes of or six
Southern States. and greatly benefit the whole coun-
try by ending alarm and agitation and creating two
white parties all over the South.
ADVICE uSHEEDED
This report rests pretty good authority and IL
Is well known that Mr. Blaine has always been kindly
regarded by many Southern men. who believe that at
bottom he is not i'll disposed toward them and that
at any rate. they often say. he is the best and the
most kind hearted Of the republican leaders But IL
1t is true. surely there is great poverty of ideas
among tho republican politicians when one Of their
foremost men lacks either the boldness the faith
TO seize such an opportunity. Mr.. Blaine chose TO
reject these suggestions and to commit his
fortunes to new sectional agitation.
lie is shrcwd. but not a far-sighted man. He has
done what he could to tie his party the stale issue
of "thc SOUTH and he may have judged rightly in
doing go. for the codness with which his movement
treated by the republican Senators arose largely
out of jealousy OF his predominancc. At any rate
no republican has opposed him. is there among
the leading of his party here any sign that they
mean or desire 10 push forward new policies
or that they accessible 10 ideas. on the con-
trary, they display singular horror OF new depar.