New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-28
THE RACE FOE The PRESIDENCY.


THE PARTY LEADERS IN AN MOURNING FRAME OF
MISp-rHE FEELING ABOUT GENERAL GRANT
DETERMINATION NOT TO BE PREMATURE.
IFROM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT THE rRrBUSEl
HARRisBURG, Penn, July 25.-Durng the recent
Republican State Convention here tried to ascer-
TAM by talking with the delegates, if there is any
decided drift of sentiment IN the party Ia Pennsy-
vania as 80 the Presidential nomination next year.
| found the party leaders, almost without excep-
ton, occupying a non-eommittal attitude. As one
of them expressed it, they are in inquirng state
of mind. They seem to have very strong prefer
enees and few Dreudices. The events of the next
year will they think. show who is the most availa-
bic man for the party to rally around, aud they
mean to preserve their freedom Of choice so thai
they can give him their support: or If one man
looms mp above all uvals they believe there will De
a group OF eonspcuously excellent candidates, OF
nearly equal popularity, and that the selection
can be left to the chances Of eonyen-
ton without the slightest danger that
bad choice viii be made. Ii seems to
be the general opinion. however, that the rank
and lille of the party IN Pennsylvania are FOR Grant
by large majority, and that II delegates 10 tue
National Convention were to be chosen this Sum-
mer they would tie them up with positive Grant
Instructions The "Grant boom appears TO- have
pretty much run itself out among the prominent
politicians but it still Influences the masses OF the
party. The leaders think this influence il getting
weaker ali the and will not last much Longer,
unless the Confederate brigadIers ia Congress De-
have very badly next Winter and tae people get 1t
INTO their heads that there is going be attempt
TO count out Republican President, if fairy
elected. OF to prevent his Inauguration. In that
case they would he for the man whom they believe
most likely successfully to maintain his rightsthe
h, he
Presidency If elected, nor scared out of it.
The strength of Grants candidacy If II be fair 10
consider him a candidate. lies in the popular ap-
probation Of a Democratic scheme TO defeat the
VIII Of the people, and IN the popular desire to IN
terpose strong and resolute personality IN the
path of the Bourbon reaction. II there should be
no fresh Indications of such a scheme, anu II the
reaction should stop here 1t Is. ia All probability
the Grant sentiment VIII continue 10 sub-lde, aud
Will not be active enough to make itself felt next
year An effective argument on the ground OF eX-
pedieney Is already made against IT, the n0mlna-
ton of Grant, II Is said, would put the Republican
party on the defensive and OOlige IL 10 apOi'gizr
and explain it, departure from tne practice OF CIV
ing no President more ,han Two terms. h@asons
would have to be found for placing Grant ABOVE
Washington. Mean lille the Den1cTaIs would ne
able, to a considerable extent 20 diFeft attention.
from their reactlonary state rights pruaranAe, anu
10 assume 10 be resisting HOm patriotic impulses
the intrusion of C.esarIsm into our system or
Government. Thus the real Issue OF the ca uIJiga
would Ue IN danger of becoming ODscureU, Wbllt
the contest ragged around the personal merits ana
claims of single individual. Tbs l. IN substance
the argument l hear from many influential Rc-
pubilcans.
10 present TO the Republican Convention, LA-GoY-
ernOr Hartranft for whom her dc egatiou voted al
Cincinnati IN 1876, Is out OF the field since Ire be-
came Postmaster at PHILADELPHIA. The Office
of Postmaster is a useful and honorable posi-
ton but Il never a stepping-stOne 30 the PIe,-
dencv, and probably never viii DE. Governor Hart
rauft was IN the line OF possible promotion To tae
White House, but Postmaster HdrtraIH Is not
There Is nobody else who viii be likely 70 las
claim 10 even a complimentary vO,e from the Penn
syyania delegation, and II Grant o. out or the Heid
IN will probably 20 for Blame, whose popularity,
not quite great now as IN 1870, = SUI greater
than that Of any otner candidate taihSo oI.
Judging from the clat ot the delegates 10 last
Wednesday, Convention, Sherman would Sreln -
be not very far behind Blaine, and to De growing
in the estimation of the party. As 10 other
candidates the talk ran something IKE tAs
Thar CouEling mas No following outside OF New
York unless d be III the south, but may
be able 10 control tine nominations through TIE
weight Of the New York delegation that Aecier
would be an available man and would stand gJou
chance of the nomination II JOHkilug shOHld sup
port hlm thai Edmunds would Ue excellent
COMPROMISE nominee M case o. prolonged strife
between the strong candidates; that General ben
Harrison, OF IulIana, may be the dark borsr, ana
that Ehhu b. Nashburne has record and personal
qualities thdt VIII make him formidable II she Hi
nos Delegation adopts him as IT'S candidate.
All TINS is Of course mere gossip ana specnaton. III
serves only to show how the Pennsylvania hepubI-
cans look at the question Oh candidates az TINS TINE
The only facts OF much significance are the lack OF
partisan support for any cantuddte the desire 10
leave the question open until II can De wisely ne
cidrd in the light OF events mp 20 The eve OF the
National Convention, and the confidence that the
Repuhhcau party possesses an abundance Of excel
lent timDer from which 20 make It's selection.