The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-05-11
BLAINE vs.. GRANT.

The Territorial Republican Convention
has met and adjourned. The Blaine men
and the Grant men have joined battle and
victory rests with the followers of the Maine
Senator. Not only was the Grant faction de-
feated, but they even met with the Waterloo
rout of having their resolution tabled by the
decided majority of A to &c in the vote taken
on the motion substituting the name of Grant
for that of Blaine as the conventions nomi-
nee for the Presidency. So Blaine wins the
day. The popular man has won this time,
thanks to the intelligent exertions of his
supporters. for it must be evident to any one
with half all eye that throughout the North
and West, as between the two candidates
brought before the Republicans of Montana,
the popular voice gives no uncertain sound IN
calling for Blaine. lie is the peoples choice,
without a doubt, but in saying that we say
everything. Compare the actions and pro-
ceedings OF Blaine's adherents with those of
Grant in furthering the fortunes of their
respective leaders and note the difference.
On one side we have enthusiasm. even affection
among .he masses; but their forces lack
Intelligent organization; their efforts ale
FILTERED away in the w%astetulness of indidual
e~xertion instead Of being massed and control
led by one master mind they are as stragslers
and camp-followers pitted against the serried
ranks of their well-disciplined opponents.
Now view the opposing faction and note its
characteristics. 1t is the Persian rabble and
the Greek p~halanx over again. Nor is this
the only difference, although the points in
which further divergence is to be noted are
not altogether due to elements Of success in
the army commanded by the man on horse
back. If, in Blaine's following we find aflec-
ton and enthusiasm, we also find that among
Grants supporters these powerful incentives
to a self-sacrifcing devotion are but too often
replaced by a timid misgiving in the minds of
one large wing of the party who cannot fully
reconcile themselves to SO violent an innova-
ton upon our established political usages as
would be a third Presidential term-or by a
a sullen apathy or even active hostility OH the
part of a much better element among the Re-
publicans-the clear-sighted and the well-read
who base their opposition to Grant upon the
fact that he is moi fit for the Office; that lie is
10 statesman; that he made the poorest of all
poor Presidents during two terms, and that
consequently We have the best of all reasons
for believing he would do not a whit better
during a third, were he elected to it. Butthese
elements of weakness in the Grant faction
dement's so we'll calculated to dampen indi-
vidual effort and weaken its influence. are to
a great extent neutralized or controlled by the
perfection of party management observable in
the tactics of the party chiefs. Compared
with the disolganization, the almost utter lack
of management in til" Blaine camp, The Won
Moltke of party strategy marslals the Grant
legions, and this strategy, thus far at least, has
generally proved equal to the task Of bearing
away the victory even in tie face of all UNI
doubleday hostile majority.
Of late a change on the part of the Associ-
a'ed Press dispatches into opposition to Grant
is to be observed. We are told one thing and
another concerning the decadence of his popu.
larity; the probability of his voluntary with
drawal, and So OH. Correctly 10 estimate
the value of such reports, we need only re-
fleet upon the very evident ruth that Grants
already committed as a candidate in the COM
ing campaign. He must either win or lose
either triumph Or suffer overthrow and defeat.
There is no middle course. To withdraw at
tins stage of the game would be a virtual &C
acknowledgement III advance OF inevitable de-
feat. This would not only be defeat, it would
he all ignominious backing down in the face
Ut the enemy a retreat fatal alike to the for
tunes of Grant and of those who. like Cam
eron and Conkling have made themselves his
champions. we are inclined to think then,
that despite all efforts to frighten him off the
tt: OK, Grant will face the music, clear to the
polls Of November, tor notwithsl anding
Blaine's greater popularity, We believe his
late opponent in the Helena convention to be
the coming man of Chicago.