The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-02-06

The meeting of the Pennsylvania
state convention on Wednesday was
very important, for several reasons:
The state is the second largest in the
United States; it held the first conven-
ton to select delegates to the Chicago
national convention; and 1t was a vital
pointer in republican politics, for it is
now known beyond question that Gen.
Grant is a candidate for president.
Hence what was doubt before is now a
fact. The Grant boom has been fairly
started and is a prominent factor in
party politics, and the lead and exam
pie of Pennsylvania is powerful for
Grants aspirations.
1t was said by many before the meet
ing OF the convention that a letter
from Gen. Grant would be read thank
ing the people for their many manifes-
tations of kindness and honor, but
positively declining to be considered as
a presidential candidate. This antici-
patton was based upon the belief that
Grant was not a candidate, and IL he
were not, that convention was the time
and place to declare himself. Not be-
ing a candidate, Gen. Grant could not
in the nature of things allow that con-
vention to instruct its delegates for
him. But, being a candidate, and as
such anxious for election, he remained
silent as to his ambition and allowed
his powerful friends to work out the
ends of his own success.
1t must not be taken for granted that
the Pennsylvania convention faithfully
reflected the sentiments of the majority
Of the republican masses of that state
the fact is hat state conventions seldom
do. They are usually the creatures of
the leading politicians who attend to
their makeup from the appointment of
members of the county executive COM
mittees on to the convention itself.
The principal part of the victory is won
in appointing the county committees.
The leading politicians Of each county
name the committeeman, and they take
good care to select men who are friend
ly to them. The committees. in turn,
select delegates to the state convention
and instruct them. So it will be seen
that the people had no voice in forming
the state convention. Each county
delegation represented the opinions of
the leaders of that county 1t SO hap
pensthat there is a majority in numbers,
but not in counties, who train with
Don Cameron. Hence the success of
the latter in having the delegation to
Chicago instructed as n unit for Gen.
Grant.
However, the outside world simply
knows that Pennsylvania has gone for
Grant, and the generals prospects are
therefore frightened. But at the same
time 1t will cause the friends of Blaine
and Sherman to redouble their efforts
and get in some vigorous and success
full work where apathy might have
ruled otherwise.
The remaining question to be.determ-
eu Is WnetneT OeU. OTdnt Will eultr INC
convention unless a clear majority of
delegates are instructed for him and
he can count upon them before the
meeting. The general, above all other
candidates, cannot afford to fight for
the nomination. With the sentiment
of anti-third termism against him, a
victory wrested from his contestants at
Chicago would simply bring disaster
and defeat in the whole country at the
November elections.
Gen. Grant can scarcely risk such a
contingency. His fame is bright and
his reputation national history. He
does not want his name to go down to
posterity as the only man in the history
of the United States who ran for a
third term and vas defeated, thus lay
ing open charges of aspirations to i'm
perialism. A defeat in n presidential
election would prove a killing blow to
his esteem the world over.