The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-03-12
THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION

=
We give room for the following on the
question by one of our sub
scribers:
To enter into lengthy discussion Of
the merits of either of the prominent
presidential candidates for the Republi-
can nomination Is not my purpose. The
indications are at the present time that
the choice of the Republican convention
at Chicago will either fall on Grant or
Blaine unless the contest should become
so sharp between these two prominent
candidates as to drive each other from
the field. That the name of Gen. Grant
is power in this country no sensible
man will deny; but that he is the choice
for President there is grave reasons for
doubt. Among his pronounced friends
are numbered some of the shrewdest po-
litical wire pullers and adroit political
jugglers that the Republican party can
boast Of That these skilled political
magicians are at work with all the tools
and machinery that they can bring to
bear TO accomplish the nomination of
Grant there is the best possible evidence.
And should the same sort of tactics con-
tinue with the same apparent success
that has been already achieved in
Pennsylvania and New York, in q few
of the other states the chances are that
the Chicago convention will be pretty
thoroughly packed for Grant. And if he
allows his name to go before conven
ton that does not truthfully represent
the wishes of majority of the Republi
can party, nomination may not mean
success at the polls. Many of Grants
best friends, however, do not wish to SCI
HIM forced into the coming presidentia
contest, nor do they believe, judging
from his own utterances, that he viii
suffer his name to be used without sat
isfactory call from the Republican part.
untrammeled and entirely free and clea
from political chicanery. There IS NJ
satisfactory evidence upto this time tina
!. a majority of the Republicans of thi
country are willing to admit that Gran
is q necessity, or that he possesses an
qualification that could be made avail'
BILE in time of peace that would max
him the only practical and safe cand
date than can be run in the Republica
/ ranks
At this time the masses OF the peopl
demand a statesman, not warrior. J..
man is wanted who possesses the abilii
of the keenest diplomat. Whose ski
in, and management of. affairs Of sta
are known to be of the rarest and Il
! best; whose record has been that of d
unyielding. aggressive and potential u
{ voc-te of Republican principles. Oh
whose power and vigor of mind has bet
4 felt by every confederate Brigadier
# congress; who, single handed and alol
IS has over matched them in debate, di
d mounted their batteries of hatred. wit
= stood their charges and come forth fro
their villainous attacks without a scar
on his character or a blot upon his
j, cord. Such q man is James G. Blair
s, Who ever saw and heard Blaine in &
1t bate in the halls Of Congress that
e. not open his eyes to see and his ears
so hear the greatest of living orator
in While live, time cannot efface from {
or tablet of my memory the impressi
N words that heard, and the spectaeul
~ display that saw on the door Of /
be house in the spring of 1876. On the
of casion of Biaine's stepping down in frc
be Of the Democratic brigadiers, and thu
is making his celebrated charge on /
Democratic members Of the Judiciu