The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-02
BoB's BABBLE
On the Presidential Contsst-What The
Pagan Preacher Presents for Pub.
Ito Psrusal- Non. .Cummittal on
Some Things and Certain
on Other Matters.

i CHtCAG0, January Sl.-ln an interview
with Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll on the
Presidential question, the famous free
thinkers said Of the situation in Washing
ton:
"The areall looking after their chances
Every one has his lightning rod away UP
in expectation OF Presidential stroke,
and Is afraid to vote even to adjourn lest
in some way his chances should be in.
jured."
Asked about Maine, Ingersoll replied
that the turn Of affairs in that State gave
Blaine a boost. He added that Maine and
Vermont were cycling each other jealously.
Vermont seemed to have It's breath taken
away at the suggestion that anything new
or great could come from down in Maine
or New Hampshire. Ingersoll expressed
the opinion that nobody would be nomin.
ated by a:clamation at the Chicago Con-
vention. Blaine would have the most
votes on the first ballot, getting them from
four New England States, Pennsylvania,
Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas,
Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Michigan, Cal.
ifornia, and half OF the Southern States
"Name the New England States you
reckon on"
MAINE, Connecticut, Vermont and New
Hampshire. Possibly he will get Rhode
Island. He only got one vote from that
section last time. He would have Massa-
chusetts this time had 1t not been for the
speech which he made in which he gave
the old Commonwealth skinning about
its action in the war Of 1872.
"What other names are likely to come
before the Convention?"
~ think John Sherman will get some
votes from the Southern States, and the
Ohio delegation, on account OF his being
Secretary Of the Treasury. He is a good
man and would make good President
His brother being General OF the Army, |
don't believe the American people would
make him President. It would be giving
too much power into the hands OF one
family. Besides he has been connected
with Hayes administration, which Would
be great load to carry"
vote?"
'I don't think he speaks German"
Would not his financial policy secure
it?"
"His financial views arose simply from
his being compelled to carry out the law.
After resumption came, his proposition
to take away from the greenback It's legal
tender qualities was ill.timed, ill-advised d,
and met with little general favor. As
long as the people can have gold for
greenbacks on demand it Is no hardship
to make them legal tender. That day has
passed when gold could not be got. There
was the hardship"
"You mentioned two candidates. Are
you not going TO reckon Grant among the
possible candidates?"
~ don't think he will be candidate. L
don't think he wants it. There are men
who are pushing him on their own ac.
count. Grant was great soldier. He
won the respect Of the civilized world. He
commanded the largest army that ever
fought for freedom, and to make him
President would not add political leaf to |
the wreath OF fame already on his brow;
aid should he be elected, the only thing
he could do would be to keep the old |
wreath from fading"
"Will not some OF the men who are
pushing General Grant try to get the
for themselves in case, for any |
reason, 1t is not given TO him? Are there
not dark horses back OF Grant?"
"There will be no more dark horse busi-
ness this time. That was tried at Cincin.
natl, and that style, OF horse has grown
unpopular. We want a horse
OF another color. We don't want to elect |
a Hayes, and then see what will hatch
out"
"How do you think washburne will
run2"
~ understand that he saws he is not a
candidate for President, but he probably
will be. The next contest will be between
Blaine and Sherman"
Don't you want Conkling among the
81 don't believe he is candidate. II
believe Blaine would run better than any
other man. He is the only man we can
with any certainty feel we can elect. There |
is widespread prejudice against third |
term.
"What OF Tilden?"
He would not injure Blaine's chances
II nominated by the Democrats. In fact,
Tilden Is an easy man to beat, and IL may
be that the Democrats will be forced to |
put up the very one they can't elect.
think the coming Presidential contest will |
be the 6ercest this country has ever seen
but do not fear any trouble as result?"
"And on what issues?"
"Well, the whole history OF the war will
have to be gone over, the treatment OF the
blacks in the South, the payment OF the
National debt, the financial question-ior,
believe, the Greenback party will put
forward candidate"
"what do you think OF Mr.. Hendricks
chances2"
Hendricks has the cards, il he has the
boldness 10 play them. The Democrats
cannot get along without Indiana. I
should as soon see Hendricks elected as
any Democrat. Seymour Is q good
a little old, and l guess does not want
the place"
"Is there probability OF there being
any material change made In the election
laws before the Presidential contest?"
"Not by Congress. The States can make
changes SO as to elect Electors from each
Congressional District or by the Legisla-
ture, unless there Is something prohibitory
in their @ Constitution. But this would look
too much like trick. There ought to be a
general law-instead OF the several State
Electors meeting separately-ior them to
meet in abody for the choice OF President,
and the Electors should be absolutely in
dependent, so that the Executive should
be independent OF the Legislative and Ju-
dietary Departments Of the Government.
This Government can never stand another
High Joint Commission. believe, how
ever, that the contest will not be close
enough again TO need one. A close vote
OF that kind will not occur once in CEN
tury. 1t falls under the law OF chances"
Gee whiz!
BosroN, February la dispatch from
Mount Washington says there was to-day
the greatest change in the weather ever
known there in the same length OF time,