Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-05-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Political SituaItOn-rhe Battle
Pitched-The condition OF Il
and the Demo-
ratio Nomination.
WASHINGTON, April 5, 1880.

cratic
WAsHINaToN, April 5, $780,.
| think il may be regarded as prac-
ticaliy settled that General Grant Will
be the republican nominee for pres
ideut. The Thurman "bOom" amounts
TO nothing. 1t is not entirely certain
that Sherman can get the vote OF his
own state. Blaine is still making a
keen fight, but Grant is leaving him
So far behind that it is really no race
| adhere TO the belief tina rants
will be the only name before the re-
publican convention, and that he will
be nominated by acclamatiOn. lie is,
after all. about as strong IL candidate
as the republicans could put up. lie
will be harder to beat than either
Blaine or Sherman would be. Wash
burn and Ehmuuds are not aspirants,
and it is needless to discuss their
strength.
Ii Hancock were pitted against
Grant, thousands. Of mel would say
"'We do not want an army man for
president, but il we must have one,
and he is to be elected on the basis OF
military achievements in the late
war, let us take the biggest and the
most renowned commander"
know Grant, and l know Hancock
personally. Hancock is amiable,
gentlcmaniy, good-leoking, aud Ill
that ; but he is much inferiorto Grant
in intelligence. Neither of them has
the qualifications to he a good sena.
tor. cabinet officer, or president
Somebody else III such event is sure
to he president.
think it safe to assume that in
choosing a candidate TO oppose Gran;
the democracy will look for higl
civic qualifications and dcmOnslrat.
ed political ability, with the added ant
NECESSARY quality of availability fol
the canvass This is certainly III,
way in which the democracy of Vir
gimia will regard the question.
There are certain facts and cOndI'
tons in the anvas In making a oe
lection which must be constantly
borne in mind:
l. The number of electoral votes
required for an election is 1856. II
will not do to narrow a margin. W.
tripped up on Oregon last time, amt
it cost us the presidential election b,
one vote.
2. The southern electoral vote i.
1873. 1t Will probably be solid for thu
Democratic nominee, provided there
% a reasonable and fair prospect n1
the nominee getting at the North the
II additional votes required for All
election. Ii, however, there r in.
dications OF u breakdown at the
North, several of the southern states
may be expected TO give way in No.
reIuber. Democrats will be dispir.
tied, and stay away from the polls.
3. The debatable states in the
north are: New York,35; Connecticut
6; New Jersey, 9; Indiana, Is Cslifor
ia, 6; Oregon, 3; and Nevada, 3
Owing TO the large immigration l.,
Colorado. that state, heretofore large
~ republican, IL also considered de.
natabie. 1t has 3 votes.
4. OF this number Ohio, Calit0r
MIA, Nevada, and Colorado are usual,
republican in presidential elections
ard will be so this year unless specia
causes shall intervene. This woulc
leave AZ electoral votes to be draw
rom New York, Connecticut, New
Jersey, and Indiana. They, have to
gethcr 65 votes.
b. Connecticut is a very close State
and gave us only Il small majority il
1876. New Jersey is usually Demo
cratic, but somewhat given 10 fluctua
ling. New York is always closet,
contested. Indiana has become
steady democratic state, and with a,
acceptable candidate may be carrie,
almost to a certainty. But it will re
quire organization and effort.
6. 1t will not do to count absolute
ly on large numbers of republican
boilers from Grant. There wer
much better Indications Of a bolt i |
1872, and yet they indicated nothing
Very few republicans left their part
Oh that occasion.
z. The plan Of dividing up til
electoral vote of New York is 10
dead, but only sleepeth. We have II,
security that it will not be done. Til
republicans may do it at any tim
from now up to the 10th or 18th q
October next, as their party necessi
lies may require. In the heat of
canvass their party would Justify th
deed. 1t would be thought a smar
thing to do. if there was a prospect O
New 1ork going democratic. Til
republican leaders have the g0verno
OF the state and the Legislature. Tn
governor, Nj. Cornell, is a Gran
man, and will do whatever Grant
friends may deem best for his inter
ests. All he has to do is to call tn
Legislature together in extra sessio,
say about the first of October. |
three days Il bill could be passed d
viding up the state Tor electoral pu,
poses into thirty-three districts. |
such event, l think it probable I'll
democracy could get half the district
though the superintendent would /
against them. That is to say, W
might get II or Is votes in New Yor
including the two chosen at larry,
The republicans would aim to give ,
only IL. or course, this would max
1t hard to carry the AZ votes require
at the north. In such event, u yot,
of the Pacific Coast, or even 9 of the
would he very important, aud nigl
be indispensable. If we should 81
cure these II votes, and have al:
Colorado (3). we could afford TO hay
New ork divided up, as it may
by our foes, and we could stand ais
the possible loss of Connecticut.
we carried either Connecticut or Ne
Jersey we should still be safe, wi
the Pacific Coast vote in our favor.
Locking at the political Situate
in this way, | think it obvious til
the Democratic candidate for T.
= dent ought to fulfil the followil
conditions:
lst. lie must be a democrat a,
have a consistent democratic recOr
otherwise he may lose at least fro
two TO five per ceut.Of the party vot
: Greeley was beaten this way in 1877
] I'd. lie should also be a Northa,
democrat, and II who was in fav,
of the war. regret that such a te
r should be necessary TO satisfy publ
c opinion at the north. But 80 it
We must accept the fact rs it is. \
o statesman, however pure or abb
would be II safe candidate TO run
n the north, unless he was in faysr
Il prosecuting the war for the Unto
: He would be cried down rs a reb,
The 'bloOdy shirt will enter LARGO
into the cputast Snch 10 m, ~;