Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-11
THE LUCK OF DARK HORSES. ].

his conduct that would be likely to unfit him
to discharge the duties of the position to
which he aspires. So it happens that few of
those who urge their claims to office early in
campaign attain their ambition, but that
some man scarcely mentioned previous to
the time of holding the convention is taken
up and made the standard bearer of his
party. q 500 -azv.@ !. ,zaisjs
A glance at the past history of the coun-
try-at the aspirants for the position of
President will illustrate the folly of enter
ing upon the canvass for that position too
soon. From the days of Polk down to the
present time We have had series of acci-
dental Presidents-men who won the nomi-
nation almost unasked. in the face of poll
ticians who had been scheming for the posi-
ton for years. Polk was nominated in 1914
because of the inability of the party to con-
solidate upon any of the other more promi-
nent candidates. He was comparatively un-
known, though at one time he had been
Speaker OF the House, and he was triumph
antly elected. Zachary Taylor, was the hero
of an hour, and rushed into Office upon the
back Of single sentence spoken at the bat
tie of Monterey "A little more grape, Cap
tain Bragg" This common place command,
caught up and iterated and reiterated
throughout the country, actually made him
| the President, and COMPOUNDED the astute
politicians who had long been intriguing for
the honor. When Pierce was nominated
universal inquiry arose sWho is Pierce?''
He himself is said to have been SO as
founded at the report of his nomination
that he treated it as a joke, and re-
fused to believe it until there was no longer
room for disbelief He had been antegon-
lied by some of the ablest statesmen and
most adroit political workers in the country.
Although Buchanan had long been in public
life, having been secretary of state under
Polk and minister to England under Pierce,
he was not regarded as possible candidate
for the Presidency until a very short time
previous to his nomination. when he defeat
ed such we'll known statesmen as Douglas
and Cass. When Lincoln was nominated he
was comparatively unknown, and no one
supposed his candidacy was other than one
of his practical jokes. Seward, Cameron and
Chase were all regarded as among the prob
abilities, but no Tone dared to hazard the
prediction that Mr.. Lincoln would win.g
His success on the third ballot aston
ished the country, and his success at the polls
resulted in our civil war. His second nom
ination was military necessity, and rather
than run the risk involved in swapping
horses while crossing stream he secured it
without opposition. Gen. Grant was less of
an accident than the others named. He had
made great reputation as asoldier, and at
the close of Johnson's administration the
country demanded military man for the
chief executive. His merits were discussed
for a considerable time beforehand, and
when the time came he received the honor.
The last Presidential nomination was
probably as good an illustration of the good
luck that falls to the dark horse in political
race as any. For years the newspapers had
been discussing the merits of Blaine, Conk-
ling, Bristow, Morton and Hartranft, but
Hayes had not been mentioned. About
month before the convention he was sug-
gested, and when the convention met he re-
ceived the vote of his own State simply as
compliment, none of the delegates
supposing for an instant that he
would be nominated. But as the day
wore away in fruitless ballotings his strength
increased and he carried off the prize, while
those who had for so long been before
the public we're completely discounted. He
is monument of the truth of our PROPOSE
ton.
Everything now points to a repetition of
he the history of the past, next year. Can
didates for Presidential honors are spring
ing up on every hand, but like Jonah's gourd
they soon wither away. Blaine has man
aged to keep himself conspicuous by sheer
audacity. Conkling abandoned hope year
ago, and will be content for the future to
exhibit his hyperion curls in the Senate for
the remainder of his term. Sherman
got himself talked about for a time, but that
was his death blow, and he has practically
retired. Grant has been made much of, and
AoA " AZ" Noy oAS0I LIS l0GuIQ
from his travels it appeared
as if nothing could prevent
his winning the nomination. But the en-
thusiasm that greeted him is already wan
ing, and there is danger that he will be
killed by being too much of candidate.
The man most likely to carry off the prize is
prudently keeping himself in retirement
awaiting results, and he is Elihu B. Wash
burne.
On the Democratic side there is pleni-
tude of candidates, but these are, one after
the other, disappearing from the public
gaze. The most prominent, Tilden, is said
to have practically abandoned the field. At
any rate, his unpopularity is increasing daily.
Thurman, Hendricks and Bayard are now
but little talked of, and it is more than prob
able. that some new man-perhaps Gen.
Hancock-may come to the fore prior to the
date of the convention. Certain it is, that
nothing is gained by entering the political
arena if we may judge by the good fortune
Of dark horses in the past