The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-05
Richmond Dispatth
THURSDAY. o. iooo'
General Grant Pennsylvania.

General Grant -Pennsylvania.
Yesterday the Republican State Consen
tion assembled at Harrisburg for the pur
nose Of nominating candidates for one
two state Offices, and also either TO elect
20 provide for electing number OF acre
gates 10 the Chicago Convention. we 81.
ga NUMBER because some OF the delegate
had already been appointed by convention
held In several congressional districts "A
the present writing We have heard notbini
from the Convention itself We refer tn'
reader TO our teIegraphic columns Tor tn'
latest news from that body. But we may
guess from the preliminary movements ano
ou,c,yings what has probably been done al
Harrisburg.
Tho reader must recollcct that upon the
action Of the Pennsylvania Republican STATE
Convention the fate OF General GRANT
candidacy was staked. II he could be sent Oh
from that State with unanimous deleSa-
lion and a show Of jealous enthusiasm IL
was conceded that New York would follow
suit. and thus by the strategy OF CAMERON
and CoNKIIYG GRANT boom OF no mean
pretensions would be inaugurated. On
Tuesday II was assumed that this pro-
cramme would be faithfully and most sue
ecssiuily carried out. The GRANT men IN
Washington and elsewhere were In high
spirits. and /, was thought by many people
who do not look below the surface Of things
that GRANT was as good as nominated.
A week ago Dos CAMERON and Mr..
BLAIxs had been seen whilst engaged IN
long and apparently interesting conyersa-
fion. II was thought 10y some people that
CAMERON bad asked him, and he bad con-
scnted, to take the second place on the
ticket with GRANT.
On Tuesday, at Harrisburg, the BLAINE
men were dispirited, few in number, with
ont leader or good speaker amongst
them, and altogether the objects OF the de-
ri.ion and scorn OF the GRANT boomers, or,
as we might perhaps say, " bummeIs."
There was moi only no hope for BLAINE,
but there was no fight in his friends.
Recollect, we are writing only OF what
took place before the Convention met. 1t
was Tuesday in the daytime that we were
speaking Of above. Tuesday night eau
eos OF BLAINE's delegates was held. at
which there were 1Oj votes cast in his in
terest. Afterwards caucus of all the del
ega,es was held, and it was decided by
vote Of 1913 TO 10 that the Convention yes
terday should select the delegates To the
National Convention. Now, the 10 votes
represent BLAINt's strength In the Harris
burg Convention, under all the dlscour-
aging circumstances OF the situation; while
toe 1913 votes show the strength OF the CAM
ERVNs, who gained a sort OF victory. The
result shows BLAIYE's immense popularity
IN Pennsylvania for no other man in the
Union could have manifested 50 much
strength in the face Of the opposition of the
clan CAMERON and Of the active, untiring
efforts Of the machine politicians who are
controlled by or are part OF that clan. The
CAMERON victory consisted in getting the
convention to send delegates in place of
those chosen in the conventions in several
congressional districts. That is, il the con-
venton ratified the action of the caucus.
But THAT is not all. The indications
Tuesday night were that BLAINE would
bargain or had bargained with DON CAME
RON that the unit rule should be adopted
that is, that the entire delegation to Chicago
should vote together-and that GRANT
should have the unanimous vote OF the del
egation so long as he was in the field, upon
the condition that he (BLAINE) should baye
the same unanimous vote cast for him
when General GRANTS name was with
drawn. That looks as il BLAINE had
made up his mind definitely that it is
not GRANT hpt somebody else that be
has to fear. 1t indicates unbounded
confidence in his own fortunes, and marks
him as q bold strategist. He sees clearly
what he is after, and has wonderful in
stinct that teaches him just when and where
a~d how to do whatever is necessary to the
promotion OF his interests as candidate for
President.
SO far, then, as the news from Harrisburg
has reached us ut this present writing, we
see nothing in it to discourage BLAINE, and
less TO justify General CRAMPS friends in in
dulging in any songs Of victory.