Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-05-22
AN OFFERED OPPORTUNITY.

On Wednesday last three important
Republican Conventions were held
one in Illinois, one in Minnesota and
one in Nebraska. They were important
not merely per Sc but because it was
generally conceded that their action
would practically decide the Chicago
nomination. The result in all three
shows conclusively that not merely
State but National Convention as well
are, or will be, under the control of the
managers of the ssStrong Man" and
that his nomination is but foregone
conclusion. Whether this will be to
the benefit or injury of the Democrats
depends entirely upnn themselves.
One thing stands out prominently in
this convention. The nomination of
General Grant will offer the Democrat
ic party choice between a position of
great strength and position of extreme
weakness, more distinct and unmistak-
able than the party has had for many
years the opportunity of accepting.
The current talk about the weakness of
General Grant as a candidate ought not
to carry any more weight with Demo-
cratic politicians than it carries with
Republican politicians. The shrewd-
est of the Republican managers are al
most everywhere in favor of General
Grant. In fact, the complaint of the
Anti-Grant Republicans is that the
Grant managers are so shrewd as to
out-wit the party itself and to carry
delegations against hostile majorities.
However warm the attachment of these
managers NAV be to General Grant, all
of them expect to live and thrive by the
success of the Republican party; and it
is equally their business to know who
is the strongest candidate and to defeat
the nomination of a weak candidate.
That these men are all, or nearly all, in
favor of General Grant is all indication
that General Grant is strong candidate
in the estimation of the best judges.
The opposition to General Grant in
the Republican party, in so far as it is
an organized and effective opposition,
will cease at once when he is nominat-
ed, and the process of wheeling into
line" will begin. Whatever Republican
organs have been tempted to say about
him before the nomination will be
quietly swallowed or quietly ignored,
and the Republican masses will be-
have precisely as their managers and
their organs may be expected to behave.
In other words, General Grant may be
expected to command the whole of what
is strictly the party strength. He will
carry all the Republican States, and it
will depend altogether on the Democrats
whether or not he will carry the doubt
full States which are necessary to elect
him.
There is undoubtedly considerable
number of Republicans who wear their
party bonds loosely and who will vote
for General Grant only with extra re-
luctance, if they vote for him at all.
Many of these voters object peremptori
ly to the election of a man for third
term: many more object for cause to the
election of General Grant for a Chird
term. But it does by any means follow
thar any of these voters regard either
third term in the abstract, or concrete
third term for General Grant, with so
much aversion that they will vote tor
any man the Democrats may choose to
nominate in order to avert these evils,
Or will even abstain from voting in or
der to emphasize their protest against
these evils. The Democrats have it in
their power to attract a great portion of
this doubtful vote, and to neutralize the
remainder of it, by putting up man
whose nomination shall give clear as
surance of wiser and cleaner govern
ment than experience warrants us in
expecting from General Grant. They
have it also in their power. by NOM
mating tainted candidate, to strike att a
blow from the doubtful list all the vot-
ers whose opinions and wishes they are
most bound to consider, and to drive
these voters in body to General Grant.
There could be no better time for Demo
Gratis to begin to lay these matters to
heart and to make up their minds what
they will do than now.