The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-05-12
STRENGTH OF PARTIES.

SIh6NGTh VI PARTIES.
The Albany On. " Evening Journal is an
anti-Grant organ, and in a recent editorial
slludes to several difficulties in the way OF
Grants success, provided he should receive
the Chicago nomination. 1t says:
General Grant is, nevertheless, to-day fore
most in the field and the political machinery
is so adjusted in the States where delegates are
yet to be chosen, that he is likely to retain his
advantage, and go into the Convention with
more delegates than any other candidate, if
not with more votes than all of them COM
bined. In that case, he will be nominated,
unless 1t can be demonstrated that his defeat
will follow his nomination. This it will not
be easy, perhaps not possible, to do. The can
didate who has a sjorlty of the delegates in
a Convention is presumably the strongest man
with the people. In the case of General Grant,
however, this rule would not hold good. He
is stronger with the politicians than he is with
the people. But as politicians only nominate,
while the people elect, it is of far more impor-
lance that a candidate should be strong with
the people, than that he should be in favor
with politicians.
Whether General Grant is the strongest man
or not, we believe him to be strong enough to
be elected If nominated, because, in the pres
emit state of the public mind, the weakest
Republican is stronger than the strongest
Democrat.
To assume that the strongest Republican
can, beyond peradventure, be elected is
sheer bombast, unsdulterated braggadocia.
Facts and figures not only do not warrant
such a CONCLUSION, but most emphatically
show that it has no basis whatever. But
when it is stated that the weakest Republic
can is stronger than the strongest Democrat"
the animus of the statement becomes too
pslpable to admit of doubt. 1t is grave
yard whistling, and betokens weakness
rather than strength. The New York Her
aid, in commenting upon the Albany Jour
nails assertion, remarks that it is "a boast
full assumption not warranted by the politi-
cal situation" and adds: What reason is
there for believing that the Democratic
party is not as strong in 1880 as 1t was in 1876,
when the Republican ticket had but one
majority in the electoral votes? The popu
lar majority in 1876 was largely In favor of
the Democratic candidate.
Hayes OS3, 2S5
Although Tilden lost his election by the
narrowest of possible msiorities-a majority
OF one-in the electoral colleges, he ran
ahead of Hayes by more than quarter of
million in the popular vote. The Democrats
have at present a majority both In the Senats
and House, their majority in the popular
branch of Congress showing that the people
~ he a. loro, 10 ~
them two years after the Presidential cleo
ton. What has occurred since to depress
Democratic hopes? To be sure there is the
feud in New York; but with any other can
didate than Mr.. Tilden that feud will be
instantly healed from the moment that the
Chicago ticket is announced. There has been
a steady Democratic majority in this State
since Mr.. Tilden's election as Go vernon In
1874. Even last year the aggregate Demo-
cratic vote was majority, and had it been
united on one candidate Mr.. Cornell would
have been defeated.
Vote for both Democratic candidates. ass $50
Vote for 4lS,56T
Democratic msjority..... ................. 84,7Ss
SIT is generally conceded that the vote of
New York will decide the Presidential con-
test. But in view of steady Democratic
maiorities in the last six elections, how can
any sober minded Republican cherish SO
audaclous fancy as that the weakest Re-
publican candidate can carry the State
against the strongest candidate the Demo-
cratic party can nominate? A weak candi.
date has really no chance at all in this con-
trolling State against the united Democracy
supporting popular ticket. 1t is mere brag
and moonshine to say that a candidate who
would repel q considerable number OF Repub-
lican votes is stronger than the best man the
Democrats can nominate" The view taken
of the subject by the Herald is worthy of
consideration. New York is Democratic
State but to secure the vote of the State the
New York Democracy must be united. That
it will unite on Mr.. Tilden does not
seem probable-indeed, it does not appear
possible. In that event Indiana comes to
the front with a candidate who, with his
own State solid for him, ought to be accept
able to New York. With Indiana and New
York, Democratic triumph is assured, and
Thomas A. Hendricks, under such circum-
stances, becomes the most available candi-
date.
PARTIES AND PARrISAES.
We are told, from time to time, that part
les have always existed in this country and
always will exist; that they are necessary to
the perpetuity of American institutions;
that they form checks and balances, guards
and Safeguards, ETC., to the end OF the chap