Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-09

Tour correspondent may NOT Oe 80 Keen ."
observer Of these shadows as some others.
yet he believes he is capable Of taking an OBJ
servation" now and then, pretty accurately
while coursing the sea Of politics. To come
down TO the main question, then, one fact may
be reported, viz: that outside Of Ohio, save
in some Southern sections, where ofhces are
at the disposal Of somebody, the Sherman
boom is not at all strong. Secretary Sher-
man does not take" with the masses Of the
republican party. He lacks the element
which ensures enthusiasm and unanimify.
As newspaper remarked recently when COM
pairing Blaine to Sherman: ''Sherman is
iced lemonade, but Blaine is hotscotch-
Still, Sherman is powerful, for he has the
moniesi interests to a considerable extent, al
80 the patronage Of the Treasury, also the
qnasi.suppport Of the Administration. These
are, or at least in the past have been. motors
which have accomplished great results
| Take these away and Sherman would drop
into the background by general consent Yet
he expects to gs into the Chicago Convention
with at least 200 votes a starter-many OF
his friends assert that go votes will be given
him on the first ballot.
Regarding Gen. Grants candidacy one can
easily perceive that there is falling of in
the enthusiasm and csrnestness which was
certainly manifested but a few months or
even few weeks since. The cause Of this
may be ascribed to three reasons: First
doubt a. TO whether the General will accept
a nomination; secondly the anti-third term
elements which are quite strongly asserting
their potency among the masses; and thirdly
a strong disposition on the part Of the Ger
man element of our population to oppose his
candidacy. These ugly phases in the politi-
cal atmosphere cool the ardor OF the Grant
adherents. might add, too, that the SOL
der element is more divided upon the ques-
ton of his availability than has heretofore
been supposed. I am quite surprised to find
so many of his old comrades in arms who are
opposed TO his denomination. All these
gleanings and out-croppings seem to show
that the idea Of rushing through nomina-
ton for him at Chicago, will have to be
abandoned.
| Pennsylvania, by u slender majority, has
been secured for him; but the delegation is
ready after a few ballots, perhaps after the
first, to break into halves or perhaps go over
IT, a body to Blaine. New York, too, will
follow the d,ctation of Conkling and support
Grant. Probably Illinois will make the
third support. But the South, which all
along, the Grant supporters have claimed as
almost unanimous for him. will divide its
honors between the three mentioned. 1t is
therefore not probable that Grant can go in
to the convention with majority of the del
egates. This becoming apparent It'll almost
certainty that the General will withdraw his
name from before the Convention. as he has
already intmated that he wishes no strife
over his name should he appear rs a candi-
date. SO much. them for the outlook in the
eases of Grant and Sherman. The only re-
manning prominent, and believe the strong
est, candidate for the nomination by the Re-
publicans, is cur own Senator Blaine.
! His strong points arc; first, his singularly
magnetic influence over the masses. whereby
he commands their sympathies and their
hearts; secondly, the fact that he entitled
to and ought to have received the inclination
in is76-the people can never forget the
cunning and unworthy measures which were
then used to defeat his nomination; thirdly.
his s,alwartism, which has been tested I'M
der all kinds of circumstances; fourthly. his
which have been absent so long that the peo-
Pile earnestly desire their restoration to the
higher places in the gift of the government.
His able management TOO, of our State
his popularity The surprising strength of
his friends in Pennsylvania is gratifying and
assuring to the Senator and his friends, and.
in the event of Grants declining. it is certain
almost that Pennsylvania's full vote will be
transferred to Blaine. New Englani-ex-
ccpt, perhaps. Massachusetts-will be solid
for him: also, in all probability, Michigan.
Wisconsin, Iowa. Minnesota and Nebraska
1
for Grant. now seemto be wheeling into the
Blaine column, and at least one third of the
Southern delegates. il uninstructed, or un-
fettered by the Office holding clique. will vote
for Blaine.
I therefore make the prediction that Sena-
tor Blaine will go into the Republican NOM
mating Convention of 1850 with as many, and
probably more. delegates than he had at the
Convention of lss6-i. {. about 800 This.
providing he is not euchred out of many bv
the Sherman domination of Southern dele
gates. If Grant should decline altogether,
believe Senator Blaine will be nominated on
the first ballot
| Thomas II. keogh of North Carolina, and
Secretary of the Republican Congressional
Committee. a keen observer of political mat
tiers, has. since his return from the Harris
burg Convention, declared that the action of
Pennsylvania has really narrowed the Presi-
| ieussai IN (,raut and Rla;ra